Leger Fernández Announces State Of The Union Guests: Epstein Survivor Elizabeth Stein And Rural Health Care Leader Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, announced that Elizabeth (Liz) Stein, a survivor advocate and human trafficking specialist, and Carmen Pacheco-Muñoz, Interim Chief Executive Officer of La Casa Family Health Center, will join her in Washington, D.C. for the day of the State of the Union Address to highlight the urgent need for justice for survivors of human trafficking and to protect rural health care access for New Mexico families.
Elizabeth Stein is a nationally recognized survivor advocate, Read More
Community Celebrates Rep. Christine Chandler For Successfully Leading The Charge For Medical Malpractice Reform
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County invited the community to raise a glass to Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval and Santa Fe, center, at a ‘Cheers to Chris’ happy hour event Sunday at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op in Central Park Square. They celebrated Chandler because after years of failed attempts, New Mexico finally has medical malpractice reform — and she led the charge with her HB 99, which passed the House 66-3, survived a bruising committee process, and then passed the Senate 40-2. The bill is now waiting for the governor’s signature. This legislation will help recruit Read More
Los Alamos County Council To Hold Joint Special Session With School Board Thursday
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council will meet jointly with the Los Alamos Public School Board at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26, at Chamisa Elementary School, 301 Meadow Lane in White Rock.
The purpose of this joint meeting is to discuss the North Mesa Housing Development Project.
The meeting is open to the public. Read More
Luján Meets With Officials, Highlights Federal Funding Secured For Local Communities, Holds RECA Outreach
Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Tuesday visited the Amador Health Center in Las Cruces to meet with the center’s leadership and celebrate federal funding secured for the facility. Courtesy/BRL Office
STATE News:
LAS CRUCES — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) held a series of events this week where he met with local leaders, engaged with local community members, and highlighted federal funding he secured to support health care, strengthen broadband access, and bolster infrastructure in the Las Cruces region. Sen. Lujan also led a public outreach forum to raise awareness about expanded compensation available Read More
Republican Party Of New Mexico Addresses Suspected Assassination Attempt This Morning At Mar-a-Lago
RPNM Chairwoman Amy Barela
RPNM News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) Chairwoman Amy Barela released the following statement on the shooting and suspected assassination attempt on President Donald Trump this morning at his Mar-a-Lago home:
“The Republican Party of New Mexico is thankful for the heroes in our U.S. Secret Service and all law enforcement who keep our country, and our President safe,” Chairwoman Barela said. “Political violence, in all its forms, has no place here, and we are thankful whatever harm this person intended was stopped before anyone was hurt. Read More
New Mexico Democratic Party Headquarters Burglarized
Damage at Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) Headquarters Thursday in Albuquerque. Courtesy/DPNM
Scene of break-in damage at DPNM Headquarters early Thursday morning in Albuquerque. Courtesy/DPNM
DPNM News:
Around 5 a.m. Thursday, the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) Headquarters at 4013 Silver Ave. SE in Albuquerque was broken into and burglarized. Security footage from DPNM cameras and a nearby business showed that an individual smashed through the front door, entered the office, grabbed a handful of items, and then ran off.
Staff discovered the break-in upon showing up for Read More
Applicants Sought For Historic Preservation Board
Wildlife Department Seeks Public Comment Regarding Hybrid Striped Bass Stocking At Elephant Butte State Park
New Mexico Wildlife News:
SANTA FE — Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide input next month as the New Mexico Department of Wildlife is proposing to stock hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, into Elephant Butte Reservoir.
The Department will hold a public meeting from 6-7 p.m., March 5, in the Boat Training Building at Elephant Butte Lake State Park (7 Ridge Road in Elephant Butte). Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting to learn about the proposal and provide comments.
Those unable to attend the meeting in person may also provide comments by email at DGF-Fisheries-Management@dgf.nm.gov Read More
$92M State Fairgrounds Bond Goes To Governor
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature sent Senate Bill 48 to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham late Tuesday after the House of Representatives voted to authorize $92 million in bonds to fund the next phase of redevelopment at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.
The House approved the legislation, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart and Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, on a 43-6 vote. The bill commits bond funding for land acquisition, water and sewer improvements, new green space and pedestrian safety upgrades along Central Avenue and San Pedro Drive—among Read More
Teach Plus New Mexico Applauds Passage Of Senate Bill 29 To Strengthen Math Education Statewide
TEACH PLUS News:
SANTA FE — Teach Plus New Mexico applauds the State Legislature for passing Senate Bill 29, a decisive step to strengthen math education across the state.
The bill bolsters teacher licensing requirements and updates how educators are trained in math—building on the same evidence-based approach that has already transformed literacy instruction across New Mexico.
“The passage of SB 29 shows what’s possible when legislators, teacher leaders, and partners work together to put students first,” said Teach Plus New Mexico Executive Director Hope Morales. “By strengthening Read More
Legislation To Eliminate Surprise Facility Fees For Routine Medical Care Heads To Governor’s Desk
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate passed a bill today to eliminate facility fees—extra charges separate from doctors’ bills—for routine outpatient services, sending the measure to the governor’s desk for signature.
House Bill 306, sponsored by House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, and Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, both Santa Fe Democrats, cleared the Senate on a bipartisan 39-0 vote.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit hospitals and health systems from charging facility fees directly to patients for preventative outpatient care, outpatient vaccination Read More
Rio De Chama Acequia Association To Host Community Listening Session Saturday At Chamita Community Center
Members of the Rio de Chama Acequia Association (RCAA) spent Thursday afternoon at Hernandez Elementary School teaching second graders about Acequias. Rick Martinez, center, and RCAA Youth Leader Javier Vigil. is our youth leader and is following a model shared by the New Mexico Acequia Association.
RCAA Youth Leader Javier Vigil on Thursday afternoon at Hernandez Elementary School, teaching second graders about Acequias following a model shared by the New Mexico Acequia Association. Courtesy/RCAA
RCAA News:
The Lower Rio Chama Watershed Project, led by the Rio de Chama Acequia Association Read More
Community Invited To Celebrate Rep. Christine Chandler On Her Successful Medical Malpractice Reform Bill This Sunday 3-4 At The Tub
Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval & Santa Fe, on the House floor during the opening of the 30-Day session Jan. 20 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County:
Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval and Santa Fe, deserves a celebration! After years of failed attempts, New Mexico finally has medical malpractice reform — and our own Los Alamos legislator led the charge.
HB 99 passed the House 66-3, survived a bruising committee process, and then passed the Senate 40-2. The bill is now Read More
Rep. Gabe Vasquez Meets With New Mexico Farmers, Ranchers In Albuquerque To Set 2026 Farm Bill Priorities
Courtesy photo
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Feb. 17, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) convened his Agriculture Advisory Group at the Gutierrez-Hubbell House in the South Valley to hear directly from New Mexico farmers, ranchers, food banks, state officials, and agricultural advocates about their top priorities and challenges as Congress prepares to take up the 2026 Farm Bill next week.
The meeting brought together a broad cross-section of New Mexico’s agricultural community, including representatives from the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, Agri-Cultura Cooperative Network, Read More
Chairwoman Barela Issues Official Statement On Conclusion Of New Mexico’s 2026 Legislative Session
RPNM News:
SANTA FE — As we expected, this legislative session proved that Republicans are serious about wanting to make our communities safer, spend tax dollars efficiently and responsibly, & improve access to healthcare across our state. Democrats, however, approached the legislative session differently as they prioritized their ‘hate-everything-Trump’ policy agenda over everything else. Democrats went after Second Amendment rights, made New Mexico a safe haven for criminal illegal immigrants, increased government spending, and made every attempt to damage New Mexico’s Read More
Governor Celebrates Landmark Final Legislative Session
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Thursday celebrated passage of landmark bills approved by the New Mexico Legislature during her final session, including medical malpractice reform, universal childcare and new public safety, health care and education initiatives.
The 2026 legislative session delivered a responsible, forward-looking budget that reflects New Mexico’s fiscal strength and the governor’s commitment to investing in New Mexicans. The FY 2027 budget totals $33.4 billion —including more than $11 billion from the general fund—and increases Read More
Canceled: County Personal Board Meeting Feb. 24
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Personnel Board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, has been canceled due to a lack of agenda items. Read More
How Did New Mexico Housing Bills Fare In 30 Day Session? A Few Wins, Several Disappointments
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By MIKE EASTERLING
The Santa Fe New Mexican
It took nearly every minute of the New Mexico Legislature’s 30-day session to get it done, but a measure that will make zero-interest loans available for qualified, first-time buyers of starter homes earned legislative approval Thursday morning.
The Senate’s last-minute passage of House Bill 200 gave affordable housing advocates a late victory at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe just before lawmakers adjourned and headed home.
HB 200, designed to create the New Homes for New Mexico Program, was Read More
Office Of The State Engineer Enforcement Bill Heads To Governor’s Desk After Strong Bipartisan Support
State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson
STATE News:
SANTA FE – A bill raising the maximum penalty for illegal water use from $100 to $3,400 per day—the first major update to New Mexico’s water enforcement authority in more than a century—is headed to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk after passing the legislature with near-unanimous bipartisan support.
House Bill 111 modernizes the Office of the State Engineer’s (OSE) enforcement tools against illegal water use at a moment when scarcity is intensifying across New Mexico. Once signed, the measure will mark one of the most significant updates Read More
New Mexico Legislature Wraps Up 30-Day Session After Busy Final Week
State House Speaker Javíer Martinez, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, embrace following a Democratic news conference at the Capitol after the 2026 legislative session ended Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham laughs while listening to final comments made by members of the House of Representatives during her final news conference to conclude the 2026 legislative session on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN and CLARA BATES
The Santa Fe New Mexican
In years past, Gov. Read More