NM Governor nixes new license plates, state bread, lobbying disclosure
We need a Legislature that rises to the occasion and focuses on the work that truly matters to the people of New Mexico.," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote in a message vetoing proposals for a state bread and new state license plates.
So much for lowrider license plates and a new state bread. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, in veto messages Friday, made clear she wasn't in the mood for fun and games and rejected bills that would have created new license plates celebrating lowriders and New Mexico United, as well as one that would have designated tortillas the official state bread.
Breadwinner: Committee advances proposal to make tortilla NM's 'state bread'
'I am vetoing this legislation to send a clear message,' she wrote, 'in a time of extraordinary challenges New Mexicans need discipline and urgency from their elected officials. What they received this session was far too often the opposite.'
Hundreds of bills, the governor continued, 'never saw the light of day' due to time constraints or because lawmakers did not give the bills hearings. 'Some, like legislation to regulate synthetic cannabinoids and keep dangerous substances out of the hands of children, died while waiting for concurrence—a process that can take less than a minute.'
Moreover, she noted, in the final hours of the session and in the aftermath of the mass shooting in Las Cruces 'that went unacknowledged by House leadership, the House found time to debate the merits of a state bread. And the Legislature found time to pass not one, not two, but three separate license plate bills—despite already having 40 specialty plates on the books.'
The governor continued by saying that while she too enjoys 'celebrating our unique culture,' New Mexico already has a plethora of state symbols (cookies, songs, vegetables etc.) 'The question should not be how many more symbols we can collect—but whether we are meeting the moment with the gravity it demands. We are living in perilous and unprecedented times. The stakes for our State have never been higher. We need a Legislature that rises to the occasion and focuses on the work that truly matters to the people of New Mexico.'
In total, the governor vetoed the following 16 bills:
House Bill 143: Lobbying Activity Reports
This bill would have required lobbyists to file reports explaining what bills they had been retained to work on and what positions they hold on said bills. For instance, as Source previously reported, it remains unclear to this day why the Texas-based Cicero Institute and its advocacy arm Cicero Action decided to have a lobbying presence in the state during this last session. In her veto message, the governor wrote that she supported the bill's intent, but it needed work. For instance, she continued: 'It imposes an onerous requirement that lobbyists or their employers file these reports within forty–eight hours of commencing the lobbying activity— including any time their 'position on legislation has changed'— irrespective of weekends and holidays. It is also unclear how this requirement applies to lobbying activity that commences on legislation after the adjournment of a legislative session since another subsection of HB 143 simply provides that these reports merely need to be filed 'prior to the end of the time period in which the governor may act on legislation.' Moreover, she wrote, the bill does not make it clear what constitutes a 'change in position' for lobbyists. Lastly, she added, 'I think it is important that elected officials with a donor base such as legislators (and governors) also be required to disclose their changes in position. I look forward to working with the Legislature in the next session on a bill that really adds transparency and accountability.'
60 days later, Cicero Institute's reason for NM lobbying still hidden from public
House Bill 14: Earned Income Tax Credit (Tax Package)
Legislative watchers may recall a fair amount of last-minute wrangling over the tax package, which ultimately included a slight tax on alcohol sales, among tax credit expansions in fiscal year 2027 paid out of state reserves. The governor vetoed the entire package, writing 'New Mexicans deserve thoughtful, forward-looking policy-not last-minute dealmaking that delays relief, ignores economic opportunity, and undermines fiscal responsibility.'
House Bill 36: Board of Optometry Powers and Duties,
The bill would have allowed optometrists to perform several procedures that currently can only be performed by ophthalmologists. 'I am vetoing this bill because it sets a dangerous precedent for allowing non-surgeons to perform surgical procedures,' the governor wrote.
Eye doctors see problems with bill expanding optometry in NM
House Bill 77: Annual Federal SNAP State Outreach Plans
The bill would have required the Health Care Authority to develop annual outreach plans to promote the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the governor wrote is 'unnecessary because the HCA already does extensive outreach promoting SNAP.'
House Bill 120: Accessibility of State Agencies
This legislation would have required state agencies to develop their websites to meet federal disability standards, and created a state office to enforce the digital standards. Lujan Grisham said in her veto message the bill duplicates an effort her office started and, 'enacting it into law will only disrupt the process that my Administration has already established to ensure accessibility.'
House Bill 181: State Trust Program Accountability Plan
The bill would have amended the Accountability in Government Act. The governor said she vetoed the bill because 'it does not achieve its stated goal of increasing transparency and accountability in the use of GRO Trust funds.'
House Bill 191: Wildfire Suppression & Preparedness Funds
This legislation would have created two wildfire-related permanent funds administered by the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD): the post wildfire fund and the wildfire suppression fund, with a $12 million appropriation attached to the first fund.
'The wildfire suppression fund is a good idea on its face,' the governor wrote in her veto message.. 'However, the Legislature did not provide any money for it, instead requiring all federal reimbursements for wildfire suppression costs or out–of–state assignments for state crews to be deposited into the fund. Given the snail's pace of federal reimbursements–which have only gotten slower in recent months–relying on that funding stream does not set this program up for success. I will, however, require the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's Forestry Division and the State Fire Marshal's Office to collaborate on outreach to the public to educate homeowners on effective means to minimize the risk to private property from wildfires.' As for the $12 million appropriation, she wrote, 'put simply, that is not nearly enough money to even put a dent in post fire recovery operations.'
House Bill 219: Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park
This bill would have created a new state park in Southern New Mexico. The governor said she vetoed the bill due to existing state parks already being understaffed and undermaintained. 'Adding another state park will only spread stretched resources even further,' she wrote.
Proposal to designate a Southern NM hidden hiking gem into a state park heads to the Senate floor
House Bill 269: Health Care Authority Visit Verification
The governor wrote this bill is unnecessary as the HCA is already working on creating the type of system prescribed in the legislation, and with completing anticipated in October.
House Bill 433: Study Career & Tech Education
Also unnecessary, the governor said in her veto
House Bill 494: Tax Exemptions for Veterans
This bill 'purported to enable veterans to claim a property tax exemption,' the governor wrote in her veto. 'However, HB 494 actually makes it harder for veterans to obtain this important benefit by changing the current one–year window to apply to a mere 30 days. At bottom, this bill benefits county assessors more than veterans.'
Senate Bill 142: Grid Modernization Roadmap
Lujan Grisham said this bill duplicated efforts already in motion at the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
Senate Bill 220: Publication Of Legal Settlement Terms
The bill would have required the state's insurance arm the Risk Management Division and the public school insurance authority to post settlement data from alleged misconduct to the state's Sunshine Portal. Risk Management Division has been voluntarily posting the information since 2019, but SB220 would have added an additional layer of review in cases resulting in deaths, serious injury or losses over $250,000, and required reports to the legislature.
Lujan Grisham wrote the bill was unclear in the standards for the review, and that the Legislature 'failed to appropriate any funds support this significant workload increase, nor did the Legislature account for the resources needed to ensure a fair, thorough, and timely process.'
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