New Mexico Senate passes bill aimed at bringing more oversight to CYFD
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – After hours of debate and seven amendments, the New Mexico Senate passed a bill bringing more oversight to the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. 'The institution of CYFD needs all the help it can get and I'm hoping today we pass good legislation to help get that started. After hours of discussion and amendments, the Senate passed House Bill 5, which would create an Office of Child Advocacy within the New Mexico Department of Justice to oversee CYFD.
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Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has opposed this bill. Others on Friday supported oversight but expressed concern about whether this new office was the right way to fix the embattled agency. 'I just can't get my mind wrapped around a layer of government overseeing another layer of government, telling another layer of government that they're not doing their job. That's why in my mind we needed something that truly rebuilt CYFD,' said Sen. David Gallegos, (R-Lea & Eddy Counties.)
Ultimately, House Bill 5 passed the Senate 28-13. It now heads back to the House chamber. If the House agrees with the changes made by the Senate, it will head to the governor's desk.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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