In the News

Gov. Susana Martinez has signed into law a measure that puts New Mexico driver’s licenses in line with the stricter requirements of the federal Real ID Act and ends the fractious, five-year debate over whether undocumented immigrants should legally drive. Martinez signed House Bill 99 on Tuesday at a news conference at the Albuquerque International Sunport. “This has never been an immigration bill – it’s always been a public safety bill,” the governor said. “What we want to do is not be a magnet for crime.” Martinez has insisted since she was first elected in 2010 that the state law … Read More

SANTA FE, N.M. — Standardized testing for New Mexico high school students — at least those in two grade levels — will be reduced next year under legislation signed into law today by Gov. Susana Martinez. The new law, which will be in effect in time for the 2016-17 school year, will do away with a requirement that ninth and tenth-graders in public schools and charter schools take at least three periodic assessments during each academic year in reading, English and mathematics. However, students at those grade levels will still face the computer-based PARCC exam, or Partnership for Assessment of … Read More

Life will suddenly get a little easier for New Mexico police officers and firefighters who get injured in the line of duty, thanks to a bill the governor signed into law Thursday. It guarantees that injured cops and firefighters won’t have to deal with increased health care costs and shrinking retirement benefits while they’re recovering. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy Robin Hopkins is the poster girl for this legislation. Shot by a gunman on a spree in October 2013, she nearly lost her life and then nearly lost her left leg. Then she discovered that, on workers compensation, her paycheck would … Read More

SANTA FE, N.M. — Surrounded by teary-eyed families who lost loved ones because of drunken drivers, Gov. Susana Martinez on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 118 into law, significantly increasing the penalties for the worst DWI repeat offenders and for drunken drivers who kill people on the road. The signing ceremony was held at the State Police district headquarters in Albuquerque. The bill takes effect July 1. Sponsored by Rep. Sarah Maestas Barnes, R-Albuquerque, and Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, the bill reclassifies vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol or drugs from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, and … Read More

Surrounded by local lawmakers, Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation in Roswell Wednesday that expands the ability of local governments to provide financial incentives to attract commercial airline service. The bill-signing ceremony at the Roswell International Air Center was on the eve of new flight service between Roswell and Phoenix beginning today. The bill Martinez signed Wednesday, House Bill 192, gives municipalities and counties the option to use up to 50 percent of their lodgers tax revenues to offer airlines financial guarantees to establish air service. It also allows municipalities or counties to issue revenue bonds secured by future lodgers tax … Read More

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez signed off Monday on a $6.2 billion spending plan for the coming budget year that relies on one-time fixes, such as diverting money from government accounts and drawing down the state’s cash reserves, to avoid steep budget cuts. But even with the budgetary tourniquets, overall New Mexico state spending is set to decrease next year for the first time in five years as plummeting oil and natural gas prices take their toll on the state’s economy. “Things aren’t going to be easy, but I’m optimistic we can make it through,” Martinez said at an … Read More

SANTA FE, New Mexico — Sandia National Laboratories has returned to accepting New Mexico driver’s licenses for visitors to gain entry to its facilities. A Sandia official said Monday that a New Mexico driver’s license is now acceptable by itself to verify a person’s identity to access the premises. New Mexico last week was given an extension until October to meet tougher federal identification requirements for driver’s licenses after the state Legislature approved new rules for immigrant driver’s licenses. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez plans to sign legislation that stops the practice of providing state driver’s licenses to immigrants regardless of … Read More

SANTA FE, N.M. — Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law three bills Sunday afternoon, two aimed at providing judges with more information about a criminal defendant’s history and one that creates a system to notify the public when a person with mental or physical disabilities is missing. “These bills are all going to make our neighborhoods safer by keeping our courts informed, keeping our citizens aware and, most importantly, keeping criminals off of our streets,” Scott Weaver, acting cabinet secretary of the Department of Public Safety, said Sunday afternoon. House Bill 72, better known as Jaydon’s Law, allows judges to … Read More

SANTA FE, New Mexico — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is signing a state budget that trims overall state spending while bolstering Medicaid health care and increasing pay for prison guards, State Police and some veteran teachers. The Republican governor announced on Monday her endorsement of the $6.2 billion budget as she met with business leaders at a hotel in Albuquerque. New Mexico is drawing down its general fund reserves and pinching pennies to pay for day-to-day government operations because of plunging revenues linked to oil and natural gas production, as well as weaker-than-expected sales and income tax receipts. Lawmakers … Read More

On Monday, Gov. Susana Martinez endorsed the new state budget during her meeting with business leaders in Albuquerque. The $6.2 billion budget reduces overall state spending while increasing spending for Medicaid health care, and salaries for prison guards, State Police and some teachers. Reducing spending was a top priority for New Mexico lawmakers during the 2016 Legislative Session due to plunging oil and gas prices. This new budget cuts spending in the current fiscal year by nearly $31 million. http://krqe.com/2016/02/29/new-mexico-governor-agrees-to-trim-state-spending