Latest news with #GailArmstrong
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Laptops stolen from Republican legislators' office in Los Lunas
At the end of the 60-day legislative session last month, Republican lawmakers bemoaned what they described as a failure by the Democratic-majority Legislature to address crime. Now, four of them can speak from experience. A legislative office in Los Lunas shared by four Republicans — a senator and three House members, including Minority Leader Gail Armstrong of Magdalena — was broken into and burglarized, Senate Republican spokesperson Brandon Harris said Tuesday. "While this is an ongoing investigation, we are aware that several laptop computers provided to staff were stolen," he said, adding the crime was discovered earlier that day. The Los Lunas Police Department did not immediately return a message seeking comment late Tuesday. While burglaries are not uncommon in New Mexico, the burglary of a legislative office comes on the heels of a session Republican leaders called "unproductive and disappointing" and ahead of a midterm election where crime and public safety are sure to be major themes — and a source of ammunition against Democrats. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who also expressed disappointment with the Legislature's inaction on her public safety proposals, has indicated she plans to call a special session focused on tackling crime. The same day the session ended, Republican leaders sent the governor a letter requesting she call an immediate special session to address New Mexico's "violent crime crisis" as well as the state's shortage of health care providers. "This [break-in] just speaks to the growing crime crisis that New Mexicans face every single day," Armstrong said in a statement. "During the legislative session, Republicans came to Santa Fe to work and find solutions that would secure our communities," she said. "But, the progressive majority refused to act. This break-in is not a unique situation. It's something the people of our state face every day, and it's not OK." The legislative office is among a new wave of offices lawmakers are opening in or near their districts to better serve constituents as part of a larger effort to modernize the Legislature. The offices are staffed by legislative aides. In addition to Armstrong, the office in Los Lunas is shared by Sen. Joshua Sanchez, R-Bosque, and Reps. Brian Baca and Tanya Mirabal Moya, both of Los Lunas. Sanchez expressed disappointment not just in the break-in but what he characterized as a missed opportunity during the session. "We can't even have an office to serve constituents and community members without New Mexico's out-of-control crime crisis ruining it," he said in a statement. "This last session was an opportunity for us lawmakers to do something about crime but the Democrats opposed all of our tough-on-crime bills," he continued. "Until lawmakers get serious about improving public safety, it's more of the same in our communities: burglaries, auto theft, drug dealing, and gang violence."
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislative session ends, what bills made it through?
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) –The legislative session is officially over and the last few bills to make it over the finish line are on their way to the governor's desk. Bills that passed and failed drew mixed reactions from the governor and lawmakers. More than 1,100 bills were introduced this session; many covering the state's foster care system, crime, and education. With the session closed, nearly 200 of those bills passed, while others stalled. After countless hours of debate, lawmakers have wrapped up the 60-day legislative session – but what made it through? A top priority promised this session included legislation surrounding reforming the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD). A bipartisan House bill creating the Office of the Child Advocate, HB 5, was signed by the governor despite her expressing it wasn't what she wanted. A bi-partisan Senate omnibus package, SB 42, with additional CYFD reforms is headed to her as well. Which bills have been signed by the governor so far? 'New Mexicans have demanded reform at CYFD and we delivered,' said Reena Szczepanski, (D-Santa Fe) Majority Floor Leader. 'This is a huge step forward for children and families across our state that has been many years in the making.' Other accomplishments highlighted by Democratic lawmakers included the passage of a crime package, HB 8, that includes reforms to criminal competency and treatment as well as fentanyl trafficking. They also celebrated the passage of a bill increasing teacher salaries. Although some Republican bills passed, such as SB 11 which requires districts to create rules for student cell phone use in schools. Republican lawmakers shared disappointment over the lack of medical malpractice bills succeeding and the governor's decision to veto a proposal, HB 65, to let districts decide the number of days in a school year. 'I had the full support of the House [on] both sides of the aisle and the people of New Mexico have spoken, the people of the House have spoken, and ultimately, the people of the Senate have spoken,' said Gail Armstrong, (R-Magdalena) Minority Floor Leader. Bill giving student loan relief to some veterinarians heads to governor's desk The governor shared her frustrations on bills related to juvenile crime, after a House bill backed by the Bernalillo County District Attorney's office, HB 134, and a House bi-partisan bill, HB 255, failed. 'The notion that we spent far too little time addressing in any meaningful way juvenile crime and public safety issues in this state is a remarkable failure in so many ways,' said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. She added lawmakers could be called to a potential special session on the issue of crime. 'Yes, I think the likelihood is far stronger than not which is why in our statement, they should expect it. I don't know how you don't expect it,' said Governor Lujan Grisham. Other bills that passed on Saturday and are headed to the governor's desk include the Trade Ports Development Act, HB 19, which would create designated port districts across the state. For bills passed in the last three days, the governor has thirty days to either sign pocket veto or veto the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would strengthen New Mexico school districts' power to make own calendar
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Public Education Department (PED) has tried to force New Mexico schools onto a 180-day school calendar, but after a judge rejected their plan, Republican lawmakers are now looking to give power back to the schools. This debate has been two years in the making after lawmakers upped the number of instructional hours required in New Mexico schools, but how the state is trying to enforce those school hours is what's causing push back. Story continues below Video: Wrong way high-speed chase on I-25 in Albuquerque ends in arrest Environment: ABQ BioPark moves some birds indoors to protect them from avian flu Real Estate: Private lake retreat listed for $3.1 million in Santa Rosa 'People don't want this, we are saying we want 1,140 hours, let school districts decide how many days,' said Representative Gail Armstrong, (R-Magdalena) Minority Floor Leader. Republican Rep. Gail Armstrong said her bill, HB 65, allows for either four or five days school weeks and would require 1,140 instructional hours with no requirement for the number of days. The bill came in response to the state's Public Education Department's rule back in 2023 that declared districts would have to have 180 days of school. That would have forced some districts to switch from a four-day week to five. That ruling then led to a lawsuit from more than 55 school districts, many from rural communities. 'What happens in reserve New Mexico is not what happens in Belen New Mexico, they're very, very different. So one size fits all never works, so leave it to local control,' said Rep. Armstrong. The bill was heard in committee on Monday and received support. 'We really believe in local control, and we believe that when districts follow the laws that were set by the statute by this legislature, it shouldn't have any interference from the administration through rule making,' said John Dyrcz, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico. Although a judge recently sided with the school districts filing the lawsuit, Rep. Armstrong said it's still important to pass this bill. She said PED is already preparing an appeal and expects the governor to push back. 'There's a lot of people that support this and if the governor doesn't listen that's on her,' said Rep. Armstrong. The bill passed Monday's committee with unanimous support. It's now headed to the House floor. If it passes, it would then it would go to the Senate, which has only 12 days left in the session. KRQE News 13 hasn't heard back from the governor's office or PED about their thoughts on the bill. Court records show PED is now appealing the district court's ruling against their proposed school rules. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill would create department to monitor infants exposed to drugs in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – As the halfway mark passes in this year's legislative session in New Mexico, over a dozen of the bills working their way through the Roundhouse are looking to reform the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department. One of those bills is going into committee on Friday. Bill on voting rights for felons in New Mexico moves forward 'Twenty-two babies have died that had plans of care and no one is checking on them. No one's taking the responsibility of, this is my job, I need to check on this baby,' said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena). House Bill 343 would be the first step in creating an independent program that would track and investigate all reports of infants who were born with exposure to drugs. It's a sweeping bill that would make big changes to CYFD, taking some enforcement authority away from the department, and creating a new way to monitor children. 'This is about protecting the baby. This isn't about taking babies away. It's not about putting them in foster care. It's not about putting their moms and dads in jail. This is about getting them the help they need,' said Rep. Armstrong. The bill is scheduled to be discussed in committee Friday morning. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill clarifying local control of school calendars moves forward in the Legislature
A bill that would allow local school districts to determine their own school calendars advanced unanimously through the House Education Committee Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. (Photo by Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images) Legislation that would allow local school districts to determine their own calendars for the school year — a proposal that aligns with a recent court decision — advanced unanimously through the House Education Committee Monday morning. House Bill 65, sponsored by Reps. Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena) and Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), clarifies the state requirements for school instructional time in the Public School Code. Since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 130 into law in 2023, public school students in K-12 have been required to receive a minimum of 1,140 instructional hours per year. Lawmakers increased instructional hours in response to the ruling in the landmark Yazzie-Martinez education lawsuit, which found the state was not providing equitable opportunities to at-risk students. The Public Education Department, under former Secretary Arsenio Romero, established a rule requiring schools adopt a 180-day school calendar in March 2024 as a way of providing additional instructional hours. The New Mexico School Superintendents Association sued the PED over the mandate in April 2024 because they claimed it conflicted with state law. Ninth Judicial District Court Judge Dustin K. Hunter agreed and recently ruled the PED lacks the authority to mandate a minimum number of instructional days. The PED still has time to appeal the court's decision. Janelle Garcia, communications director for the PED, told Source NM that the department is 'dissatisfied' with the decision. 'PED firmly believes that our students can achieve better educational outcomes when we maximize learning opportunities, as the rule intended. PED is currently in the process of reviewing the decision for the purposes of determining the appropriate next steps,' Garcia said in a statement. Stan Rounds, executive director of the New Mexico School Superintendents Association, joined Armstrong Monday to address the House Education Committee and said HB65 will erase any uncertainty surrounding instructional hours. 'This codifies, in my opinion, what the court ruled. Once you codify the statute and sign and put it into law, then it's not of any question,' Rounds said. He added that the bill includes an emergency clause, meaning the bill will go into effect immediately if signed by the governor, to stop any challenge to the rule if PED appeals the court's decision. Representatives from AFT (American Federation of Teachers) New Mexico, Public Charter Schools of New Mexico, New Mexico School Board Association, New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association and Grady Municipal Schools all spoke in favor of the bill, citing local control of the calendar as a benefit. Colt Grau, president of the school board for Grady Municipal Schools in Curry County, highlighted his school district's high performance under a four-day a week schedule. 'We should know [students'] circumstances and that of their families,' Grau said during the meeting. 'We do as a board and I do personally as a father of two elementary-aged children. Respectfully, agency officials in Santa Fe don't, nor can they be expected to. They need to understand that New Mexico school districts cannot function effectively with a one-size-fits all approach.' House Education Committee members voiced their agreement with local control and quickly passed HB65 through the committee unanimously. It now heads to the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
