On Friday, March 13, Mayor Tim Keller announced the names of three final candidates who are being considered for appointment as the next Chief of Police of the Albuquerque Police Department.  After interviews of seven finalists, the search was narrowed down to the following three:

1. APD Interim Chief Cecily Barker
2. Dallas Assistant Police Chief Gilberto Garza
3. Former Seattle Assistant Police Chief Perry Tarrant

Mayor Keller said he is confident that he and his administration will be ready to announce a new police chief by the end of the month.

NOT ALL 19 APPLICANTS IDENTIFIED

A total of 19 people applied for the position but only seven applicants were interviewed. The original 19  people who  applied to be the new APD Chief  included  Interim Chief Cicily Baker. Among the applicants, all but two have ties to New Mexico. Three were women. Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker and Cmdr. Andrew Rodriguez were the internal candidates and there were 3 existing police chiefs, with  2 having ties to New Mexico.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-metro/apd-sees-first-female-interim-chief-amid-leadership-search/

https://www.koat.com/article/submitted-applications-albuquerque-police-chief-job/70282016

Keller’s press aide, Dan Mayfield, sent out a news release stating that Mayor Keller was interviewing the seven candidates. However, the mayor’s office did not release the names of the 7 candidates despite multiple requests made by  KOAT-TV. Mayor Tim Keller declined to give the names of the 7 finalists saying that releasing the names would be disrespectful to the candidates’ current employers.

Paul Guessing, with the Rio Grande Foundation, a conservative advocacy organization, suggested to KOAT TV  that Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker already may have the job. Guessing said this:

“I fully expect the current interim chief has the inside track, maybe more than the inside track. … I just think we need to be honest with ourselves.”

When asked about the community’s belief that Interim Chief Barker already has the job, Mayor Keller responded to KOAT TV by dismissfully  saying “It’s not true.”

PROCESSED UTILIZED

On December 31, APD Chief Harold Medina retired after three decades in law enforcement and on the same day, Mayor Keller  announced his appointment of APD Deputy Chief Cecily Barker as Interim APD Chief. Cecily Barker has been with  APD over 20 years and has come up through the ranks.

On January 8, Mayor Tim Keller announced that he had begun a national search process of selecting a new APD Chief.  Community input sessions were  scheduled so residents, advocates, organizations and businesses could “identify the leadership qualities, experience and priorities desired in the next chief of police.”  

Residents were  able to take a community survey to “ensure broad and meaningful input.”  Mayor Tim Keller said he was looking for someone who can meet today’s challenges, including fentanyl and long-standing cracks in the criminal justice system.

The Keller Administration hired the outside firm Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc., to assist in the search and  selection process for a new APD Chief. According to the city of Albuquerque’s public records website, the firm’s contract began January  2 and has a maximum limit of $100,000. The firm specializes in police executive searches and has aided dozens of large law enforcement agencies, including those in Chicago and Dallas. The city has used the firm in the past, including for the search and selection of a Deputy APD Chief.

The City of Albuquerque said more than1,000 people provided their input on what they want to see in the city’s next police chief. The city had an online survey to gather community feedback in the search for a new police chief. In addition to the survey, the city said it held focus groups and public forums to get feedback.

Based on the feedback, city residents  said they were looking at the following characteristics and priorities in a new APD Chief:

1. Visible, Ethical, and Accountable Leadership

The city said community members consistently emphasized the need for a Police Chief who is highly visible, engaged, and accessible. They are looking for someone who leads from the front, is present in neighborhoods, and communicates openly with the public. Integrity, transparency, and accountability were cited as essential traits, along with a commitment to restoring and maintaining public trust.

2. Strong Community-Centered Policing and Trust-Building

The city said residents called for a Chief who prioritizes service-oriented policing rooted in partnership, mutual respect, and collaboration. This includes proactive engagement with neighborhoods, advocacy groups, and community leaders, as well as a balanced, humane approach to enforcement. This was particularly in regards to interacting with youth, vulnerable populations, and individuals experiencing homelessness.

3. Improved Responsiveness, Safety, and Operational Effectiveness

The city said residents want improved police responses to calls for service, more visible patrols in high-need areas, and effective deployment of resources. Key concerns included Downtown and transit-area safety, follow-up on serious complaints, fair and consistent treatment across communities, and the use of data-driven strategies.

INTERIM CHIEF CECILY BARKER’S  ANNOUNCED DEPUTY CHIEF APPOINTMENTS  AND  REORGANIZATION

On January 9, APD Interim Chief Cecily Barker announced a reorganization of the APD. The reorganization includes new executive appointments and the elimination of 12 command staff positions, many of which were vacant positions.  The  12 command staff positions that are being eliminated are a combination of sworn personnel, such as  Deputy Commanders for both Internal Affairs division, and professional employees, such as the Director of Analytics.

Interim Chief Barker announced the following changes as part of her new executive team:

• Major Luke Languit was named Interim Deputy Chief of Field
• Medina’s former Chief of Staff Mike Hernandez was named  Interim Deputy Chief of Support Services.
• Commander Aaron Jones was named Interim Chief of Staff.
• Deputy  Chief George Vega will continue as Deputy Chief of the Investigations Bureau.
• Deputy Chief Josh Brown will continue as Deputy Chief of the Special Operations  Bureau.

Chief Barker said this in part  about her announced appointments and the  reorganization:

“We have an experienced team in  place to lead the department forward , while we transition into a new era of public safety in Albuquerque.  We are  experiencing new  challenges in law enforcement , especially in response to the national political climate. We want our community to be assured that APD is prepared.”

The link  to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:

https://citydesk.org/2026/01/09/apd-interim-chief-reorganizes-department-eliminates-12-command-positions/

The link to review the most current APD organization chart that was updated on January 9, 2026 consisting of 9 pages is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/apd-division-org-chart-1-7-26-draft-pdf.pdf

The link to review the one page “Department Summary: Sworn Personnel”  which was replaced and updated as recently as January 23, 2026  is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/apd-staffing-numbers-2026.pdf

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Mayor Tim Keller was re-elected in November 2025 to serve a historic third straight 4 year term as Mayor. Keller has the very unique opportunity to completely reshape and reorganize the Albquerquerqu Police Department (APD) for a third time with a new generation of leaders and a new generation of police officers to address the city’s crime efforts.

For the last 16 years, APD recruitment has been stagnant, and the department has not been able to keep up with retirements. As it stands, there are only 351sworn police officers, out of a total of 913 sworn police officers, assigned to the six area commands broken down into 3 shifts and patrolling the streets and responding to hundreds of thousands of calls for service a year. APD cannot deal with the city’s crime rates and the volume of calls for service  because of the low number of sworn personnel patrolling the streets. APD is still reeling from 10 years of a DOJ consent decree followed by a  DWI bribery dismissal scandal where 20 cops from 3 agencies have been implicated and 9 APD Officers have plead guilty and are still awaiting sentencing.

It is extremely  disappointing that  Interim Chief Cecily Barker reappointed virtually all of former APD Chief Harold Medina’s Deputy Chief’s and retained the same command staff with the reorganization having very little substance in scope over a department of 950 sworn police.  Simply put, APD is top heavy with mid management. Examination and analysis of the APD Organization Chart and the Summary of APD’s personnel reflects a law enforcement agency that is clearly top heavy and bloated with management in need of a major reorganization, deletion of positions, reassignment of personnel and the recruitment of a new generation of police officers.

APD needs far more than one new Chief. It needs a whole new top command staff of Chief and Deputy Chiefs that need to be recruited. It needs a complete reorganization and realignment of staffing to get more sworn police onto the street to patrol.

Speculation runs rampant amongst City Hall and APD observers that despite Mayor Keller’s  public announcement that he has done a national search for a new Chief, he has already made up his mind and will appoint and make Interim Chief Barker permanent. The major reason people feel Keller will make Barker permanent is that he is following the identical pattern he has followed with his appointments in the past: appoint an interim chief, announce a national search, going through the motions of accepting applications, having extensive public input, and doing interviews only to appoint his interim permanent saying the most qualified person for the job “was right in front of our eyes all along  who has been interim chief”.

After 8 years being Mayor and after appointing two prior  APD Chief’s, Keller  no doubt knows what he is looking for in an APD Chief. One nagging rumor is Keller is “champing at the bit” to appoint the first female chief of police thereby making Barker his favored choice.

It’s clear that based upon her background, resume and over 20 years with APD, Interim Chief Cecily Barker is qualified to be APD Chief. The blunt reality is Barker was former Chief Medina’s biggest supporter and “Medina  Enabler”  defending his management and personnel  decisions. Barker represents nothing more than a continuation of Medina’s disastrous policies and his heavy handed personnel and management style.

Mayor Keller needs to decide sooner rather than later who to appoint Chief.  If in fact Interim Chief Barker is who he really wants, he should avoid wasting the other applicants and the publics time and avoid the continuing political drama of guessing who he is going to appoint. Mayor Keller  needs to just go ahead and appoint Interim Chief Cecily Barker immediately.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/apd-selects-three-finalists-in-police-chief-search/70740144

https://www.koat.com/article/mayor-keller-answers-questions-about-the-police-chief-search/70728233

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/search-for-next-albuquerque-police-chief-narrowed-down-to-3-finalists/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/search-for-next-albuquerque-police-chief-narrowed-down-to-3-finalists

https://abqraw.com/post/king-keller-narrows-search-for-apd-police-chief-down-to-three/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mayor-narrows-down-finalists-albuquerque-041433679.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

City of Albuquerque sees more than 1,000 people weigh in on police chief search – KOB.com

https://www.koat.com/article/submitted-applications-albuquerque-police-chief-job/70282016

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/city-of-albuquerque-begins-search-for-new-albuquerque-police-chief/

The link to a related blog article is here:

APD Interim Chief Barker Announces Appointment Of New Deputy Chiefs, Staffing Cuts And Re-Organization; Commentary and Analysis: Barker APD Re-Organization Pathetically Inadequate; APD Top Heavy With Management; Keller Needs To Replace Entire APD Upper Command, Recruit More Sworn Officers To Deal With City’s Crime

NEWS UPDATE 

On March 16, the Albuquerque City Council voted down the  proposal to raise gross receipts taxes by 0.4875%  going from 7.62% to 8.1%.  The tax  was voted down by a 1-8 vote with the tax sponsors Councilors Brook Bassan and Joaquín Baca voting NO and saying amendments “killed the spirit” of the bill. Mid heights Progressive Democrat Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn was the only councilor to vote for YES . The tax would have raised $113 million a year to invest in infrastructure projects, reduce city-imposed fees and give raises to the lowest-paid city employees. Click on the below link for full story:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/albuquerque-city-council-votes-down-proposed-gross-receipts-tax-increase/

City Council “Odd Couple” Of Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca and Conservative Republican Brook Bassan Sponsor Gross Receipts Tax Increase; No Major Need For GRT Tax Increase; Tell City Council To Vote No!

Progressive Democrat City Councilor Joaquín Baca and Conservative Republican  Brook Bassan are co-sponsoring City  Ordinance (O-26-16),  known as the Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax, to raise the Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) in the city. The GRT rate currently stands at 7.625. The city imposes and taxpayers must pay a  gross receipts tax on every single purchase of goods and services purchased, except for food.  If approved by the 9 member City Council, the GRT would jump from  7.625% to 8.113% and place Albuquerque among the top-tier of cities by total tax rate and above nearby Santa Fe (8.1875%) and Rio Rancho (7.4375%).

The ordinance is currently scheduled be heard at the March 16 council meeting.

According to the ordinance, the revenue would pay for buildings, infrastructure and equipment, cover debt payments and fund the day-to-day work of city facilities. It would also help address employee pay gaps identified in a city compensation study and pay for raises for city staff and give the city flexibility to reduce fees for pools, golf courses and recreation programs.

The tax increase  could raise an estimated $119 million for all  the purposes listed by the sponsors. According to a tax analysis contained  in the City’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, “the City has imposed 1.4375% of the total 2.05% [local tax] cap not requiring voter approval, leaving 0.6125% of remaining municipal gross receipts tax capacity that does not require voter approval. The remaining municipal GRT increment not requiring a referendum would generate approximately $149.55 million.”

Paul Gessing, of the Rio Grande Foundation, a conservative advocacy organization which historically opposes all tax increases, said this:

“This is a very significant increase. It’s the biggest attempted increase I’ve seen in a very long time, if ever, at the local government level. … While New Mexico’s politicians tout ‘affordability,’ the reality is that politicians in the state simply cannot get enough of our tax money. … In 2017, the city spent $926,388,000 [in its general fund budget]. That number jumped to $1.5 billion by 2026. Yet, once again, there are plans afoot for another tax increase at City Hall.”

RATIONAL FOR TAX INCREASE NOW

The Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax ordinance is modeled after the  Quality‑of‑Life Enhancement Fund City Councilor Baca sponsored  last year that was rejected by the City Council on an 1 yes to 8 no vote.  The Quality‑of‑Life Enhancement Fund ordinance  would have created a ballot measure asking voters if they wanted to raise gross receipts taxes by 0.375%, which would have generated an estimated $80 million to $86 million for the city of Albuquerque. The new Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax adds funding for city operations and the potential to lower certain municipal fees, including at golf courses and museums.

City Councilor Baca  said a recent state law change created a deadline for introducing this type of GRT  tax increase. Baca said if the tax increase  is not introduced by the end of March the city would have to wait another full  year to act, delaying funding for projects and operations by two years. The city will still use bonds for some projects, but the ordinance is needed to meet the legal deadline.

Baca said this:

“The current bill is almost like a placeholder, to be honest. … We’re going to flesh it out over the next couple of weeks, to really add something to it.”

SPONSORS ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY TAX

Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca said this about the tax increase:

“This is an opportunity to invest in ourselves, bring Albuquerque up on par with all the surrounding cities. And part of that is because if you want to attract health care professionals, if you want to attract industry, all that is always in competition with other cities.”

The tax money generated would also help pay for city staff.  Baca said this:

“If you work for the city, you typically make less than someone outside of the city, typically, with the same type of job. So, this is bringing our folks within the city up on par with their colleagues.”

Republican City Councilor Brook Bassan said this about the tax increase:

“We’re proposing to raise a tax very small, and that equals less than half a penny for every dollar spent. …  I know that the reason that I am really seeking to increase this [tax] and get funds is because I’ve been working for six years to build the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center.”

Councilors Bassan and Baca said they don’t expect the higher sales tax to hurt resident much financially. Bassan said this:

“It’s such a small amount of money that I don’t even think most people will notice the increase in taxes, but they definitely are going to notice the improvement in the city of Albuquerque.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

City Councilors  Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca and Conservative Republican  Brook Bassan have officially become the City Council “odd couple” with their co-sponsorship of a tax increase.  Politically, they both represent very opposite philosophies.

It was very naïve for City Councilor Brook Bassan to say “We’re proposing to raise a tax very small, and that equals less than half a penny for every dollar spent.” The tax is in no way small when it is  tact on an already high gross receipts tax resulting in and 8.113%  total tax and placing  Albuquerque among the top-tier of cities by total tax rate and above nearby Santa Fe (8.1875%) and Rio Rancho (7.4375%).

Councilor Baca is equally naïve as Bassan if he thinks increasing the gross receipts tax will not affect the city ability to attract new industry and it will have a direct impact on the construction and manufacturing industries.

On the national level, affordability has become a major issue as prices soar in all categories and the issue could literally affect the mid terms. Gas prices are already soaring because of Trump’s Iran war as  the cost of a barrel of oil has gone from $60 to over $100 in a matter of two weeks and still climbing.

“Effects of the Iran war are rippling into the spending habits of American consumers, who are seeing price surges for gasoline and other items.  Energy prices have increased since the near-total shutdown in early March of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that carries 20% of the world’s oil shipments and about 20% of the world’s seaborne liquified natural gas. Most of the oil is from Saudi Arabia and Iraq.  Oil prices began rising March 3. In the United States, average gasoline prices hit $3.59 a gallon on March 11.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/03/11/iran-war-gas-oil-prices-impact/89098700007/

The gross receipts tax is the single most regressive tax there is disproportionately impacting low and moderate income residents and spiking prices on all goods and services, except for food purchases where the gross receipts tax in not imposed.

Gross receipts tax revenues are the biggest source of revenue for the city to pay for essential services, such as police  and fire protection, and any increase needs to be justified in no uncertain terms. As it stands, the city is not facing a critical deficit and still has more than ample bonding capacity to ask the voters to fund major city infrastructure projects.

The proposed tax increase needs to be rejected in no uncertain terms by the city council.

CONTACT YOUR CITY COUNCILLOR

Please contact your city councilor and urge them vote NO on City  Ordinance (O-26-16),  known as the Community Enhancement Municipal Gross Receipts Tax. The emails to contact all 9 City Councilors followed by their Policy Analyst to voice your opinions are:

• stelles@cabq.gov
• stephenchavez@cabq.gov
• joaquinbaca@cabq.gov
• bacajoaquin9@gmail.com
• namolina@cabq.gov
• kpena@cabq.gov
• cquezada@cabq.gov
• bbassan@cabq.gov
• dawnmarie@cabq.gov
• danlewis@cabq.gov
• galvarez@cabq.gov
• nrogers@cabq.gov
• district6@cabq.gov
• tfiebelkorn@cabq.gov
• seanforan@cabq.gov
• dchampine@cabq.gov
• eromero@cabq.gov
• rgrout@cabq.gov
• rrmiller@cabq.gov

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources for this article are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/albuquerque-city-council-to-consider-gross-receipts-tax-increase/

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-city-council-to-discuss-sales-tax-increase-and-immigrant-protection-ordinance/70754990

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-council-considers-raising-gross-receipts-tax/

https://citydesk.org/2026/03/03/albuquerque-councilors-propose-tax-hike-to-raise-over-100-million-for-new-projects-staff-pay/?lh_aid=55634&lh_cid=pn2xd3024g&utm_source=newsletter&di=e0ffc180caad34c2e324ea890e90496a

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gross-receipts-tax-ai-records-142759347.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/albuquerque-city-council-to-consider-gross-receipts-tax-increase/vi-AA1XDuYB

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/quality-of-life-tax-hike-dies-after-albuquerque-city-council-dust-up/363453

On March 11, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham  signed in into law Senate Bill 241 which is the $11.1 billion dollar budget and tax package enacted by the 2026 New Mexico legislature which was convened on January 20, 2026 and adjourned on February 19, 2026.  The  $11.1 billion state budget for fiscal year 2027 that will begins on July 1 funds higher education, universal child care, road improvements, economic development initiatives and more.

The governor also signed Senate Bill 240, the capital outlay bill, and House Bill 248, the general obligation bonds bill,  providing more than $1.5 billion for schools, roads, housing, community centers and water conservation. The  spending plan and a tax package includes hefty incentives for New Mexico physicians.

Governor Lujan Grisham used her line-item veto authority to eliminate budget provisions, including language that child care assistance be prioritized for low-income families.  Lujan Grisham  vetoed two bills, including a measure changing the process for how the state responds to wildfires, floods and other natural disasters and “pocket vetoed” a bill that would have modified the space commission working group.

$11.1 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET

The $11.1 billion general fund budget marks an increase of $339.5 million, or 3.1%, compared to the FY 2026 budget, while leaving reserves at 26.4%. The state budget contains funding for a number of high-profile state programs, including $300 million for higher education projects, $160 million for the nation’s first statewide universal child care program and $110 million for statewide housing initiatives.

Notable major items  in the budget include the following:

• $300 million for major higher education projects.
• $255 million for water and natural resource initiatives.
• $210 million for transportation programs and projects.
• $175 million for statewide housing and homelessness initiatives.
• $160 million for year one of universal child care.
• $150 million for quantum initiative.
• $35 million for career technical education.
• $29 million for reading and math intervention programs.
• $20 million for education fellows programs.

The $160 million for year one of universal child care was initially opposed by the legislature. An initial proposal from the House of Representatives called for New Mexican families with a household income of 400% or more of the federal poverty level to pay mandatory co-pays. Governor Lujan Grisham argued that such a funding mechanism was, by definition, not universal. Funding for the initiative ultimately came in a different bill, which only subjects higher-earning families to co-pays under certain signs of economic decline, including inflation and declining oil prices.

CAPITAL OUTLAY

The governor signed Senate Bill 240, the capital outlay bill, and House Bill  248,  the general obligation bonds bill, providing more than $1.5 billion for schools, roads, housing, community centers and water conservation, among others. The state’s capacity for non-recurring spending, which includes one-time expenditures like large construction projects, is strong. The $1.25 billion in capital outlay projects includes nearly $550 million for a new University of New Mexico School of Medicine, $75 million for the Las Vegas behavioral health institute and $20 million for state parks.

Highlighted projects include the following:

• $546 million for the UNM School of Medicine.
• $75 million for the behavioral health institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
• $20 million for state parks.
• $20 million for public safety.
• $17.6 million for a reforestation center in Mora County.
• $10 million for the homeland security emergency operation center.
• $10 million for the child care facility revolving loan fund.
• $10 million for early child care facilities at higher education institutions.

TAX PACKAGE

The governor also signed Senate Bill 151, the omnibus tax package. Senate Bill 151 does not raise any taxes on New Mexico families.  Lujan Grisham signed off on this year’s bill that includes a grab bag of tax breaks and policy changes. Specifically Senate Bill 151  includes a $10,000 personal income tax credit for physicians who practice full-time in the state and a $4 million annual tax credit for local news organizations.

The Omnibus Tax Package bill includes the following provisions:

• Physician income tax credits to boost healthcare recruitment and retention.
• Extension of the high wage jobs tax credit, a recruitment tool for companies bringing high-paying jobs to New Mexico.
• A new gross receipts tax deduction for affordable multifamily housing construction.
• Income tax credits for local news publications and employers of local journalists
• Decouples components of New Mexico’s corporate income tax from certain new federal deductions.

1% SALARY INCREASE FOR STATE WORKERS INCLUDED IN TAX PACKAGE

The Omnibous Tax Bill  includes a 1% salary increase for state workers and teachers, which was added to the bill by the state House after being removed in a Senate committee.  In her executive message to lawmakers, Lujan Grisham said she supports the pay raise for state employees, which will take effect on July 1,  but described it as an “odd” decision to include it in tax legislation.  The governor said this in a statement:

“While I assume the Legislature did not want to create a logjam in the waning days of the 30-day session, rolling this provision into the tax bill created more confusion than necessary.”

Lujan Grisham also expressed concern that a provision in the tax package to decouple parts of the state’s corporate income tax system from the federal tax code could lead to “double taxation” on some businesses.  Notwithstanding, she did not strike out the provision from the tax bill, instead leaving it in place to take effect in January.

BILLS VETOED

The New Mexico Legislature enacted 74 bills during the 30-day session that ended February 19.  In all, Governor Lujan Grisham signed 71 of the 74 bills approved by lawmakers during the 30-day session that ended Feb. 19.  The Postscript to this article contains a complete listing of all 71 Bills signed into law by the Governor. 

The Governor  vetoed 3 bills  with one of those being a “pocket  veto”. The three vetoed bills are:

• House Bill 180: Creates a new process for funding natural disaster response efforts. The Governor said House Bill 180, would have made responding to natural disasters more difficult by imposing a cap on such spending without legislative approval. The governor authorized nearly $257 million in emergency spending in the last budget year. Harlan Vincent, R-Glencoe, one of the sponsors of Bill 180, said he was disappointed by the governor’s veto, but expressed gratitude that $21 million in state matching funds for parts of New Mexico covered by federal disaster declarations was left in place in the budget bill. Rep. Vincent said the funding could be used to help relocate houses in the Ruidoso area after wildfires and subsequent flooding in the area over the last two years.
• House Bill 153: Establishes financial incentives for using low-carbon construction materials.
• House Bill 96: Modifies existing space commission working group. This bill was a “pocket veto” meaning the Governor simply decided not to sign it with no  explanation given and not to veto it.

The governor vetoed upwards of  $21 million in proposed spending from the budget bill, including $1 million for a proposed sports hall of fame and an additional $500,000 from a proposed lowrider museum in Española.

As she has done in previous years, the governor also vetoed some budgetary language that sought to impose strict timelines and other restrictions on certain legislative appropriations.

The governor’s use of her veto pen was significantly less than in previous years. Last year,  Lujan Grisham vetoed 35 bills passed by lawmakers. The ability for governors to pocket veto bills could be eliminated starting next year, if state voters pass a proposed constitutional amendment on the issue in November.

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT

Lujan Grisham, who is set to step down from office at the end of this year, specifically cited investments in universal child care, public safety and health care as hallmarks of her administration. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said this in a statement:

“I’m signing this budget today as a commitment to New Mexico’s long-term success and a promise to keep moving our state upward. … Over the last seven years, we have fundamentally redefined New Mexico’s future by prioritizing historic investments in universal child care, health care, public safety and more while achieving record job growth and the nation’s largest drop in child poverty. … We’ve built a strong foundation of opportunity for New Mexico families, and while this budget marks a massive leap forward, our work is far from finished.”

TWO BALLOT INITIATIVES

In November’s general election, voters will decide on important ballot questions, including whether to eliminate the pocket veto, which allows a governor to ignore a bill without signing or formally vetoing it, and whether legislators should receive a salary of around $68,000 a year, as New Mexico is currently the only state that does not pay its lawmakers.

LEGISLATOR’S REACTION

State Representative Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, Chairman of the influential House Appropriations and Finance Committee, said the Legislature will work with the governor’s administration on implementing  appropriations.  He also said the budget bill would set up New Mexico’s next governor for success, despite uncertainty over oil prices and state revenue levels. Small said this

 “I think that’s an issue we’re going to dig deeply into. … The new governor will come into office and will have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to hit the ground running.”

“Budgets reflect priorities. This one reflects our commitment to New Mexico families. The budget we passed and the Governor signed into law invests in key areas that make a real difference in people’s lives.

• In healthcare, the budget delivers $11.1 billion in state and federal funding for Medicaid and dedicates $254 million to lower out of pocket healthcare costs, helping families afford coverage and supporting hospitals and providers across our state.
• In education and childcare, we are investing $4.7 billion in public education and directing nearly $80 million to build a sustainable universal childcare system, including funding to ensure early childhood educators are paid a living wage.
• The budget also includes major investments in housing, dedicating $100 million to address housing shortages and homelessness while continuing funding for programs that help families find stable housing.
• We also made important investments in community safety, public lands, water infrastructure, economic development, and clean energy to support long term growth and stability for New Mexico communities.”

Delivering budgets like this requires strong … leadership in the Legislature.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Governor Michelle Lujan largely left intact the $11.1 billion budget bill that will increase state spending by about $339.5 million,  or 3.1%.  Additionally, the Governor already signed into law the Medical Malpractice Reform Bill and the Universal Child Care Bill. What this means is there will be no need for a special session will likely be required before a new state fiscal year begins in July.

Thirty day legislative sessions are commonly referred to as the “short session”.  Thirty day sessions are supposed to be  reserved for fiscal matters with the Governor setting the agenda. However, for the 2026 Legislative Session, Governor Lujan Grisham authorized a number of non-budgetary matters in her final regular session as governor.

The priorities the Governor  allowed to be included in during the 2026 legislative session and which were enacted and which she signed into law included medical malpractice reform bill, the education and literacy bills and free, universal child care.

In a very real sense her legacy has been solidified with enactment of universal childcare and changes to the medical malpractice laws both being the most contentious issues. Both measures have now been signed into law and will be  the final defining and enduring legacy of Governor Michell Lujan Grisham. She has made it clear that there should be no need for a special session.

There is no doubt that Governor Michelle  Lujan Grisham can be proud of the budget passed and what was accomplished during her last legislative session as well as her  two terms in office. She has left the state in better condition than her predecessor.

Best wishes as Governor Lujan Grisham prepares to leave office on January 1, 2027 when a new Governor will be sworn in.

____________________________________________

POSTCRIPT

The list of the 71 bills signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisahm is as follows:

• House bill 1: Feed bill
• Senate bill 19: School finance unit value reset
• Senate bill 1: Enacting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact
• Senate bill 2: Financing of highway projects
• House bill 9: Enacting Immigrant Safety Act
• House bill 50: Enacting the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact
• Senate bill 104: Removal of Wildlife Commission members
• House bill 253: Public education changes
• House bill 285: Disabled veteran property tax changes
• Senate bill 21: Medicare supplement open enrollment
• Senate bill 111: Motor vehicle code “personal info”
• Senate bill 132: Doit software replacement plan & funding
• Senate bill 143: Update certain agricultural fees
• House bill 43: Disability & survivor pensions changes
• House bill 61: Aggravated battery on police officer
• House bill 64: Public project revolving fund appropriations
• House bill 154: Advanced energy product definition
• House bill 165: Payment of certain IRB special assessments
• House bill 255: Public safety workforce building program
• Senate bill 40: Driver privacy and safety act
• Senate bill 41: Statute of limitations for certain sex crimes
• Senate bill 43: Parole requirement changes
• Senate bill 58: Extend property tax exemption period
• House bill 7: Apprenticeship assistance act transfers
• House bill 95: Additional second judicial district judgeship
• House bill 108: Watershed district taxes and directors
• House bill 109: Water project fund changes
• House bill 111: Water law violation maximum penalty
• House bill 158: Plans on use of certain funds
• House bill 270: Contributions to apprentice & training PGMS.
• House bill 291: Tax changes
• Senate bill 38: Fees on registered pet food
• Senate bill 48: State fairgrounds district bonds
• Senate bill 152: Low-income telecomm. assistance program
• House bill 63: NMFA water project fund projects
• House bill 128: Firefighter occupational disease disablement
• House bill 184: Investment of conservation & legacy funds
• House bill 200: New homes for New Mexico program
• House bill 4: Health care affordability fund distributions
• House bill 34: School nurse licensure provisions
• House bill 38: Wheelchair insurance coverage
• House bill 156: Repeal special session vaccination laws
• House bill 306: Prohibit certain health care facility fees
• House bill 99: Medical malpractice changes
• House bill 66: Health care professional loan fund changes
• Senate bill 3: Commitment procedure changes & definitions
• Senate bill 20: Prior authorization & prescription drugs
• Senate bill 30: Reporting of induced abortions
• Senate bill 101: Health care delivery & access act repeal
• House bill 8: Higher education major projects fund
• House bill 30: Teacher residency act changes
• House bill 47: School employee insurance programs
• Senate bill 29: Math requirements for teaching license
• Senate bill 34: High quality literacy instruction act
• Senate bill 64: Create Office Of Special Education
• Senate bill 193: Acequia & ditch infrastructure fund transfer
• Senate bill 73: Driver’s ed requirements
• Senate bill 264: Public peace, health, safety & welfare election rights & troops at elections
• House bill 247: Capital outlay changes
• House bill 80: Oil & gas conservation tax act changes
• House bill 124: New Americans division in WSD
• Senate bill 96: Regulated child care zoning requirements
• Senate bill 241: Child care assistance program act
• House bill 70: PRC support agency
• House bill 248: General obligation bonds
• House bill 256: Defibrillators at school athletic events
• House bill 23: General appropriation act of 2026 / Dept. Of Transportation Act of 2026
• House bill 332: Capital outlay reauthorizations
• Senate bill 151: Corporate income tax changes
• Senate bill 273: Public peace, health, safety & welfare correction facility loss of revenue
• Senate bill 240: Capital outlay projects

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-gov-signs-72-new-laws-vetoes-two-bills-in-final-legislative-session/70717800

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/governor-signs-states-11-1b-budget/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/governor-signs-budget-and-tax-package-before-deadline-but-vetoes-disaster-response-bill/2998417

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-governor-signs-tax-package-11-billion-budget/article_3dc7f085-a197-4626-8579-8a86303ea97f.html

https://sourcenm.com/2026/03/11/new-mexico-gov-lujan-grisham-signs-11-1b-state-budget/

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/11/governor-signs-state-budget-capital-outlay-bills-and-tax-package/

LINKS TO RELATED NEWS AND COMMENTARY ARTICLES ARE HERE:

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Into Law Universal Child Care Making New Mexico Only State To Offer No-Cost Universal Child Care Becoming Part Of Governor’s Enduring Legacy

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Medical Malpractice Reform Bill, Other Health Care Bills Into Law; All Bills Signed Taken Together Mark Historic Milestone For State Struggling With Shortage Of Health Care Professionals

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Into Law 5 Education Bills; Reflects Continuing Effort To Improve State’s Public Education System

On March 9, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law four education bills putting years of investment and measurable student gains into permanent state law. The four bills are intended to bolster reading and math instruction, establish a state Office of Special Education and significantly reduce  health insurance premiums for educators. The four bills cover literacy instruction, math teacher preparation, special education services and school employee insurance.  All four bills  passed both chambers of the legislature with near-unanimous or unanimous bipartisan support.

Following is a summation of the legislation  Governor Lujan Grisham signed into law:

SB 37 (HIGH QUALITY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACT)

Senate Bill 37 is known as the High Quality Literacy Instruction Act. It  seeks to improve how the state’s schools teach reading by using a grade-specific testing system for early readers and requiring teachers to use approved instructional materials from the Public Education Department. SB 97 was sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, Rep. Joy Garratt and Rep. Catherine Cullen, and passed unanimously in both chambers.

SB 37 requires teachers to train in literacy instruction with a special focus on students with reading disabilities and English-language learners. Under the bill, the Public Education Department will assign a literacy coach to elementary schools with low average reading proficiency beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

Senate Bill 37 requires K to 3^rd grade  reading assessments, mandates that parents be notified when a child is struggling and assigns literacy coaches to schools statewide to support classroom teachers. The legislation builds on $60.4 million in state literacy investment since 2019, including training more than 10,000 educators in evidence-based reading instruction.

Nearly half of New Mexico elementary and middle school students now read at grade level, up from upwards of  one-third three years ago. Reading proficiency across grades 3 to 8 has climbed 10% since 2022. Students who have historically been underserved are leading those gains:

• Native American students posted 13% improvements.
• Economically disadvantaged students gained 12%.
• Hispanic students gained 10%.
• English learners improved by 8%.

The state is  investing $30 million in capital outlay for a new literacy institute which is modeled on successful programs in Kansas, Florida and Pennsylvania.  The new literacy institute is to be completed by end of 2026 and capable of serving 500 students at a time.

Senate Bill 37  requires schools to employ best practices from a pedagogy known as structured literacy. A Legislative Education Study Committee report on the bill found that similar approaches have paid off to significant effect in states like Mississippi, which also spent years at the bottom of national NAEP scores.  Data published by the Urban Institute shows Mississippi has risen to the top of several categories, when adjusted for demographic information such as race and special education status.

Senate Bill 37  is a companion to Senate Bill 29 discussed  immediatly below.

SB 29  (MATH IMPROVEMENT)

Senate Bill 29  is an effort to reform math instruction in New Mexico’s schools. The bill requires student teachers to take additional undergraduate coursework in math pedagogy to get a teaching license and establishes regular statewide standards for math instruction.  SB 29 requires teachers to conduct regular math assessments in kindergarten through third grade, and to notify a student’s parents if they show difficulty in math.

SB 29 raises math coursework requirements for all teacher licensure levels and directs the New Mexico Public Education Department to develop a Mathematics Instructional Leadership Framework, which outlines math instruction for teachers. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, the bill requires early math screening in grades K to 3^rd grade, with parent-notified support plans and interventions for at-risk students.

SB 29 passed unanimously in both chambers and was  sponsored by Sen. William Soules, Rep. Debra Sariñana and Rep. Catherine Cullen, and

HB 30 (STIPEND FOR UNDERGRADUATE TEACHER RESIDENTS)

House Bill 30 sets the minimum stipend for an undergraduate teacher resident at 65% of an entry level teacher’s salary, or $35,750. For teacher residents with a bachelor’s degree, the bill raises the minimum stipend to 80% of an entry level salary, or $44,000. The bill mandates teacher residents to spend a minimum of three years at any public school in New Mexico, instead of at the district or school where they completed their residency under the previous law.

SB 64 (OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION)

has long been a priority for Governor Lujan Grisham. She first established the office by executive order in 2023 and she urged lawmakers to permanently house it within PED during her final State of the State address in January. The office is meant to track and prevent discrimination against special-needs students.

The Office of Special Education will create a statewide Individualized Education Program,  known as an IEP, that will be maintained electronically so that families with special-needs children will not have to start over if they transfer school districts. Governor Lujan Grisham said the initiative is of particular importance to her, because her sister was a special needs student who often had instruction in a “broom closet” because there was no other space for her.

Senate Bill 64 establishes a state Office of Special Education, housed within the PED, to protect and support disabled students. The Office of Special Education will monitor and prevent discrimination against students with special needs, and work to establish policies to help them succeed in school. The special education office will also implement a uniform Individualized Education Program, otherwise known as an IEP, to ensure continuity when students with disabilities move between schools.

Lujan Grisham said the special education bill will help the state meet its requirements under the 2019 Yazzie-Martinez decision, which ruled that the state has a constitutional obligation to provide every student with a sufficient education, especially Native American students, English-language learners, students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students.

The SB 64 passed 62 to 1 in the House and 38 to 1 in the Senate. SB 64 was sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, Rep. Joy Garratt and Sen. Cindy Nava.

HB 47  (SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE)

House Bill 47, effective at the beginning of July, requires employers to pay at least 80% of health insurance premiums for public school workers, bringing them to parity with other state employees. Employees would cover a maximum of 20% of their premiums under the bill. HB 47 replaces a tiered employer insurance contribution structure, which varied from 60% to 80% depending on salary, with a flat minimum of 80% for every school district and charter school employee, regardless of salary. The bill is backed by $73.15 million in new appropriations to the public school fund for FY 2027.

Teachers and other state employees will get a 1% raise under the new state budget, down from 3% last year.  Lawmakers have said they hope the cheaper health insurance will make up for next year’s smaller raises.  Sen. Natalie Figueroa, D-Albuquerque said this:

“Health insurance is a cost that is rising so fast it eats into those raises that we try and give our educators. … There is no educator that can stay in a career where their paycheck shrinks year after year after year.”

HB 47 passed unanimously in both the House and Senate  chambers. HB 47 was Sponsored by Rep. Raymundo Lara, Sen. Natalie Figueroa, Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, Rep. Tanya Mirabal Moya and Rep. Brian Baca.

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT

Flanked by local students and lawmakers from the House and the Senate Education committees, Governor Lujan Grishman she hoped the  package of legislation would help change the state’s reputation for public education, particularly in science and math. Lujan Grisham said that New Mexico’s literacy rate is climbing while the nation’s rate decreases.

The Governor said  this of the legislation she signed into law:

“No child will be left [behind]. No family will be unsupported. … Every student can learn to read. Every student will get support in every context. … I think New Mexico can be the education model for the country … and I’m really proud that I got to be at the beginning phases of that. … This is … one of the state’s most important moments.  …  Today marks another milestone in changing the trajectory of public education in New Mexico. Reading proficiency is up 10 percentage points since 2022. Teacher pay is 30% higher than when I took office. We moved that needle substantially, and we’re not done. Thank you to every lawmaker who invested in New Mexico’s students this session.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

New Mexico has long ranked near the bottom of the National Assessment of Educational Progress scores. New Mexico ranked 50th in the country in reading and math in a 2024 report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress, which showed only 20% of fourth graders were proficient in reading and 23% were proficient in math. In middle school, progress worsened with 19% of eighth graders showed proficiency in reading and 14% in math. Governor Lujan Grisham and a bipartisan coalition of state lawmakers at the  bill signing said they hope to see all  that change as a result of the legislation and funding past.

Evidence of improving the state’s education system is becoming clear. Proficiency in reading and math is increasing. Teacher starting salaries in New Mexico are 30% higher than when Governor Lujan Grisham took office over seven years ago. A $30 million summer reading intervention program enrolled more than 16,000 students over two years, producing an 11% increase in reading proficiency among participants.

It’s notewothy that both Senate Bill 37 and Senate Bill 39 passed unanimously in both the House and the Senate. The signing of all the bills into law reflect a sustained  investment in New Mexico public education. Taken together the  bills reflect a major milestone of improving the states lagging education system.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/video/governor-signs-four-education-bills/11592308/

https://www.koat.com/article/governor-signs-four-education-bills-new-mexico-law/70692707

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/governor-signs-4-education-bills-into-law-with-new-reading-math-requirements/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/governor-signs-education-package-on-reading-math-teacher-benefits/2996858

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/09/governor-signs-four-education-bills-sb-37-builds-upon-years-of-progress-in-literacy-instruction/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/mexico-gov-michelle-lujan-grisham-194345610.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

On March 10, 2026, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the Universal Child Care Act making New Mexico the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost child care that sets young children up for success and helps make life more affordable for families. The governor also signed legislation removing local zoning and homeowner association barriers to child care expansion in the state.  The two new laws taken together  mark the culmination of a “cradle to career” education plan Lujan Grisham launched during her first year in office.  New Mexico is now  the only state in the nation to offer its residents tuition-free college and no-cost universal child care. The governor signed the bills flanked by lawmakers, families and children enrolled at Santa Fe’s Garcia Street Club School,  the oldest preschool in northern New Mexico and the second oldest in the state, having served Santa Fe families since 1945.

SENATE BILL 241 (THE UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE ACT) 

Senate Bill 241 known as the Universal Child Care Act guarantees that families across New Mexico can access affordable care regardless of income.

Since the program’s launch on Nov. 1, 2025, an additional 12,666 families and 16,706 children have enrolled statewide, and 63 new child care providers have registered for business in New Mexico. More than half of new enrollees were already income-eligible under prior assistance programs. About 30,000 families and 44,000 children are on track to receive free child care this year. According to Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky more than 60 new child care providers around the state have also had their applications approved

The Universal Child Care Act  (SB 241)  establishes the statutory foundation for universal child care in New Mexico, allowing the legislature to appropriate up to $700 million between 2026 and 2031 from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund provided that the fund remains above $10 billion. New Mexico’s FY 2027 budget includes a $160 million increase for child care assistance for a total child care budget of $606 million, plus an additional $30 million, over three years, to support the early childhood wage scale and career ladder.

The legislation also provides fiscal safeguards. Specifically, if inflation spikes or oil revenues decline, the program can adjust co-pay structures to ensure sustainability of the program. As for the guardrails built into the bill, they include potential co-pays for higher-income families and child care waitlists. Those steps would be triggered under certain economic situations, such as elevated inflation rates and a downturn in oil prices.

Senate Bill 241 contains certain “triggers” that  would allow co-pays to be charged to higher-income families and childcare wait lists to be implemented. Those steps would be triggered under certain economic situations, such as elevated inflation rates and a downturn in oil prices. The co-pays would only apply to working families, making more than 600% of the federal poverty level. That amount is currently $198,000 per year for a family of four.

The  built-in “triggers” to Senate Bill 241 are as follows:

• Allowing co-pays for higher-income families and child care wait lists.
• A state early childhood agency would be required to take certain steps if any of four different conditions occur.
• Those conditions are higher-than-expected child care enrollment, less than $50 per barrel oil prices, higher than 3% inflation and state revenue growth lagging behind inflation.
• Under any of those scenarios, the agency would either have to enact a waiting list or charge co-pays for working families making more than 600% of the federal poverty level. That amount is currently $198,000 per year for a family of four.

Childcare costs rank among the largest household expenses for working families nationally, averaging more than $13,000 per child per year in many states. New Mexico is making child care free for families who need it, backed by a statutory framework that other states can model as affordability remains a pressing national challenge.

Lawmakers initially expressed skepticism about the governor’s request for additional dollars to pay for the initiative in the run-up to this year’s 30-day session, but ultimately provided at least a temporary funding stream.

Lujan Grisham expressed confidence the program would remain sustainable even after she leaves office at the end of the year.

Senate Bill 241  was sponsored by Senators Michael Padilla, George Muñoz, Linda Trujillo and Bobby Gonzales. House sponsors include Rep. Doreen Gallegos.  The only Democrat in either legislative chamber to vote against the bill was Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde. Four House Republicans and only one Senate Republican  supported the legislation.

SENATE BILL 96   (THE REGULATED CHILD CARE ZONING REQUIREMENTS ACT)

SB 96  clears the path for more child care providers by prohibiting local governments and home owners associations (HOA’s)  from imposing restrictions on child care homes and centers.  The bill is intended to ensure home-based daycares are not blocked from opening by local zoning requirements. SB 96 will ease zoning restrictions on regulated child care homes in residential areas.  The Governor said she hoped to knock down barriers to where child care facilities can go.

GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT

During the bill signing, and in a statement issued, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham described the Universal Child care act  as a “monumental” and said this:

“I really wanted something that would create a sea change for families and children in New Mexico.  … New Mexico is [now] the first state in the nation to offer universal, no-cost child care. … [My]  hope is that we won’t be the last.  I encourage other states to consider our model, and New Mexico is ready to assist in helping others turn the vision into reality for families across the nation. … All parents who need child care can now get it. … When parents are guaranteed no-cost child care, they can improve their family’s quality of life, fully engage in the workforce and contribute to our state’s economy. Families shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent or paying for child care, and as of today, they no longer will. …  I thank every legislator who sponsored these bills or voted to move them across the finish line to my desk. … Their support and hard work will make a profound difference in the lives of New Mexico families.”

 COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There is no doubt that the two most defining issues of the 2026 New Mexico legislative session are medical malpractice reform and free universal childcare to New Mexico families, regardless of income.  Both measures have now been signed into law and will be  the final defining and enduring legacy of Governor Michell Lujan Grisham.

In all, the governor has now signed 66 of the 74 bills sent to her desk. She has not vetoed any bills approved this year.  As of March 11, there are several high-profile measures that remain to be signed including the  $11.1 billion budget bill and a tax package featuring a $10,000 tax credit for physicians.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/gov-signs-universal-child-care-bill-into-law-vows-program-will-be-sea-change-for-families/2997657

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/universal-free-childcare-program-becomes-law-in-new-mexico/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/governor-michelle-lujan-grisham-signs-universal-child-care-into-law/

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-no-cost-child-care-law/70702925

https://sourcenm.com/2026/03/10/new-mexico-gov-lujan-grisham-signs-free-universal-child-care-into-law/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/gov-signs-universal-child-care-bill-into-law-vows-program-will-be-sea-change-for-families/2997657

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/10/governor-lujan-grisham-signs-nations-first-universal-child-care-law-new-mexico-is-a-national-model-for-early-childhood-care-and-education/

Links to related blog articles are here:

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Medical Malpractice Reform Bill, Other Health Care Bills Into Law; All Bills Signed Taken Together Mark Historic Milestone For State Struggling With Shortage Of Health Care Professionals

2026 NM Legislative Update: Senate Passes Universal Child Care With Up To $1 Billion Funding Source; Medical Malpractice Bill Moves To House Floor; Passage Of Both To Become Law Remains In Doubt

The Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) is essentially all of the city zoning laws on how properties are zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use development. The IDO includes zoning and subdivision regulations to govern land use and all development within the City of Albuquerque. It establishes the City’s system of planning citywide. The IDO allows the Albuquerque City Council to amend it every two years. This amendment process has resulted in upwards of 140 amendments in the last two years resulting in mass confusion to the public.

“Up zoning is a land-use planning tool that changes existing zoning regulations to permit more intensive development in specific areas already zoned. Zoning laws govern how property can be used, including housing density, minimum lot sizes, building heights, and parking requirements. Up zoning alters these rules to increase permitted density or intensity of use, allowing more units per acre, taller buildings, or different uses like commercial establishments in residential zones. This process does not directly create new housing but removes regulatory barriers, incentivizing new construction.

The link to the quoted and relied upon source is here:

https://legalclarity.org/what-is-upzoning-and-how-does-the-legal-process-wo

CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO KILL UPZONING

On Wednesday, February 18, after months of debate and two committee hearings, the 9 member  Albuquerque City Council voted 5 to 4 reject a series of amendments Mayor Tim Keller sought  to the city’s zoning laws known as the Integrated Development Ordinance mandating “up zoning” in all established residential areas of the city. The council chamber was packed with spectators. More than 70 people signed up to speak about the amendments with many arguing compassionately either for or against the amendments.  The meeting lasted for hours and until midnight.

The goal of the zoning changes was to double  or triple housing density in established neighborhoods to address what Mayor Keller declared an affordable housing shortage. The zoning law changes would have mandated up zoning and deny adjoining property owners and neighborhood associations all existing rights to dispute or challenge the upzoning. Ultimately, 16 amendments were proposed. All the “up zoning amendments” were voted down by the majority of city  councilors on a 5-4 vote. Voting to reject the zoning changes  were City Counselors Klarisa Pena, Dan Lewis, Renee Grout, Dan Champine and Brook Bassan. Voting in favor of the upzoning  amendments were City Councilors  Tammmy Fiebelkorn, Nichole Rogers, Joaquin Baca and Stephnie Telles.

According to a recent study by Root Policy Research, Albuquerque is 13,000 to 28,000 housing units short of meeting the demand for housing for low-income residents. When supply doesn’t meet demand, rents go up for residents. The proposed amendments to the IDO included a mandate for “up zoning” of all existing residential properties to increase density and allow casita, duplex development, townhome and apartment complex development on virtually every single residential property in established neighborhoods in the city as a permissive use.

In zoning law, a “permissive use” is where a property owner has the exclusive right to decide how their  property can be developed without government approval nor notice to adjoining property owners for approval.  A “conditional use” is  where a property owner is required to secure government approval and construction permits for development of real property and are required to give notice to adjacent property owners with  adjacent  property owners having  rights to object and rights of  appeal.

With the up zoning changes to the IDO, no city applications for up zone changes would have been required and all rights to contest or appeal the upgrading by adjoining property owners and neighborhood associations would have been eliminated.  The mandatory up zoning would have allowed for the development of apartments or commercial use, such as bodegas, on all corner lots in residential areas.

During the February 18 marathon City Council meeting, it was progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn who attempted to reinstate zoning code changes that had been removed in a previous committee meeting. Specifically, the proposed changes would have allowed townhomes, duplexes  and apartments to be built in established single-family neighborhoods, as well as small retailers as a “permissive use”.  The rejected proposals included expanding the definition of casitas and reducing parking requirements to enable denser housing. Among the failed proposals was a push to loosen regulations for Safe Outdoor Spaces, which are city sanctioned homeless encampments on private property owned by churches, businesses or residents. Mayor Keller has said he wants 100 safe outdoor spaces to accommodate 1,000 unhoused people with 10 allowed at each sanctioned city encampment.

PRO AND CON ARGUMENTS

The proposed zoning law  changes drew both gushing, philosophical praise from supporters as well as  anger and condemnations from the public, residential property owners and neighborhood association representatives who signed up to speak to the city council. Throughout the meeting, several supporters of the up zoning amendments were asked to leave the council chambers because of their shouting out loud or speaking out of turn. The failed votes were met with bitter disappointment by proponents and major relief by opponents.

According to city planners who drafted the reforms, the amendments could have spurred development in a city short ten of thousands of housing units.  Albuquerque faces what progressive Democrat Mayor Keller and the 4 progressive democrats on the city council are calling  a “housing crisis.”  They argue without enough housing units to meet demand, rent and home prices will continue to  soar while residents’ wages stagnate. Although both sides are in somewhat agreement that Albuquerque faces a housing shortage but  to what extent it is in question.

Advocates say that housing  shortages are worsening homelessness, which has doubled in Albuquerque since the pandemic, according to recent point-in-time counts. Advocates for the up zoning amendments tried to couch enactment of the zoning changes in terms of moral obligations and a economic rift between generations.

Albuquerque resident Marceline Kostiner during public comment described the zoning changes in moral terms, saying that the council’s reluctance to change rigid zoning code means less affordable housing, worsened poverty and more people living and dying on the streets of Albuquerque. Kostiner said this:

“It will kill people. …The incrementalism here will kill us.”

Jordon McConnell, an Albuquerque resident and spokesperson for the progressive advocacy group Strong Towns said this:

“The people speaking in favor of these amendments are overwhelmingly younger than the people speaking against them. … Most of them already own a home. That’s not a coincidence. It’s the generation that’s trying to stay here to build a life in Albuquerque, asking all of you to make just the smallest amount of room for us.”

CITY COUNCILOR TAMMY FIEBELKORN PLAYS RACE CARD

Progressive Democrat Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn was the sponsor of the up zoning amendments at the request of Mayor Tim Keller. During council debate, Fiebelkorn played the “race card” when she said that the existing zoning codes, when applied incorrectly, segregated people of color and the poor from more affluent residents. Fiebelkorn said this:

“One commenter earlier today made the statement that [single-family residential zoning] was created for a purpose. … And I want to say, ‘Yeah, it really was.’ It was created for the purpose of keeping ‘those people’ out of your neighborhood. There is no other reason to think that you would not want a duplex next door to you.”

OPPOSITON TO UPZONING

Opponents said up zoning changes would open up their neighborhoods to investment development and to gentrification. Opponents argued that loosening zoning regulations and limitations only serves to line developers’ pockets because there is no incentive to build affordable housing and only high end housing and  luxury apartments would be developed.

For established homeowners, the amendments were viewed as an overt threat to their way of life and to their home ownership. Homeowner Keith Allen said this during public comment:

“[Homeownership] is the American dream.  People work for 30 or 40 years for a [residential] zoning place. We want to keep those requirements.”

Westside  City Councilor Dan Lewis  agreed with homeowners, who he said worked hard and intentionally sought out suburban areas for peace and quiet. Lewis said the citywide zoning changes threatened to undo those decisions by opening neighborhoods up to unwanted development and population density, he said.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-votes-down-zoning-reforms-in-tense-final-meeting/2984846

https://nationaltoday.com/us/nm/albuquerque/news/2026/02/26/albuquerque-city-council-rejects-controversial-zoning-code-changes/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/city-council-votes-down-zoning-reforms-in-tense-final-meeting/2984846

https://www.newsradiokkob.com/2026/02/19/57571/

https://citydesk.org/2025/08/14/opt-in-zoning-proposal-suffers-decisive-defeat-in-committee/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There is no doubt that the failure of all the proposed IDO amendments and zoning code changes highlighted the City’s challenges in addressing its housing affordability and availability issues. The debate also highlighted and exposed the tensions between affordable housing activists who want to increase density to boost housing supply and homeowners and neighborhood associations concerned about preserving neighborhood character and tranquility without increasing density.

Affordable housing activists are continuing with their aggressive efforts demanding city wide up zoning by disparaging on social media the city councilors who voted to reject the up zoing amendments and now targeting those city councilors up for re election in 2027. Affordable housing activists have gone so far as to target City Council President Klarissa Pena  on social media with unfounded and vicious attacks on her vote, her integrity and reputation and her 12 years of service as a city councilor. They simply do not like the fact she is a voice or reason as she seeks a viable and reasonable compromise. The affordable housing activists attitude is that it is there way or suffer the risk of being voted out of office.

FEIBELKORN PLAYS THE RACE CARD, LOBBY’S LEGISLATURE TO STRIP CITY OF ZONING AUTHORITY

It is downright reprehensible that Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn played the race card in her effort to get the city council to enact her amendments. She did so during the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee which she was chaired at one time but was removed by the new City Council President Klariss Pena.

Feibelkorn has insulted multi-generational Hispanic New Mexicans implying that they are racist for wanting to protect their homes and their communities by opposing up zoning that would destroy the historical nature of their neighborhoods by developers. Vocal opponents of up zoning include Bianca Encinias, a neighborhood activist with the Historic Neighborhood Alliance and Loretta Naranjo Lopez, who is a representative from Envision Albuquerque and who is also a multi-generational resident from Martineztown. Ms. Loretta Naranjo Lopez is the longtime President of the Martineztown-Santa Barbara  Neighborhood Association. She is also a retired from the City of Albuquerque having worked in the Planning Department dealing with city zoning laws and code enforcement.

During the 2026 New Mexico legislature, and attempt was made to eliminate the possibility to reassess property values for tax increases  when a property is rezoned. The legislation failed in committee. The 2026 legislature also considered legislation sponsored by Albuquerque area State Senators  Moe Maestas and Heather Berghmans that would have removed all zoning authority from city and county governments. That legislation also died in committee. City Councilor Tammy Feiblkkorn actively lobbied for the legislation that would have stripped the city of Albuquerque of all its zoning authority in the interest of creating more “affordable housing”.

COUNCIORS BACA AND ROGERS VOTE YES TO DETRIMENT OF CONSTITUENCY

The proposed amendments to the Integrated Development Ordinance were a pathetic attempt by progressive Democrats Mayor Keller and the 4 progressive Democrate  city councilors to address the city’s so called “housing crisis” and to increase affordable housing. The term affordable housing is about as misleading as it gets. It is a term often used by politicians, elected officials and developers to promote their own personal or political agendas to gain support for their positions and government funding for development projects. When the term “affordable housing” is used by the politicians, elected officials and real estate developers, what they actually mean is “subsidized government housing”.

The two City Council Districts that would have been the most affected by the mandatory up zoning changes would have been District 2 and District 6. District 6 is the city-center district encompassing downtown, old town, and includes the most historical areas of the city, part of the west mesa, and the entire valley east of the river and is represented by City Councilor Joaquin Baca.  District  6 includes Albuquerque’s Southeast Heights encompassing the University of New Mexico, and the International District and is represented by City Councilor Nichole Rogers.

Both Districts 2 and 6 have the highest concentration of minorities and lower income residents. It is these two districts that would have been  the likely biggest targets by investors, speculators and developers to buy up properties from generational family’s for redevelop leading to gentrification. Both City Councilors voted for the up zoning changes believing the change in law would lead to “affordable housing” when in fact it would have resulted in the displacement of many of their constituents as investors sought to buy up residential properties for high end developments and not affordable or low income housing.

EXISTING HOMEOWNERS CANNOT AFFORD UPZONING CONSTRUCTION COST

Mayor Tim Keller, his Planning Department and all the four progressive City Councilors who support up-zoning want to double or triple housing density in established neighborhoods over strenuous objections from property owners and neighborhood associations.

They want up zoning  development  by existing residential property owners to increase density and allow casita, duplex development and townhome development in virtually every established neighborhood in the city, even historical areas of the city.  Ostensibly, they believe existing property owners can afford to build on their own properties whether they own the home outright or if there is a mortgage.

Residential  zoning covers 68%  of the city’s existing housing and consists of 120,000 single-family detached homes on  residential lots.  The lots  allow only single-family homes, which city officials say has contributed to exclusionary patterns and limits housing options for lower-income households. The new rezoning process proposed was designed to loosen those restrictions and allow to double or triple housing development in established neighborhoods ignoring what the neighborhoods want.

Construction costs are consistent when it comes to building an entire house or adding a free-standing casita or converting a residence to a duplex or town home. There is no real differentiation between the basic construction costs to construct “affordable housing” and other types of housing.

According to the Homebuilders Digest construction costs cover everything from materials to the actual construction. In Albuquerque there are four basic categories of construction:

1. A value-based custom home would start around $175per square foot. This is a home that would have builder-grade finishes, such as ceramic tile, laminate flooring, basic cabinets, level one granite or quartz, aluminum or builder-grade vinyl windows, value series appliances, and basic plumbing and electrical fixtures.
2. A mid-range home would start at around $225per square foot. Mid-range finishes would include porcelain tile, engineered wood, mid-level cabinets with soft close, level two or three granite or quartz, and a moderate budget for plumbing and electrical fixtures. It would also have premium vinyl or fiberglass windows and higher-end appliances.
3. A high-end custom home would start at around $275 per square foot. Such a home would have all high-end custom finishes, fiberglass or wood windows, and professional appliances.
4. A home with energy efficiency features would range between $200 to $400per square foot depending on selections for mechanical systems, windows, plumbing and lighting fixtures, cabinets, appliances, flooring, and more.

The link to the relied upon or quoted source is here:

https://www.homebuilderdigest.com/cost-guides/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-a-house-in-albuquerque/

The minimum hard construction cost to build a 750 square foot free standing casita or convert an existing residence to a duplex by adding on 750 square feet of living space at the value base cost of $175 or the mid-range cost of $225 would between $131,250 (750 square ft. X $175) or $168,750 (750 X $225). The homeowner who does not have the cash savings to pay the construction costs, a second or third mortgage on the residence would be required.

The overwhelming majority of existing homeowners cannot afford the construction costs for a free-standing casita or the conversion of their homes to a duplex,  townhome or apartments. Simply put, only developers and investors who speculate will be able to double or triple density by buying up existing homes for purposes of building casitas or converting residences to a duplex, town home or apartments.  After that is done, the profit motive will be to sell or rent at the highest level and not for affordable housing.

ZONING CHANGES WOULD HAVE  DESTROYED  NEIGHBORHOODS

Mayor Tim Keller, the  City Planning  and City Councilors who want to allow apartment development or retail business development, such as bodegas, on all corner residential lots in all established neighborhoods, They want to benefit developers by  depriving adjacent property owners the right to object and appeal. Such development will no doubt result in magnets for crime and heavy traffic patterns destroying the tranquility, livability and character of established neighborhoods.

Keller and the Planning Department erroneously believe that increased density will increase affordable housing as they simply ignore the market forces and the profit motive. They argue in essence that “flooding the market” with more housing than what is needed will result in lower cost of housing and make available more housing for sale and rent. It’s a false and very misleading narrative.

The one thing Albuquerque does have is open space that can be developed. There is no need to increase density in established neighborhoods that will destroy a neighborhood’s character. Sources within the Planning Department have confirmed the city has already “pre-platted” residential development of 125,000 to 150,000 residential lots. If  Mayor Keller and City Planning want to allow “up-zoning” they should do so only on undeveloped, vacant land or vacant commercial properties and leave existing neighborhoods alone without forcing them to sue.

UPZONING WOULD HAVE LEAD TO PROPERTTY TAX INCREASES AND  TO GENTRIFICATION

The Bernalillo County property tax code is clear. The taxable value of a property is 33 1/3% of the assessed value as determined by the Bernalillo County Assessor. Under the property tax code, residential property assessments may NOT rise more than 3% per year unless the property changes ownership, is improved or is REZONED.

The mandatory up zoning would have allowed the Bernalillo County assessor to increase property values and increase property taxes. Such a scenario has played out in Las Cruces, New Mexico where property taxes in fact were raised dramatically because of up zoning.

What should be alarming to all existing residential property owners is that the Planning Department failed to consider how the up-zoning zoning changes they were  proposing would  likely change Bernalillo County’s property value assessments and tax assessments.

Rezoning all residential property would have  affected the property tax cap of 3% and allow for increases in property taxes. Simply put, increasing density increases real property values for tax assessment. Government entities never resist the temptation to increase property taxes and property taxes historically never, ever come down.

The  “Up-Zoning” agenda of the Planning Department and Mayor Tim Keller would have made gentrification an official city policy because real property taxes will soar and lower income property owners would not be able to afford the increase in property taxes. They would be forced to sell their properties to speculators and developers resulting in displacement and gentrification.

One thing is clear, there was absolutely no language in the Integrated Development Ordinance amendments that specifically required affordable housing. There was no language in the proposed amendments that addressed private equity and developer price speculation.

Specifically, the proposed changes would have allowed townhomes,  duplexes and apartments to be built in established single-family neighborhoods, as well as small retailers and grocery stores known as bodegas. The rejected proposals included expanding the definition of casitas, and reducing parking requirements to enable denser housing.

CONCLUSION

Up zoning efforts by Mayor Tim Keller and City Councilors Tammmy Fiebelkorn, Nichole Rogers, Joaquin Baca and Stephnie Telles are nothing more than giving investment speculators and developers carte blanche to buy up residential properties to destroy existing neighborhoods by increasing density leading to gentrification.  Mayor Keller and the city council need to keep their hands off established neighborhoods. They need to seek better and more informed ways to create affordable housing.

The link to a related blog article is here:

2026 Legislative Update By Steve Holman: “Major State-Wide “Upzoning” Bill Usurping Local Government’s Zoning Authority Killed In Senate Committee; ABQ City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn Goes Rogue Asking Legislature To Usurp All Local Government Zoning Authority”; ABQ City Council Will Meet Feb.18 For Final Votes On Integrated Development Ordinance Amendments Rejecting Upzoning; Contact Your City Councilor