LAS CRUCES - Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham broke with tradition and dispensed with the annual state of the state address Tuesday, Jan. 19, on the opening day of the New Mexico Legislature’s 60-day session amid concerns for both COVID-19 and potential civil disruptions.
But her to-do list for lawmakers is no secret. These are the governor’s top priorities for this year’s session, and the legislation that has been introduced to achieve them: Expand the Small Business Recovery Act passed in the June special session by providing an additional $100 million in federal funding for small business grants.
No bill filed yet. The bill passed last June provided $400 million from the Severance Tax Fund to provide loans for small businesses, but many business owners were reluctant to take on additional debt. The new bill will provide $100 million for grants. Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, has pre-filed a separate bill to provide tax credits and a new fund to assist small businesses.
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LAS CRUCES - New Mexico, which now leads the nation in the use of private prisons, would be required to wind down that practice under a bill prefiled ahead of this year’s legislative session by Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces.
House Bill 40, called the Private Detention Facility Moratorium Act, would prohibit the state from entering into any new contracts or agreements for the operation of private detention facilities.
It would also allow for the termination of existing contracts if the inspection report by the Department of Corrections finds that the facility is out of compliance.
State representatives united on safety
Democrat, Republican members of state House weigh in on security Share Updated: 5:35 PM MST Jan 15, 2021 Brandon Evans
Democrat, Republican members of state House weigh in on security Share Updated: 5:35 PM MST Jan 15, 2021
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Show Transcript EXTRAORDINARILY VIOLENT, AND HAD THE POTENTIAL TO POSE MORTAL DANGER TO MEMBERS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THE CITY IS LOOKING VERY DIFFERENT WITH THE GOVERNOR DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY, WITH INCREASED SECURITY AROUND THE ROUNDHOUSE. BRITTANY ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER : BRANDON EVANS IS LIVE IN SANTA FE, BRENDAN YOU SPOKE TO , LAWMAKERS, ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS? BRENDAN: BRITTANY, I DID SPEAK WITH TWO STATEHOUSE REPS, WANT TO DEMOCRATS, ONE A REPUBLICAN AND THE TWO PARTIES NOT AS , DIVIDED ON THIS AT LEAST WHEN , IT COMES TO SAFETY. DISTRICT 15 DEMOCRAT DAYAN HOCHMAN-VIGIL REPRESENTS BERNALILLO COUNTY. WHILE REPUBLICAN GAIL ARMSTRONG FRO