New Mexico House Kicks Off Historic 2021 Session
STATE News:
SANTA FE The New Mexico House of Representatives called to order its 55th Legislature at noon Tuesday.
This year’s 60-day session will be a historic first in state history, with the majority of the session taking place virtually due to COVID-19.
Recognizing the pandemic-related challenges facing New Mexicans, House Democrats are focused on delivering relief to hard-working families and small businesses, and solutions to uplift a generation.
Legislative priorities this session include economic recovery, health care, civil rights, rural infrastructure, climate change and education.
“We will not be deterred from doing the important work ahead of us. Our priority is economic recovery for small businesses and hardworking New Mexicans along with solutions that address the systemic challenges facing the people of New Mexico,” said Speaker of the House Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe) in his opening remarks.
These New Mexico lawmakers were named to head legislative committees Walter Rubel, Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative
LAS CRUCES – Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup, has been named chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, replacing longtime leader John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who was defeated in the Democratic primary last year.
Muñoz survived his own primary challenge last year, and went on to win re-election to his fourth term. He had been serving as the committee’s vice chairman.
The Finance Committee takes the lead in drafting the annual budget, and typically has the final say on any spending bills before they get to the Senate floor. New senators Crystal Diamond, R-Truth or Consequences, and Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, were both named as committee members, as were southern New Mexico senators Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces and William Burt, R-Alamogordo.
Credit Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup LAS CRUCES - Sen. George Munoz, D-Gallup, has been named chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, replacing longtime leader John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, who was defeated in the Democratic primary last year.
Munoz survived his own primary challenge last year, and went on to win re-election to his fourth term. He had been serving as the committee’s vice chairman.
The Finance Committee takes the lead in drafting the annual budget, and typically has the final say on any spending bills before they get to the Senate floor. New senators Crystal Diamond, R-Truth or Consequences, and Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, were both named as committee members, as were southern New Mexico senators Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces and William Burt, R-Alamogordo.