14-03-2025
Today at the Roundhouse, March 14, & recap
Mar. 14—There are eight more days for legislators to craft law in the 2025 regular session. Here are a few debates and bills to watch out for on Friday, March 14, and a recap of Thursday.
Medical malpractice: Medical malpractice changes, Senate Bill 176, are first on the agenda for Senate Health and Public Affairs in the afternoon. The committee debated the bill Wednesday but didn't vote on it.
Cellphones in school: The House Education Committee will hear Senate Bill 11, an anti-distraction measure, in the morning. It would require New Mexico school districts to adopt policies around cellphones and other wireless communications devices in schools.
Thursday recap
Lowrider license plates: A bill creating a New Mexico lowrider capital of the world special license plate passed the Senate on a 40-0 vote. Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española, danced to the song "Low Rider" by War before a vote on the bill, Senate Bill 327, and said the license plates could be a source of community pride for Rio Arriba County residents.
Slot Canyon Riverlands: Southern New Mexico residents could look forward to a new state park should House Bill 219 get through the Senate and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The proposal to develop Broad Canyon Ranch, about 20 miles north of Las Cruces, as a state park with camping passed the House floor.
CTE: The House passed two bills encouraging technical education, including the creation of a structural timber grading certification program, House Bill 553, and studying career and technical education programs in the state, House Bill 433.
Where the bills stand
SB176: Must pass the Senate Health and Public Affairs, Senate Judiciary and Senate Finance committees, then the full Senate, then House committees and the full House, then the governor's desk.
SB11: Passed the Senate. Must pass the House Education and House Judiciary Committees, then the full House, then the governor's desk.
SB327: Passed the Senate. Awaiting House committee assignments, then must pass the full House, then the governor's desk.
HB219, HB433, HB533: Passed the House. Awaiting Senate committee assignments, then must pass the full Senate, then Lujan Grisham.
