There is nothing like waiting till the last minute to take action. The New Mexico legislature has been in session for 25 days. It has 5 days left and by law must end the session. How effective has it been in its first 25 days?
So far within the session 658 bills have been introduced and only 3 have been signed into law. Not even 1% of those considered have even passed both houses with 5 days to go. As of today only 21 have passed only the House and 26 have passed only the Senate.
The three bills that have been enacted into law include:
HB 1 – the “feed bill” that bill funded the legislative session ensuring legislative staff and per diem are paid to the legislative body. Of course that passed and was signed into law first and above all other legislation. Signed into law on Jan 19, 2024.
HB 141 which increased pay for the New Mexico Supreme Court and the judiciary. Signed into law February 10th, 2024
HB 171 The bill maintains the current requirement of 24 units to earn a high school diploma, increases unit requirements in core academic subject areas, requires the development of graduate profiles, requires school districts and charter schools to set two of the required units for graduation, and allows additional courses in career technical education (CTE) and work-based learning to count toward core academic requirements. The bill would go into effect for high school students beginning ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year. Graduation requirements would not change for students currently in high school. Bill was approved by all the Otero County delegation of Senators Griggs, Burt and Pirtle and approved by House members Block and Madrid. Signed into law Feb 9th, 2024.