More at the Round House

Legislative UpdateFebruary 23, 2025

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for your continued support as we reach the halfway point of this legislative session.

Many of you received my letter urging you to support the decision of the New Mexico Fair Plan Board and encouraging you to contact the Office of the Superintendent. Unfortunately, the phone number listed on their website appears to be nonfunctional, but I encourage you to keep trying. Your engagement makes a difference.

I’m pleased to share that SB 33 – the Wildfire Preparedness Act has successfully passed all Senate committees and the full Senate with a unanimous 37-0 vote. The bill will now be moved to the House for consideration.

To date, the Education Committee has passed 18 bills, many of which I have supported, while others I have not. I remain committed to advocating for all school employees, from custodians and teachers to nurses, staff, and superintendents assuring we protect our investments and prioritize our children’s education.

This past week, the House Floor was active with discussions and debates on multiple bills. While I recognize the urgency of addressing our behavioral health crisis, I have concerns about these package bills, SB 1/a – the Behavioral Health Trust Fund and SB 3 Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act. Establishing a trust fund with no money and then spending a proposed $1 billion on behavioral health programs that are not clearly defined or specific. Given that we are already allocating $140–$200 million annually to behavioral health and must borrow $148 million from our reserve fund to balance the budget, I do not believe establishing a trust fund (with no money by the way) is a responsible decision at this time.

We held a concurrence vote on H.B. 8, a crime-related bill proposed by the Democrats, which is now headed to the Governor’s desk. I voted no because I believe that if we are going to address crime, we must do it effectively. A watered-down crime package is not the solution, and we should not settle for legislation that only creates the appearance of action rather than delivering real results for our communities.

As always, I appreciate your engagement and feedback. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.