KRQE HEADLINE: “Legislative Session Comes To End With Multiple Bills Headed To Governor’s Desk”
On February 18, KRQE news staff reporter Jessica Barron reported as follows:
Lawmakers and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham are celebrating the end of what they’re calling a productive 30-day session, while also highlighting what didn’t make it through. This session was dominated by changes to healthcare law, universal childcare funding, and crime bills. “Thank you for being here today as we conclude what I believe is one of the most consequential legislative sessions in my time of ten years here in the roundhouse,” said Speaker of the House and Representative Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque).
On healthcare, Democrats are celebrating medical compacts, allowing professionals with licenses in other states to more easily work in New Mexico. While eight compacts, including ones for counselors and emergency medical services, didn’t make it. However, Senate and House Democrats said they plan to bring them back during the next session. Two compacts affecting physicians and social workers passed, along with other medical-related tax credits.
“A $10,000 income tax credit for doctors, the highest in the country, also our healthcare loan professional repayment program goes form $75,000 over three years to $300,000 over four years,” said Majority Floor Leader and Senator Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe).
The governor is also expected to sign malpractice reform, limiting punitive damages in lawsuits. The governor’s universal childcare program is also continuing, with a bill making a path for funding that includes requiring higher-earning families to provide co-pays if state funds can’t cover costs. “We’re the only state in America to deliver that promise to families, we’re the only state in America that focused in on affordability,” said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-New Mexico).
The governor said she’s disappointed with some failed efforts, including stalled juvenile justice reform. “You see states that are overwhelmingly too aggressive on trying juveniles as adults, without really doing the right work. We shouldn’t, for murder, we should be doing more there,” said Governor Lujan Grisham.
On the other side, Republicans highlighted a failed gun bill as a win.
“One of the most, maybe the most unconstitutional bills ever to come before us, which was Senate bill 17, the gun control bill, was also defeated,” said Minority Floor Leader and Senator William E. Sharer (R-Farmington).
Republicans are also criticizing the expected job loss with the Immigrant Safety Act, which is now law, which bars detention facilities from contracting with ICE. Lawmakers also passed a budget worth $11.1 billion and a resolution that will allow voters to decide if legislators should receive a salary. That resolution does not need the governor’s signature and will be on the ballot in the fall.
The governor has until March 11 to sign the bills passed this session. If she does not sign them, they are pocket vetoed.
The link to the quoted or relied upon the KRQE News report is here:
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
With the passage of universal child care and amendments to the medical malpractice act, the governor has said there will be no need for a special session. Both measures enacted will be her enduring legacy as she begins to make her final plans to leave office in 10 months. Thanks for a job well done!