22-03-2025
Tension among governor and New Mexico lawmakers as end of legislative session nears
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – With just hours left in the legislative session, sparks are flying between Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and lawmakers, over some of the session's high-profile priorities. The governor blasted the legislature and the Attorney General over their approach to fixing the troubled New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department. Meanwhile, lawmakers have run out of time to agree on legislation, aimed at dealing with kids who commit crimes. On Friday, the governor signed a bipartisan bill, HB 5, reforming CYFD. Although she said it wasn't the solution she wanted, the attorney general says it's a big step in the right direction.
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'Legislators have been exhausted by the excuses, exhausted by repeatedly hearing from different cabinet secretaries about their intention to try to make improvements there. I think its an important step one that will hopefully take us to a place where kids in state custody are better protected,' said New Mexico Attorney General, Raúl Torrez.
The governor signed into law the bill creating 'Office of the Child Advocate,' a public agency responsible for investigating complaints against CYFD. It would also be able to refer cases to the Attorney General for prosecution, something that the governor expressed opposition to in a letter to lawmakers saying, that having the AG's office involved 'weaponized' the office against CYFD and that it was 'a thinly-disguised vendetta' by the legislature against the governor.
Juvenile crime reform was also a big topic this session, but the last bill left on the issue, HB 255, failed to pass the Senate floor Thursday night with lawmakers disagreeing over how much to strengthen penalties, versus creating more support systems, sparking a heated reaction from sponsor Senator Moe Maestas (D-Albuquerque).
'We have to represent the consciousness of this state and not hang our hat on one provision of a 31-page bill that is the epitome of compromise,' said Sen. Maestas.
Other bills on their way to the governor's desk include a proposal to let districts decide the number of days in a school year, HB 65, and a bill requiring districts to create rules for student cell phone use in schools, SB 11.
Lawmakers also passed bills aimed at helping communities affected by wildfires, including the Wildfire Prevention Act, SB 33, which focuses on tree thinning and creating buffer zones to protect homes. And a bill offering zero-interest loans to communities for recovery.
A hotly debated topic on the House floor Friday afternoon was whether to allow voters not affiliated with a major political party to vote in the party primary of their choice. That bill, SB 16, passed 36-33.
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