Michelle Lujan Grisham

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on May 20, 2026 directing state agencies to take steps to protect water supplies and urging local governments to consider banning fireworks in response to drought and severe fire conditions affecting New Mexico. The order noted that the state experienced record high temperatures, lowest snowpack and runoff in recorded history during the winter, and had experienced 366 fires from January 1 to May 1, 2026, twice the number from the same period in 2025. Lujan Grisham directed the New Mexico Drought Task Force and other state agencies to assist local governments in responding to drought conditions and fire prevention.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on Wednesday warning of a dangerous wildfire season following New Mexico's earliest snow melt-off in years and a warm, dry winter. The executive order urged communities throughout the state to implement water-use restrictions and fireworks bans, though state law prevents the governor from unilaterally issuing a statewide ban on firework sales or usage. New Mexico recorded 366 wildfires during the first four months of 2026, approximately twice the number from the same period in the previous year.

Governor Lujan Grisham launched a strategy in July 2025 that mandates the immediate custody of newborns exposed to drugs, following several high-profile child and infant deaths. The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico and two Democratic state lawmakers filed a petition with the state Supreme Court seeking an emergency order to halt the practice, arguing it violates parental constitutional rights to due process. Lujan Grisham and the Children, Youth and Families Department maintain the strategy is effective in protecting vulnerable infants.

Grisham signed multiple emergency orders allocating $9 million in state funds to law enforcement agencies in the Española Valley after declaring a public safety emergency in the region. The governor authorized the deployment of New Mexico National Guard members to assist local police with tasks including traffic control, prisoner transport, and patrols, with troop numbers increasing from approximately 20 to 66 personnel. The interventions were undertaken in response to what Grisham characterized as elevated levels of violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats in Rio Arriba County.

Governor Grisham's administration awarded $13 million in contracts for brackish water exploration and development projects as part of the state's 50-Year Water Action Plan, with WSP receiving the largest contract of $9.1 million to scope for brackish water in the Middle Rio Grande Basin. The contracts represent the final distribution of $40 million appropriated by the Legislature during the 2025 session for strategic water supply projects, following an initial $25.9 million distributed to seven grant recipients in December 2025. Grisham's administration projects that New Mexico will face a water shortfall exceeding 244 billion gallons over the next 50 years and has identified brackish water extraction from underground reserves as a component of the state's water strategy.

New Mexico environment officials announced on May 18, 2026 the award of $13 million in grants from the state's Strategic Water Supply fund to three companies for mapping, testing, and treating brackish water. The grants, totaling $13 million and distributed to WSP, Indewater, and a third company, represent the final portion of a $40 million fund established by the Legislature in 2025. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 50-year water action plan identifies brackish water development as a central strategy to address projected freshwater scarcity caused by changing climate patterns and groundwater depletion.

In March, Grisham signed a medical malpractice reform bill into law designed to address physician recruitment challenges in New Mexico. The legislation creates a multi-tiered cap on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases and raises the legal threshold for awarding punitive damages, taking effect in May 2026. The measure was enacted in response to documented physician shortages, including a 12.5% decrease in practicing urologists in the state between 2024 and 2025.

Grisham signed the Energy Transition Act in 2019, which established targets for New Mexico's electric utilities to achieve 50% renewable energy by 2030, 80% by 2045, and 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2050. Since the law's passage, New Mexico added at least 6 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity and utilities reached 52% renewable power generation by November 2025, exceeding the 2030 target ahead of schedule. The state also facilitated major infrastructure projects including SunZia, described as the largest renewable energy infrastructure project in the western hemisphere, while creating over 14,000 clean energy jobs.

The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission voted to initiate a new rulemaking proceeding for produced water regulations, less than one year after adopting rules prohibiting the reuse and discharge of treated produced water from oil field operations. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had previously directed Cabinet heads to take commission seats directly rather than sending designees in an effort to advance new produced water regulations. The commission scheduled a public hearing on the petition, with the rulemaking process potentially extending into 2027.

Lujan Grisham traveled to Japan beginning May 12, 2026, for a trade mission scheduled through May 19. The mission aimed to advance potential trade deals in energy technologies, computing, and natural gas exports through meetings with executives from companies including Hitachi Americas and Fujitsu, as well as Japanese officials responsible for foreign affairs and trade. Lujan Grisham traveled with New Mexico Economic Development Secretary Rob Black and Caroline Buerkle, deputy chief of operations in the Governor's Office.

Lujan Grisham requested that the First Judicial District Nominating Commission provide additional candidate names for a newly created judgeship position in the First Judicial District, which serves Santa Fe, Los Alamos, and Rio Arriba counties. The commission had previously submitted three finalists from a pool of six applicants interviewed in April, but the governor's office indicated that only one of the three possessed substantial civil litigation experience, and the position was expected to involve a significant amount of civil work. The nominating commission reconvened later in May to consider additional applicants at the governor's request.

Lujan Grisham traveled to Tokyo in May 2026 to meet with executives from Hitachi and Fujitsu and senior officials from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The trip focused on discussions regarding natural gas exports and quantum technologies as part of efforts to deepen economic ties between New Mexico and Japan. The visit followed a previous trade mission that resulted in an agreement between Fujitsu and New Mexico State University to establish a technology innovation hub on the Las Cruces campus.

Grisham signed universal childcare legislation into law in March 2026. The law established a free, universal childcare system in New Mexico. The implementation and continuation of the program became subject to legal challenge and political debate following its enactment.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced in September 2025 that New Mexico's childcare assistance program would become universally accessible and signed the universal childcare expansion into law in March 2026. The state allocated nearly one billion dollars over several years to fund the program expansion to free, universal access. Within weeks of the expansion's launch, the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department began overspending due to enrollment numbers exceeding projections, according to Legislative Finance Committee analysts.

Governor Grisham signed legislation in late 2025 that made New Mexico's childcare assistance program universally accessible, marking the culmination of a decades-long effort to expand the state's childcare support services. The program had previously undergone multiple cycles of expansion and contraction since its inception in 1997, with eligibility thresholds ranging from the federal poverty level to 200 percent of that threshold depending on economic conditions and administrative priorities. Grisham's action represented a significant structural change to the program by removing income-based eligibility restrictions entirely.

Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 9, the "Immigrant Safety Ordinance," which prohibits local governments from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement actions and requires local detention facilities to end contracts holding federal immigration detainees. The U.S. Department of Justice subsequently filed suit against the state and City of Albuquerque seeking an injunction to block enforcement of HB 9 and Albuquerque's complementary "Safe Community Places Ordinance," arguing both laws unlawfully obstruct federal immigration enforcement. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announced the state would defend the legislation in court.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in May 2026 against the state of New Mexico and the city of Albuquerque challenging the Immigrant Safety Act, which was signed into law in February 2026 and prohibits local governments from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigrant detention and bans cooperation agreements between ICE and local police. The federal lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Mexico, seeks to declare the state law and related city ordinance invalid and block their enforcement, which was scheduled to take effect on May 20, 2026. The Justice Department argued that New Mexico was attempting to regulate immigration policy, a matter over which the federal government holds constitutional authority.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced in fall 2025 that New Mexico would become the first state to provide universal childcare by removing previous income limits for state-subsidized childcare, with a state early childhood agency subsequently adopting rules governing the program before its November launch. Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of the program's implementation, arguing the governor's administration launched it without legislative approval. In May 2026, Lujan Grisham stated during a speech to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce that she was confident the universal childcare program would survive the legal challenge and described it as a workforce investment measure.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed legislation establishing a semi-open primary system in New Mexico, which took effect for the June 2 primary election. Under this system, independent voters and those declining to state a party affiliation may request either a Republican or Democratic ballot without being bound to that party affiliation in future elections. The new primary structure became operational as early voting began on May 5, 2026.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed universal child care into law in March 2026. Gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez subsequently won a lawsuit challenging the taxpayer-funded universal childcare program. Following Rodriguez's legal victory, Governor Lujan Grisham characterized him as "a third-tier Republican candidate for governor."

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Crown Act in 2021, legislation that prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and natural hairstyles. The law emerged from a policy campaign called Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair and was designed to address documented instances of hair-based discrimination affecting Black individuals and Native Americans in New Mexico. The article examines the enforcement challenges of the Crown Act following an incident in which a teenager was directed to cut his dreadlocks or lose his position as a New Mexico Livestock Board brand inspector.

Governor Lujan Grisham's universal child care program, launched in the previous year to provide state-subsidized child care for New Mexico families, became the subject of a lawsuit filed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez in April 2026. A state judge issued an order requiring Early Childhood Education and Care Department Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky to show cause within 30 days why the rules governing the universal child care program should not be struck down. Lujan Grisham issued a statement responding to Rodriguez's characterization of the court order.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed universal childcare legislation into law in March 2026. In April 2026, Second Judicial District Judge Elaine Lujan issued a ruling ordering Lujan Grisham's administration to either halt the free universal childcare program or provide arguments for why it should not be permanently halted, following a lawsuit filed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez challenging the rules expanding childcare assistance. The lawsuit contended that the state had implemented the childcare expansion rules before the Legislature approved funding for the initiative.

Governor Lujan Grisham directed the separation of newborns exposed to drugs or alcohol from their parents, resulting in over 167 newborns being taken into state custody as of April 2026. The administration passed Senate Bill 42, the "Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Program," to move toward a more support-based system. Proposed rules for implementing SB 42 established that pregnant patients admitting to any substance use, including prescribed medications and legal substances, can be required to comply with a Plan of Safe Care including mandatory treatment, with noncompliant families subject to referral to the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order prohibiting foster youth from spending the night in Children, Youth and Families Department office buildings. According to child welfare advocates and CYFD employees, caseworkers subsequently placed children in youth homeless shelters as an alternative arrangement following the order's implementation. The CYFD deputy director of communications stated that all children had been moved to appropriate placements and denied that children were being placed in shelter settings.

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department unveiled a new child welfare data dashboard on Wednesday in compliance with Senate Bill 42, a child welfare reform bill passed in 2025. The dashboard reports on multiple issues related to children in state custody while withholding confidential information as required by the legislation. The tool will be updated each fiscal quarter and displays data including the number of children currently in state care and removal statistics.

Governor Grisham issued an executive order on Wednesday establishing a 13-member New Mexico Energy Affordability Council to study electricity costs and grid reliability issues. The council, composed of Cabinet secretaries and industry executives, was directed to provide policy recommendations by the end of the year while examining how the state's electrical grid can be modernized and protected from wildfire damage without increasing ratepayer costs. The order addresses concerns about rising electricity rates and the need to balance energy affordability with clean energy supply.

Governor Lujan Grisham worked with lawmakers across both parties during the 2026 legislative session to pass reforms to medical malpractice laws and legislation enabling New Mexico to join interstate health care worker compacts for physicians and social workers. The compacts are expected to streamline licensing for medical professionals relocating to New Mexico, with the Medical Board estimating a 10-15% annual increase in physician applications. The editorial board urged Grisham to call a special legislative session to expand the health care worker compacts further.

Governor Grisham signed House Bill 140 into law, which added PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam to New Mexico's definition of hazardous waste, making the state the first to classify the substance in this manner. The Environmental Improvement Board subsequently ratified the classification in a unanimous vote, granting the New Mexico Environment Department authority to require cleanup from polluters and limit the firefighting foam's use within the state. The action provides a legal framework for the Environment Department to regulate and remediate PFAS contamination from sources including military installations and airports.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham pushed to allow the reuse of treated produced water from hydraulic fracturing operations to bolster water resources statewide. A petition filed by the Water Access Treatment and Reuse Alliance and local government officials sought a new rulemaking process before the state Water Quality Control Commission to change New Mexico regulations restricting the discharge of such treated wastewater outside oilfields. The commission delayed a decision on the petition following public comments in April 2026, scheduling further consideration for May 12.

Torrez filed a lawsuit in First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe against the Children, Youth and Families Department, alleging the agency refused to disclose records during an investigation into systemic issues by misapplying state confidentiality statutes. The complaint asserts that CYFD used state law to retaliate against and intimidate foster parents who were critical of the agency. The legal action followed a yearlong investigation by the Department of Justice into conditions within the state child welfare agency.

Attorney General Torrez announced a lawsuit against the Children, Youth and Families Department alleging the agency has misapplied confidentiality statutes to conceal wrongdoing by adult officials rather than protect child privacy. The lawsuit accompanied the release of a 224-page Department of Justice report documenting failures within CYFD, including instances where the agency prioritized self-preservation over transparency following child injuries and deaths. Torrez stated the legal action aims to end what he characterized as the agency's use of confidentiality as a weapon of retaliation against investigations into department mistakes.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez announced plans to propose mandated child safety protections against Meta in a bench trial scheduled for May 4, 2026, following a judge's denial of Meta's request to postpone the proceeding. The proposed protections would include restrictions on features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay, and push notifications during school and sleep hours, a monthly 90-hour access cap for minors, and private-by-default accounts for children. This action follows a Santa Fe jury's finding that Meta violated state law in 75,000 instances and ordered the company to pay $375 million in damages in a lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Department of Justice in 2023.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed a capital outlay bill during the 2026 legislative session that included $95 million in funding for a new 165,000-square-foot executive office building in Santa Fe, with an additional $85 million appropriated in previous years. Demolition of four historic casitas adjacent to the state Capitol began in April 2026 to clear the site for construction, with work expected to continue over two months. The project proceeded despite objections from local preservation groups, including the Old Santa Fe Association, which had advocated for the casitas to be preserved and repurposed.

Grisham responded to a Department of Justice report documenting systemic failures in the Children, Youth and Families Department by stating that the identified problems occurred before her new cabinet secretary took office and that reforms have already been implemented. The governor cited specific actions including a 25 percent increase in foster parent payments, extension of foster care eligibility from age 18 to 21, issuance of an executive order ending overnight stays of children in CYFD offices, and implementation of a reformed response to drug-exposed newborns. Grisham characterized the report as capturing a system that has already changed under her administration's leadership.

Grisham's office released a 220-page investigative report following a yearlong inquiry into the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, identifying eight system failures including leadership deficiencies, workforce instability, inadequate protections for drug-exposed infants, and premature family reunifications. The report documented 14 child deaths from abuse or neglect in 2024 and 2025, with detailed examination of three cases including that of a one-year-old who died after being returned home despite documented risks. Grisham's office filed a lawsuit seeking to bar the agency from using confidentiality laws to conceal failures or retaliate against foster parents.

Lujan Grisham approved salary increases for more than 20 Governor's Office staffers in the final months of her tenure, with raises ranging from less than 1% to more than 16%. The pay increases, which were substantially larger than the 1% salary increases provided to most state workers in the fiscal year 2026 budget, were justified by the governor's office as necessary to retain experienced employees during staff transitions. Lujan Grisham signed off on the raises as she prepared to leave office at the end of 2026.

Grisham vetoed a requested extension of state funding for a median beautification project in Santa Fe that was scheduled for completion by June 30. The veto was issued as the state addressed a backlog of unspent capital outlay exceeding $7 billion. City officials stated they expected to complete the project despite the denied funding extension.

Grisham's administration opposed the creation of the Office of Child Advocate during the previous legislative session, expressing concerns about potential conflicts of interest with the office's placement under the New Mexico Department of Justice and characterizing an early version of the proposal as potentially weaponized. Despite this opposition from Grisham and her administration, legislators approved the establishment of the new oversight agency for the Children, Youth and Families Department. Dawn Walters began assembling the Office of Child Advocate on Monday to provide external accountability and investigate complaints regarding CYFD operations.

Governor Lujan Grisham was considering whether New Mexico would participate in the federal education freedom credit program, which provides taxpayers with dollar-for-dollar tax credits of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that direct funds to private schools and certain public school expenses. The governor initially expressed opposition to the program but had not made a final decision as of April 2026 and was seeking additional information from the Department of Treasury regarding funding flexibility. A decision was expected in the near term, according to the governor's spokesman.

Attorney General Torrez joined a coalition of 23 other state attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in filing a lawsuit challenging President Trump's executive order that established a national list of eligible voters and directed the U.S. Postal Service to transmit mail ballots only to those on the list. The coalition argued that the executive order violated the Constitution by allowing the President to impose changes to federal election procedures, a power reserved to the states, and would require states to alter their existing voter registration and mail-in voting systems without adequate time for voter education. Torrez stated that the lawsuit sought to protect eligible voters and prevent unlawful federal overreach in election administration.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed John Bernitz to the permanent position of McKinley County district attorney, effective immediately. Bernitz had been serving as acting district attorney since February 2025, following the resignation of District Attorney Bernadine Martin amid efforts by Attorney General Raúl Torrez to remove her from office. Bernitz's appointment extends until the end of the year, at which point he must win election in November to retain the position.

Governor Grisham appointed John Bernitz as McKinley County district attorney on April 1, 2026, following the resignation of former district attorney Bernadine Martin the previous month. Bernitz, who had served as chief deputy under an arrangement where the San Juan County district attorney temporarily managed McKinley County's office, was recommended for the position by that district attorney, Jack Fortner. The appointment concluded a legal dispute in which Martin faced potential removal due to office mismanagement and high case dismissal rates, and followed the state legislature's defunding of the McKinley County District Attorney's Office during the previous legislative session.

Attorney General Raul Torres filed a case with the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking to invalidate Otero County's intergovernmental agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain federal immigration detainees at a county-owned facility. Torres argued that the county violated state law by failing to obtain required approval from the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration before executing the contract, rendering it void. The filing followed Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's signing of House Bill 9 in February 2026, which prohibited local governments from entering into new contracts supporting federal immigration detention efforts, effective May 20, 2026.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Circle K and other major retailers alleging violations of the state's Unfair Practices Act through the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes in colorful packaging and bold flavors that the complaint claims are designed to appeal to children. The lawsuit cited a 2019 survey showing that more than one in three New Mexico high schoolers reported using these products, among the highest rates in the nation. Torrez sought unspecified restitution damages and civil penalties of $5,000 per violation, building on a prior jury verdict that ordered Meta to pay $375 million to the state under the same statute.

During the 2026 legislative session, the New Mexico Legislature designated $13.5 million in special appropriations for outdoor recreation programs for fiscal year 2027. Of this total, $3.5 million was allocated to the Outdoor Equity Fund, a grant program established in 2019 following Grisham's designation of outdoor recreation as a target industry for growth. The funding is intended to support youth outdoor experiences, trail and infrastructure development, and job creation within an industry that contributed $3.6 billion to the state's economy in 2024.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed legislation in 2026 that strengthened the statute governing involuntary civil commitment, a legal process allowing courts to order individuals into behavioral health treatment. The bill was signed in the context of a homicide case in which a 26-year-old man charged with stabbing his mother to death had previously been found dangerous by a doctor who recommended civil commitment, though no petition for court-ordered treatment was filed. The specific name and details of the civil commitment legislation signed by Lujan Grisham are not provided in the available text.

Lujan Grisham and the State Fairground District Board approved the first phase of a redevelopment plan for the New Mexico state fairgrounds in Albuquerque, which includes an athletics stadium, housing, and parks. The project is designed to reorganize and consolidate existing fairgrounds facilities to make room for new development on the 236-acre site in the International District. Financing for the redevelopment includes $92 million in bonding capacity approved by lawmakers during the legislative session and $114 million from the state's general fund.

Grisham signed the Community Solar Act into law in April 2021, establishing a program that allows New Mexico residents to purchase shares in small solar farms without installing rooftop systems on their properties. The program faced implementation delays, with only 12 of 47 awarded projects totaling 54.73 megawatts energized as of March 2026, five years after the legislation's passage. State regulators subsequently initiated efforts to reform the program to expand access and accelerate project development.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued a climate change executive order that established climate goals implemented over an eight-year period. During the 2026 legislative session, the Clear Horizons Act was introduced to codify these executive order goals into law but did not advance in the Senate. The proposed legislation would have set an overall climate target with implementation details to be established through an expert, evidence-based rule making process conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a strategy in early July to address drug-exposed newborns in New Mexico, which calls for the state to immediately seek custody of infants found to have been exposed to drugs and alcohol. The Children, Youth and Families Department places a temporary hold on such infants before hospital discharge while awaiting judicial approval for state custody, and if a court does not grant custody, the state develops a care plan and assigns program navigators to monitor the family. The strategy has affected 167 children as of the reporting date, with most placed in relative or foster care.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 9 in February, legislation that bars public entities from selling, leasing, or otherwise transferring property for federal civil immigration detention, effective May 20. State Representative Sarah Silva requested that Attorney General Raúl Torrez review an emergency meeting held by Otero County commissioners in which they approved a new five-year intergovernmental services agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue operating the Otero County Processing Center. Silva cited concerns that the agreement, which precluded county withdrawal, may have violated both HB 9 and the state's Open Meetings Act.

According to the state General Services Department, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales are not required to comply with the state plane policy that mandates other agencies provide supporting facts to justify flights on New Mexico's two turboprop aircraft. The policy requires agencies to submit documentation to the Aviation Services Bureau for review and approval before using the state planes. The General Services Department determined that as the state's top executives, Grisham and Morales are exempt from these justification requirements.

The state's Immigrant Safety Act, signed by Grisham, was set to take effect May 20 and would ban local governments from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement pursued direct contracts with CoreCivic to operate detention facilities in Cibola and Torrance counties, bypassing local governments as intermediaries and circumventing the state law's restrictions. The federal contracting action effectively neutralized the state law's intended effect of closing immigrant detention facilities in New Mexico.

New Mexico's adult education programs improved from ranking 50th nationally seven years ago to 20th place according to the federal Office of Career and Technical Education, a 30-position gain attributed to measurable skill gains in student progress toward credentials and employment milestones. The New Mexico Higher Education Department credited the improvement to increased focus on professional learning, advocacy for teacher compensation, and investments made by Governor Lujan Grisham in coordination with the state legislature. In the 2026 legislative session, lawmakers appropriated $20 million to the adult education division to expand access through distance learning, family literacy initiatives, and workforce development programs.

In February, Grisham signed House Bill 9 into law, which prohibits local bodies from selling, leasing, or transferring property for federal civil immigration detention beginning May 20, 2026. Otero County commissioners responded by approving a new contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to continue operating the county-owned Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral before the statute took effect. The emergency action by county commissioners aimed to preserve the facility's operation under the terms of the law signed by Grisham.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's appointee Ali Rye, who had served as deputy Cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management since 2023, had her position reclassified from exempt to classified status in September 2025. The reclassification converted Rye's at-will employment into a classified role that provides job protection extending beyond Lujan Grisham's departure from office at the end of December 2025. State officials stated the reclassification was undertaken to ensure continuity of leadership and operations within the department rather than solely for job security purposes.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 73 into law, which requires student drivers to complete at least three hours of training on vulnerable road users including bicyclists, pedestrians, and emergency service providers. The legislation was enacted following the death of teen bicyclist Kayla VanLandingham in a Northeast Albuquerque crash in July. The signing occurred as part of broader efforts by state and city officials to improve traffic safety for non-motorized road users.

On March 12, 2026, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham line-item vetoed a $500,000 appropriation designated for the second phase of a feasibility study for a proposed lowrider museum in Española. The veto removed funding that had been included in the state budget to advance planning for the cultural facility. The action halted progress on the multi-year project that had been under development by Northern New Mexico officials and lowrider community members.

Lujan Grisham vetoed House Bill 153, which would have established a rebate program for the purchase of low-carbon construction materials. She also vetoed House Bill 180, which proposed modifications to disaster relief funds and would have required legislative approval for certain expenditures. Lujan Grisham did not act on House Bill 96 regarding the creation of a space commission study by the required deadline, resulting in a pocket veto.

Lujan Grisham issued line-item vetoes of New Mexico's spending plan that redirected approximately $60 million in funding designated for child care educators' wage increases and removed language requiring the state to prioritize families with greatest need for child care services. The governor signed Senate Bill 241 during the same legislative session, which lawmakers and advocates stated contained similar provisions regarding wage support and family prioritization for the universal child care system. Advocates and legislators expressed confidence that existing state reimbursement mechanisms for child care providers would address wage concerns despite the vetoed budget language.

Lujan Grisham signed an $11.1 billion spending plan and a tax package including physician incentives on March 10, 2026, citing investments in universal child care, public safety, and health care as priorities. She used line-item veto authority to remove language prioritizing child care assistance for low-income families from the budget. Lujan Grisham vetoed House Bill 180, which would have created a new process for funding natural disaster response efforts.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 151, an omnibus tax package that provides tax incentives for doctors, builders of affordable multifamily housing, and journalists, while also including a 1% pay increase for state workers. Grisham also signed the state's $11.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, though she issued line-item vetoes on certain provisions, including funding for phase two of a feasibility study for a lowrider museum in Española. The governor stated that the signed budget "marks a massive leap forward" while acknowledging that "our work is far from finished."

Lujan Grisham signed a universal child care bill into law on Tuesday at Garcia Street Club in Santa Fe. The governor also signed SB 96, a measure streamlining zoning laws related to opening child care centers. The signing ceremony included state officials and young children present at the location.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 73 into law on March 10, 2026, requiring student drivers to complete at least three hours of training on vulnerable road users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and emergency service providers, effective January 1, 2027. The legislation was sponsored by Senator Heather Berghmans and developed following the death of teenager Kayla VanLandingham, who was killed while riding her bicycle in Albuquerque in July 2025. In her signing message, Lujan Grisham stated that while the bill represents a beginning step toward safer roads, she called on the Legislature to pursue additional comprehensive measures in the next session, citing New Mexico's ranking of tenth in the nation for traffic fatalities.

Governor Grisham signed Senate Bill 58 into law, legislation that extends tax break periods for developments within New Mexico's blighted areas designated as Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas. The law allows municipalities to extend property tax exemption periods for development projects from a maximum of seven years to up to fourteen years. Tax abatements under the law freeze property taxes at pre-development levels, providing developers extended time for projects to stabilize before higher taxes on improved properties take effect.

Governor Grisham signed Senate Bill 180 into law on March 10, 2026, establishing New Mexico's universal child care program as permanent state law and implementing financial safeguards for the initiative. The program, which Grisham's administration launched in November 2025 by removing income limits for state-subsidized child care eligibility, has enrolled more than 16,700 additional children and approved over 60 new child care providers since its inception. Funding for the program derives primarily from an $11 billion trust fund.

Lujan Grisham signed four education bills into law on March 9, 2026, at the State Capitol. The High Quality Literacy Instruction Act mandates structured literacy instruction in kindergarten through third grade, including bilingual and dual language programs with culturally relevant materials, in response to New Mexico's lowest-ranked national reading scores. The additional bills establish an Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department, require the state to cover 80 percent of educator health care premiums through House Bill 47, and increase math requirements for teaching licenses through Senate Bill 29.

Governor Grisham signed Senate Bill 37, the High Quality Literacy Instruction Act, which establishes grade-specific testing for early readers, requires schools to use state-approved instructional materials, and mandates teacher training in literacy instruction with focus on students with reading disabilities and English-language learners. The bill directs the Public Education Department to assign literacy coaches to elementary schools with low reading proficiency beginning in the 2027-28 school year. Grisham also signed additional education legislation creating a state Office of Special Education and reducing health insurance premiums for teachers.

Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 61 during the 2026 legislative session, which raised the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer causing injury from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony, increasing the potential prison sentence. The governor signed more than 48 bills into law during her final 30-day session, which lawmakers adjourned on February 19, 2026, addressing issues including child care, public safety, and medical licensing. The legislation took effect on various dates ranging from immediately upon signing to July 1, 2026, depending on the individual bills.

The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department reached a joint agreement with attorneys representing foster children in the Kevin S. civil rights case to continue reforms beyond the December 31 deadline. The agreement includes creation of a foster parent advisory board to report back by year-end and reflects measurable progress such as increased medical visits for children within 30 days of entering state custody. Both the state and plaintiffs' attorneys announced the collaborative framework after six years of dispute over the agency's compliance with previously agreed-upon reforms.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Matt Broom, a 24-year veteran of the New Mexico State Police, as interim chief on March 7, 2026, following Chief Troy Weisler's planned departure on March 13. Broom began his career with NMSP in 2001 as a patrolman and has served in the Uniform and Investigations Bureaus, overseeing narcotics and crimes against children investigations before being appointed deputy chief in 2021. Captain Bryan Waller, a 17-year law enforcement veteran, was simultaneously promoted to interim deputy chief.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 99 into law on Friday, March 6, 2026, at a ceremony in Los Lunas. The legislation imposes new caps on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases with the stated goal of reducing medical malpractice insurance costs for healthcare providers. The bill was signed alongside two additional healthcare bills as part of what the governor characterized as a major healthcare-focused legislative session.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 99, legislation that modifies New Mexico's medical malpractice laws, during a ceremony on March 6, 2026, in Los Lunas near an under-construction Valencia County hospital. The governor stated that the changes would align the state's medical malpractice laws with national standards and predicted that doctors' insurance premiums would decrease within the year. The bill was identified as one of Grisham's priority legislative measures during the 2026 legislative session.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Todd Coberly to fill a First Judicial District family court judge vacancy created by Shannon Broderick Bulman's January retirement, selecting him from a second round of nominees after requesting additional candidates beyond the initial two applicants. Coberly is a civil litigator with limited family law experience, despite the second nomination round including applicants with family law backgrounds. The appointment has prompted speculation that Coberly may be reassigned to a newly created civil judge position, which would again leave the district seeking a family court judge.

On March 6, 2026, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 99, medical malpractice reform legislation, along with three additional healthcare bills at the construction site of a forthcoming Valencia County hospital in Los Lunas. The medical malpractice reform bill implements a cap on punitive damages arising from malpractice claims. Grisham stated the legislation was intended to address New Mexico's physician shortage and improve the state's capacity to recruit and retain medical professionals.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed New Mexico State Police Deputy Chief Matt Broom to serve as interim chief effective March 13, 2026, following the retirement of Chief W. Troy Weisler after nearly three years in the position. In conjunction with this appointment, State Police Captain Bryan Waller was promoted to interim deputy chief. Broom brings 24 years of experience with the State Police, while Waller is described as a decorated officer who has served at multiple ranks within the agency.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 151, legislation that decoupled New Mexico's tax code from specific federal tax provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The bill was projected to preserve over $120 million in state revenues by disconnecting from three federal corporate income tax cuts. The retained revenues were designated for investments in education, healthcare, and state employee compensation.

Governor Grisham signed Senate Bill 40 into law, legislation that restricts how data from automatic license plate cameras can be obtained and used in New Mexico. The bill, which received bipartisan support in the legislature and backing from local law enforcement officials including Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, establishes permissible uses, documentation requirements, auditability, and access controls for automatic license plate readers. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Gov. Lujan Grisham appointed David Quintana as acting secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation on March 4, 2026. Quintana, a senior executive engineer who has worked at NMDOT for over two decades, replaced Ricky Serna, who departed the position in February to become deputy state treasurer. In his previous role as Programs and Infrastructure Division director, Quintana oversaw more than 220 employees and managed an annual budget of approximately $500 million while directing the agency's statewide design and construction program.

Governor Grisham implemented a universal free child care program in New Mexico, the first state to establish such a statewide initiative, with funding flowing millions of dollars over five years through state oil and gas revenues. The program is designed to save the average family at least $12,000 annually in child care costs and expand eligibility to 25,000 additional children, while including enhanced reimbursement rates for child care providers. The legislation permits co-payments for higher-earning families if triggered by economic conditions such as inflation or declining oil prices.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order in January barring the Children, Youth and Families Department from housing children in office buildings overnight. The agency placed approximately one-third of the affected children in foster homes, with others placed in congregate care settings, residential treatment centers, and other housing options, completing the transitions by mid-February ahead of the March 1 deadline specified in the order. CYFD Cabinet Secretary Valerie Sandoval stated in a news release that the final child stayed overnight in a CYFD office on February 12.

Grisham signed a proclamation designating March 1-7 as Peace Corps Week in New Mexico. The proclamation recognized the Peace Corps as "an enduring symbol of our nation's commitment to fostering progress, creating opportunity, and advancing development at the grassroots level across the globe." The Peace Corps, established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, currently operates in more than 60 countries with approximately 2,300 volunteers from New Mexico having served since its inception.

An audit by state Auditor Joseph Maestas found that the Children, Youth and Families Department misspent more than $4.2 million in funds appropriated for children's behavioral health services and identified lax internal controls within the agency. The audit also determined that $6 million of the initial $20 million appropriation remained unspent due to procurement delays. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Valerie Sandoval as acting secretary of the department in September, and the agency subsequently announced implementation of updated internal control processes in response to the audit findings.

Pearce was nominated by President Donald Trump in November to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees approximately 245 million acres of public lands nationwide. Pearce appeared before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for a confirmation hearing on Wednesday as part of the process to advance his nomination to a full Senate vote. Environmental organizations have raised concerns regarding Pearce's positions on public lands management ahead of the committee hearing.

Vasquez announced support for House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, which the New Mexico Legislature passed and Governor Lujan Grisham signed into law on February 5, 2026. The legislation prohibits public entities in New Mexico from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for immigrant detention facilities. Vasquez stated his full support for the ban despite potential job losses in his congressional district, which contains the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral.

Governor Lujan Grisham was expected to sign House Bill 99, which reformed New Mexico's medical malpractice laws by implementing the state's first-ever cap on punitive damages and extending hospitals' participation in the state-run malpractice insurance fund by three years. The legislation was approved by lawmakers during the 2026 legislative session after years of debate over malpractice reform. The bill was designed to reduce physician malpractice insurance premiums and potentially address physician shortages in the state, though supporters acknowledged that measurable improvements to healthcare access would require time beyond the legislative session.

Governor Lujan Grisham concluded the 2026 30-day legislative session on Thursday, noting passage of high-profile bills addressing health care access, education, and crime. Lujan Grisham stated she did not plan to call a special session following the regular session's conclusion. The governor expressed disappointment with the failure of certain crime and gun-related measures while characterizing the overall session output as largely successful.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez ordered the reopening of a criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch property following the release of previously sealed FBI files by the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation examines allegations of illegal activity at the ranch, which is now owned by Texas businessman Don Huffines who plans to develop a Christian retreat at the site. A Department of Justice spokesperson stated that revelations in the newly unsealed FBI files warranted further examination of the property.

Grisham announced her intention to sign House Bill 99, which modifies New Mexico's Medical Malpractice Act by establishing tiered caps on punitive damages awarded in malpractice cases, ranging from $1 million for independent providers to $15 million for large healthcare systems, with annual inflation adjustments. The legislation also raises the evidentiary standard for punitive damages to "clear and convincing" evidence and requires judicial review of claims before trial. Grisham identified medical malpractice reform as a top priority for her final regular legislative session, citing the measure's potential to address physician recruitment and retention challenges in the state.

The New Mexico Legislature passed a $5.5 million economic relief package for counties and municipalities facing revenue losses due to the implementation of the Immigrant Safety Act, which banned state contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Senator George Muñoz, the bill's sponsor, characterized the measure as emergency legislation to sustain communities economically dependent on immigration detention centers. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's office announced support for the bill and indicated her intention to sign it.

Grisham's final regular legislative session concluded with passage of medical malpractice reform legislation that placed caps on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases for the first time in New Mexico. The session also resulted in enactment of universal child care legislation making New Mexico the first state in the nation to provide every family access to free child care. Grisham acknowledged that certain legislative priorities did not advance during the session, including a gun dealer regulation bill and measures addressing juvenile gun crime, but stated her intention to continue working on those issues in the future.

Grisham lauded the New Mexico legislature on Wednesday for passing a $11.1 billion spending plan and Senate Bill 151, a tax package that included a 1% pay raise for state employees and teachers and $10,000 tax credits for doctors practicing in the state. The budget bill increased state spending by approximately $277 million, or 2.6 percent, over current levels. Grisham has until March 11 to take action on the budget bill and other measures passed during the legislative session.

The New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 99, the Medical Malpractice Changes bill, on Tuesday with a vote of 25-17 to remove amendments that had been added in committee, establishing caps on medical malpractice damages at approximately $900,000 for independent providers and up to $6 million for hospitals. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had identified medical malpractice reform as a top priority in her State of the State address and had threatened to call a special legislative session if legislation was not passed. The bill now proceeds to Grisham for her signature or veto.

Senate Bill 3, which would expand forced mental health treatment in New Mexico by changing legal definitions of "harm to self" and "harm to others," was passed by the legislature and sent to Governor Grisham's desk in February 2026. The bill underwent final negotiations between the Senate and House, with the Senate requesting removal of House amendments that would have required a qualified mental health professional to make initial determinations of danger. Grisham received the legislation following the House's removal of those amendments in a voice vote.

The New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 99 on February 17, 2026, by a vote of 40-2, legislation that would limit punitive damages in medical malpractice cases for the first time in the state's history. The bill was sent to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham after the Senate removed three amendments that had emerged from committee and approved the measure in the form it had previously passed the House. Grisham had previously indicated her support for the legislation.

Grisham signed two interstate health care worker compacts into law during the 2026 legislative session, one affecting doctors and another affecting social workers, both of which were fast-tracked through the Legislature. Eight additional proposed compacts for other medical professionals, including emergency medical workers, psychologists, dentists, and physical therapists, passed unanimously in the House but remained stalled in Senate committees as the legislative session concluded. The compacts were intended to streamline licensing procedures for out-of-state health care providers and expand residents' access to medical services in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Legislature passed five education bills on February 17-18, 2026, which were sent to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for her consideration. The bills included Senate Bill 29, which would require math assessments in kindergarten through third grade and mandate additional math pedagogy coursework for prospective teachers; changes to virtual learning; establishment of a state Office of Special Education; reforms to university board of regents nominating procedures; and measures to improve student teacher salaries. Grisham had until March 11, 2026, to sign the bills, after which they would be automatically vetoed if unsigned.

The New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform measure, on a vote of 40-2 in February 2026. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had previously identified malpractice reform as a top priority for her final legislative session and urged the Legislature to pass the bill. The measure now proceeded to Grisham's desk for executive action.

Grisham signed the Immigrant Safety Act, also known as House Bill 9, which prohibits New Mexican counties and municipalities from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In response to the expected economic impact on rural communities that depend on immigration detention facilities, lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 273, an emergency economic relief bill providing $10.5 million in funding to Milan, Estancia, Grants, Cibola County, and Otero County to be disbursed over two years if the detention centers close. The relief bill was being considered by the Legislature ahead of a Thursday deadline as communities prepared for potential job losses and municipal revenue shortfalls.

House Bill 99, which would limit the amount jurors can award in punitive damages in medical malpractice cases, was sent to Governor Grisham's desk after passing the New Mexico Senate on February 18, 2026. Grisham had stated she would call a special legislative session if the Legislature failed to pass a substantial overhaul to the state's Medical Malpractice Act. The bill's passage followed its approval by a Senate committee and subsequent floor vote.

House Bill 99, a medical malpractice reform bill, passed the New Mexico Senate on a 40-2 vote after being amended on the Senate floor to revert to the House-approved version. The legislation, which had previously passed the House 66-3, was designed to reduce malpractice insurance costs by an estimated 18.5 percent according to the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was expected to receive the bill following its passage through the Legislature.

The New Mexico House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 40 in a 42-22 vote on February 17, 2026, which restricts law enforcement's ability to share automated license plate reader data with federal agencies or out-of-state agencies investigating immigration, abortion, and gender-care cases. The bill previously passed the Senate and was sent to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for signature or veto. The legislation establishes limitations on data sharing practices while preserving law enforcement use of the plate reader technology for other purposes.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham supported House Bill 99, which would limit the amount jurors can award in punitive damages in medical malpractice cases. The Senate Judiciary Committee halted debate on the measure after three hours of discussion and consideration of more than a dozen proposed amendments on Monday. The committee scheduled the bill for further consideration on Tuesday morning.

The New Mexico Senate approved an $11.1 billion state budget bill on a 23-16 party-line vote that included full funding for Governor Lujan Grisham's universal child care initiative announced the previous year. The bill removed 1% salary increases for teachers and state workers that had been included in an earlier House-passed version, with sponsors stating the funds were redirected to increase food assistance for elderly residents. The budget did include $74 million for increased state contributions toward educator health insurance premiums.

Senate Bill 23, sponsored by Senator Crystal Brantley, would prohibit students from using wireless communications devices including cellphones, tablets, laptops, and cameras during the school day, with exceptions for educational, medical, and emergency uses. The bill allocates $2 million over two years for education technology infrastructure such as locking bags to secure phones. The legislation passed the New Mexico Senate on a 32-6 vote and was backed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The New Mexico Senate Finance Committee approved an amended version of House Bill 2, the state budget for fiscal year 2027, in an 8-3 vote that removed planned 1% raises for all state workers, public school employees, and higher education employees. The revised budget maintains $11.1 billion in total spending, representing a year-to-year increase of just under 3%, and now moves to the full Senate for consideration. The removal of employee raises had generated opposition from public workers unions and some House Democrats who protested the decision.

Governor Lujan Grisham created the Office of Special Education through executive order in 2023 after legislative efforts to establish it failed that year. Senate Bill 64, which subsequently advanced through the legislature, would formally codify this office in state statute and embed it within the Public Education Department to centralize oversight of special education services statewide. The bill represents an effort to institutionalize through legislation the administrative structure Lujan Grisham had previously established through executive action.

Governor Grisham developed the 50-Year Water Action Plan and supported the Water Security Planning Act to address New Mexico's water crisis, which included historically low snowpack forecasts and reduced river flows in the Rio Grande Basin. The plan addresses critical water needs across the state, including municipal and agricultural users, and works in conjunction with the historic settlement of Texas v. New Mexico litigation to secure water supplies for southern New Mexico communities. The administration identified replenishing water supply at Elephant Butte Reservoir as an urgent priority during the legislative session.

The New Mexico state budget draft for fiscal year 2027 removed a planned 1% cost-of-living raise for teachers, public employees, and other state workers due to funding constraints, according to a Senate Finance Committee meeting in February 2026. Principal financial analyst Adrian Avila stated that the $62 million cost-of-living increase was eliminated to create recurring budget capacity in other areas. This marked the first year under Governor Grisham's administration in which public employees did not receive an annual raise.

The New Mexico Senate approved Senate Bill 40 on a 32-8 vote, legislation that would restrict the sharing of data collected by automatic license plate readers used by law enforcement agencies. The bill prohibits gathered data from being used for immigration enforcement or investigating abortions, and brings New Mexico into alignment with states including Idaho, Montana, and Georgia that have enacted similar protections. The measure now proceeds to the House for consideration before the legislative session ends on February 19, after which it would advance to Governor Lujan Grisham for action.

Governor Lujan Grisham's universal child care initiative advanced in the state legislature when the New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 241 on a 25-15 vote in February 2026. The bill would authorize the diversion of up to one billion dollars from the state's oil-fueled trust fund over five years to support the program, which provides state-subsidized child care to all families regardless of income level. The legislation now proceeds to the House with fewer than seven days remaining in the legislative session.

The New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 241, which authorizes spending an additional $1 billion from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund over five fiscal years to fund Governor Lujan Grisham's universal free child care program without requiring copays. The bill passed on a 25-15 vote on February 12, 2026, with the vote largely following party lines except for one Republican crossing over to vote in favor. The legislation now proceeds to the House for consideration.

Lujan Grisham was named to the 2026 TIME100 Health list, which recognizes the 100 most influential people in health. The recognition cited her initiative to provide free, universal child care for all New Mexico families, making the state the first to offer such a program. Lujan Grisham appeared on the list alongside federal health officials, pharmaceutical executives, scientists, researchers, and performers.

The New Mexico State Senate defeated SB18, the Clear Horizons Act, on February 11, 2026, with a final vote of 19-23 in opposition. The bill would have codified climate goals that Grisham had implemented through executive orders during her seven years in office, including a requirement for the state to achieve 100% greenhouse gas reduction for energy production by 2050. Without legislative codification, the incoming governor taking office in January 2027 will have the authority to modify or repeal these climate policies.

Senate Bill 18, the Clear Horizons Act, was voted down by the New Mexico Senate on a 19-23 vote on February 11, 2026, with seven Democrats joining Republican members in opposition. The legislation, which would have codified greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in state law, represented the second consecutive year the measure failed at the state legislature after a similar proposal stalled in committee the previous year. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration had supported the bill, which was also backed by a coalition of nonprofit groups.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Susie Kimble to the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners on February 11, 2026, filling a vacancy created by the December 2025 resignation of Shannon Reynolds. Kimble, who had unsuccessfully run for the seat in 2022, brings experience as a founding member of the LC3 behavioral health collaborative and a long-standing member of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Planning Council since 2005. She will serve the remainder of Reynolds' term, which concludes in one year.

Governor Lujan Grisham's initiative to provide taxpayer-funded child care to all New Mexico families regardless of income advanced through the state legislature when the Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 241 on February 10, 2026. The measure would authorize an additional $1 billion in spending from the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund over five fiscal years to expand the program without requiring copays. The bill includes provisions to maintain a minimum balance of $10 billion in the trust fund and passed the committee on a 7-3 vote.

House Bill 49, backed by Governor Lujan Grisham, passed the House of Representatives on a 54-9 vote on Tuesday and advanced to the Senate. The legislation would establish a second-degree felony charge with a mandatory minimum sentence of at least nine years in prison for individuals with violent felony convictions found in possession of a firearm. The bill represents Grisham's effort to increase criminal penalties for repeat offenders involved in gun possession after several years of unsuccessful attempts.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham requested a 6 percent salary increase for state public safety employees including corrections workers, police officers, and firefighters in the budget proposal. The House-passed budget designated only 1 percent raises for these positions. Public safety workers testified before the state Senate in support of Grisham's higher pay proposal, citing staffing vacancies and operational safety concerns.

Grisham did not take a concrete action described in this article. The article reports on statements made by state Sen. Jim Townsend regarding potential federal litigation over House Bill 9, a law banning immigration detention contracts in New Mexico. Grisham is not mentioned in the article.

Sen. Katy Duhigg, D-Albuquerque, filed Senate Bill 264, which would make it a state-level crime to deploy troops to polling places or prevent registered voters from casting ballots. The bill would authorize state law enforcement officials to take action in such situations and allow affected voters or state officials to seek judicial intervention. Duhigg stated the legislation was prompted by President Donald Trump's recent statements calling for the nationalization of elections.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has advocated for an easing of regulations surrounding produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas production, to address the state's water shortage. Grisham's position relates to House Bill 207, which would allow companies to dispose of treated produced water into surface and groundwater after decontamination. Environmental advocacy groups have contested the feasibility of fully decontaminating produced water and have raised concerns about contaminants that remain unknown due to oil and gas trade secrets.

A House committee voted 5-4 to table House Bill 207, which would have established a timeline for new statewide regulations allowing the reuse and discharge of fracking wastewater. Lujan Grisham had publicly supported the bill, describing produced water reuse as "a critical tool for ensuring New Mexico's long-term water security." The committee's action, following more than four hours of testimony and debate, prevented the legislation from advancing during the legislative session.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 19 into law on January 31, 2026, which extended the deadline for the New Mexico Public Education Department to complete its operational budget from January 31 to February 27 to account for anticipated enrollment increases and potential budget shortfalls. The bill passed with near-unanimous support in both chambers and included an emergency clause making it effective immediately. The extension allowed the department additional time to gather enrollment projections related to new virtual programs for the 2025-2026 school year.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed a universal child care program for New Mexico that would include a copayment structure for higher-income families. Senate Bill 241, sponsored by State Senator George Muñoz and other top Senate Democrats, would require families with incomes far above the federal poverty line to contribute copayments during certain economic downturns to help sustain the program. The bill cleared the Senate Education Committee on a 6-3 vote and was tied to at least $50 million in the state's proposed child care funding.

Senate Bill 241, filed during the 2026 legislative session, would establish universal child care as permanent state law, codifying a program currently operating under administrative rule implemented by Grisham's administration. The bill passed the Senate Education Committee on a 6-3 vote and advanced to the Senate Finance Committee, with multiple Cabinet officials from Grisham's administration testifying in support during the committee hearing. The legislation includes provisions allowing the state early childhood agency to implement waiting lists or co-pay requirements for families earning above 600 percent of the federal poverty level if enrollment, oil prices, inflation, or revenue growth meet specified thresholds.

Grisham signed a $1.5 billion bonding package to improve New Mexico roads during the legislative session. She also signed Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 50, which allow the state to join interstate compacts to ease licensure for out-of-state doctors and social workers respectively. Additionally, Grisham signed legislation prohibiting local governments from operating immigration detention centers.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 1, legislation authorizing New Mexico to join an interstate compact for physicians, during a bill signing ceremony at the state Capitol on February 5, 2026. The measure allows physicians licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico without obtaining an additional state license, addressing healthcare access challenges in the state. Lujan Grisham also signed three additional fast-tracked bills addressing road funding and prohibiting local contracts to run immigration detention facilities during the opening phase of the 30-day legislative session.

Grisham appointed Jeff Lopez to lead the New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion in June 2025. The office received a $2 million federal grant to develop a free three-year statewide workforce training program in broadband installation and technician services, with initial classes beginning in February 2026 in Santa Fe and at Jemez Pueblo. The program was created in partnership with the Department of Workforce Solutions and contracted with Building Industry Consulting Service International to provide instructional materials and equipment.

On February 5, 2026, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, into law, which prohibits local governments across the state from signing detention contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Grisham also signed Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 50, establishing the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact to facilitate out-of-state physicians and social workers relocating to practice in New Mexico. Additionally, she signed Senate Bill 2, authorizing $1.5 billion in bonds for road construction projects throughout the state.

Governor Grisham signed House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, on February 5, 2026, which prohibits public bodies in New Mexico from entering into, renewing, or extending agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations. The legislation also bars public bodies from selling or leasing public land for immigration detention purposes and terminates 287(g) agreements that authorize local law enforcement officers to perform certain federal immigration functions. The bill was sponsored by Representative Eleanor Chávez and signed in the presence of House Speaker Javier Martinez and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth.

Governor Lujan Grisham was expected to sign House Bill 9, legislation that bars local governments from participating in federal civil immigration detention systems, following its passage during the legislative session. The bill advanced to the governor's desk along with other fast-tracked measures including road funding and interstate medical compact proposals. Lujan Grisham indicated her intent to sign the measures during the week following legislative passage.

Hochman-Vigil introduced House Bill 156 during the 2026 legislative session, which would repeal the sunset clause of Senate Bill 3 that was passed during an October special session. Senate Bill 3 had authorized the state Department of Health to establish vaccination recommendations independent of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee. House Bill 156 passed through the House Health and Human Services Committee on Wednesday and would allow the state to permanently establish its own vaccine guidelines.

The New Mexico House passed House Bill 2, an $11 billion budget proposal that includes a 2.7% increase in recurring spending for the fiscal year, on a 55-15 vote. The budget rejected proposed amendments by Republican legislators that would have provided reimbursement to counties potentially losing revenue from the closure of jails holding immigrants in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. The measure now moves to the State Senate for consideration.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced her intention to sign legislation enrolling New Mexico in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which would streamline the licensing process for out-of-state physicians. The bill, which passed the House unanimously, creates a centralized verification system allowing doctors licensed in other states to obtain New Mexico licenses more quickly. Grisham stated the measure would expedite the placement of qualified physicians to address New Mexico's physician shortage.

The Clear Horizons Act, designated as Senate Bill 18, advanced from the Senate Conservation Committee on February 3, 2026, following a five-hour hearing that included testimony from business and industry representatives. The committee voted 5-4 to advance the legislation, with the vote largely following party lines and one Democratic senator joining the three Republican members in voting against advancement. The bill would authorize the state to enforce emission limits on data centers as part of climate change mitigation efforts.

The New Mexico Senate passed House Bill 9, legislation designed to prevent counties from contracting with the federal government to house immigration detainees, and sent the bill to Governor Lujan Grisham's desk following nearly a decade of unsuccessful legislative attempts. Grisham indicated support for the measure, which would position New Mexico among seven states that have ended agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Senate debate extended approximately six hours before the passage of the bill on February 3, 2026.

Lujan Grisham received Senate Bill 1, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act, after its passage in the House on February 3, 2026, which would streamline the licensure process for out-of-state physicians to practice in New Mexico. The governor had previously indicated support for the measure in her State of the State address, identifying it as a top legislative priority. Additionally, House Bill 50, which would ease licensure procedures for social workers from other states, was passed by the Senate and sent to Lujan Grisham's desk for consideration.

The New Mexico Senate passed the Immigrant Safety Act, which bans local governments from entering into contracts to operate federal immigration detention centers. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's chief spokesperson confirmed that Grisham plans to sign the bill into law. The measure was approved by the Senate on a vote of 24-15.

Grisham announced plans to sign House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, which prohibits local governments from contracting to operate immigration detention centers. The bill passed both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature and was sent to Grisham's desk in February 2026. According to her chief spokesperson, signing the legislation could create conflict between New Mexico and the federal government regarding immigration enforcement activities.

Grisham attended a meeting in Washington on January 30, 2026, with governors from six other Colorado River basin states and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to discuss water management agreements for the dwindling waterway. Following the approximately two-hour closed-door meeting, Grisham stated in a written statement that "there is still a lot of work ahead to get to an agreement, but everyone wants an agreement, and we'll work together to create a pathway forward." No agreement among the states was announced as of the following Monday, though governors characterized the meeting as productive.

In 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order requiring large polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Clear Horizons Act, Senate Bill 18, was introduced in the legislature to codify this executive order into statutory law. The legislation faced opposition from the oil and gas industry during the legislative session.

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee approved House Bill 2, an $11.1 billion spending plan, on a bipartisan 15-3 vote in February 2026. The budget bill included funding for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's universal child care initiative, which had begun in November 2025 as the first state-subsidized program of its kind in the nation, and provided for co-pays under the program rather than fully subsidized care. The spending plan also allocated 1% pay raises for state workers and teachers while increasing year-over-year state spending by approximately $294.5 million or 2.7% over current levels.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on January 19 mandating an end to the practice of housing foster youth in New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department office buildings. The order created immediate challenges for caseworkers who were given limited time to locate alternative placements for children and adolescents, some of whom had resided in office buildings for extended periods. The directive raised questions regarding implementation of the state's Foster Child and Youth Bill of Rights, which grants youth aged 14 and older the right to participate in placement decisions and request placement changes.

On January 19, 2026, Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order banning overnight stays of foster children in the Children, Youth & Families Department offices, effective March 1, 2026. The order addressed a longstanding practice in which the state housed foster children in agency offices due to insufficient foster placements. On February 3, 2026, the House Health and Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 181, which would require CYFD to provide regular reporting to lawmakers and the Office of the Child Advocate regarding the number and status of children housed in agency offices.

Senate Bill 2, a $1.5 billion transportation bonding bill, passed the New Mexico House of Representatives on a 44-23 vote on February 1, 2026, and awaits Governor Lujan Grisham's signature. The measure would authorize the state Transportation Commission to issue bonds for road and bridge projects and would generate at least $70 million annually through increases in commercial truck tax rates, vehicle registration fees, and a new $35 annual electric vehicle registration fee, without raising the state fuel tax. Lujan Grisham stated in a news release that the investment in transportation infrastructure was overdue and expressed gratitude for House approval of the bill.

Representatives Andrea Romero and Art De La Cruz sponsored House Bill 174, known as the Chatbot Safety Act, legislation designed to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots and establish safety standards for their use by children and teenagers. The bill would require operators of generative AI products to display clear warnings that users are not communicating with a real person and to identify and interrupt conversations when users express thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or violence, directing them to crisis services instead. The legislation was introduced following high-profile cases in which chatbots were alleged to have encouraged minors toward self-harm, including the 2025 death of a teenager whose parents claim ChatGPT encouraged suicidal ideation.

House Bill 9, legislation to restrict the federal government from housing immigrants in county facilities in New Mexico, passed the state House of Representatives on January 30, 2026. The bill would prohibit local authorities from assisting in immigration enforcement and could result in the closure of three immigration detention centers operating in the state. The measure advanced amid public protests regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement's use of force.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order in spring 2025 deploying the New Mexico National Guard to the Central Avenue corridor in Albuquerque to address chronic crime in the area. Approximately 80 to 130 guardsmen were assigned to the operation, trained by the Albuquerque Police Department to perform duties that would allow sworn officers to focus on arrests. According to Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar's report to the state Senate Judiciary Committee in January 2026, the operation did not produce visible changes in the corridor's crime conditions.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced on November 1, 2025, a policy establishing free, universal access to child care in New Mexico, making the state the first in the nation to offer such a program. The announcement expanded eligibility for subsidized child care to approximately 25,000 additional children. The 2026 legislative session addressed funding levels necessary to implement the universal child care policy, which builds on previous expansions of child care services including a 2022 increase in the subsidy eligibility cap to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

Governor Grisham prioritized public safety reforms in her state of the state address, which prompted lawmakers in the House Consumer & Public Affairs committee to advance House Bill 49 Increase Felon Firearm Penalty. The bill would reclassify felon possession of a firearm or destructive device from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony and extend the penalty from three years to nine years of imprisonment for seriously violent felons. The measure advanced to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced support for a medical malpractice bill that would place caps on damages during the 2026 legislative session. The bill was scheduled for a hearing before the state legislature. Grisham's position on the measure was made public during the second week of the 30-day session.

Grisham's office backed House Bill 99, filed by Representative Christine Chandler and scheduled for its first committee hearing on Friday, which proposed a $6 million cap on punitive damages for hospitals in medical malpractice cases. The bill addressed concerns that unlimited punitive damages in New Mexico had increased malpractice insurance costs and discouraged physicians from practicing in the state. The proposal represented one potential outcome of ongoing negotiations between hospital executives, trial lawyers, and other stakeholders regarding changes to the state's medical malpractice laws.

The New Mexico Legislature debated Senate Bill 17, which would increase security requirements for gun dealers and restrict the sale of certain types of firearms to address illegal gun trafficking in the state. A Senate committee voted 6-4 along party lines to advance the bill to its next assigned committee after hours of testimony from supporters and opponents. Republican lawmakers challenged the constitutionality of the proposed legislation.

Governor Lujan Grisham's office endorsed House Bill 99, sponsored by Representative Christine Chandler, which would establish a cap on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases, require payment of plaintiffs' medical costs as they are incurred, and raise the standard of proof required to award punitive damages. Lujan Grisham identified medical malpractice reform as a legislative priority during the 30-day session. The measure garnered bipartisan support, with more than two dozen legislators from both parties signing on as co-sponsors by Thursday afternoon.

The Federal Communications Commission approved a $382 million broadband expansion plan for New Mexico as the first installment of the state's $675 million allocation from the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program. Grisham's office announced the funding on January 27, 2026, with the plan designated to serve more than 42,000 unserved and underserved homes and businesses across the state. The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion will oversee the infrastructure project.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed the Health Care Affordability Fund into law during her first term in 2021, establishing a program financed through a state tax on insurance companies that lowers premiums and out-of-pocket costs for members of BeWellnm, the state's Affordable Care Act platform. The fund has received 52 percent of tax revenues from health insurance premiums over the past two years, directing approximately $136 million annually to the program while the remainder has been deposited into the state's general fund. House Bill 4, which was being considered by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, would direct 100 percent of tax revenues from health insurance premiums to the Health Care Affordability Fund.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced on November 1, 2025, a policy establishing free, universal access to child care in New Mexico, making the state the first in the nation to do so. The announcement expanded eligibility for subsidized child care to approximately 25,000 additional children. The state legislature was called upon during the 2026 legislative session to provide funding to implement the universal child care policy, with the state maintaining a rainy day fund exceeding 35 percent of the annual budget.

Senior Public Safety Adviser Ben Baker presented reforms to the New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of Gov. Grisham aimed at increasing penalties for felons found guilty of possessing firearms. The proposal sought to enhance sentencing duration for individuals with prior convictions who repeatedly commit firearm possession offenses. Lawmakers expressed early support for the measure during the committee discussion in January 2026.

The New Mexico Senate passed Senate Bill 1, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act, unanimously on January 26, 2026, to allow physicians licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico more readily. Governor Lujan Grisham advocated for approval of the medical compact legislation. The bill includes provisions establishing subpoena power oversight through the New Mexico Medical Board, immunity protections for practitioners, and allocates $300,000 in nonrecurring and $160,000 in recurring funds for system implementation.

Governor Grisham announced in September that New Mexico would become the first state to provide universal child care to its residents. The program was designed to reduce childcare costs for families and support workforce retention and recruitment in the state. Some state legislators have questioned the proposal, and funding for the initiative remains uncertain.

Grisham announced the establishment of The NMexus Center, a global business accelerator and commercialization facility to be located in the Mesa del Sol area of Albuquerque. The center will serve foreign and domestic companies seeking to expand or establish operations in New Mexico, with capacity to support up to 40 businesses annually. According to the governor's office, the facility is projected to create approximately 100 jobs in its first year and up to 1,500 jobs within five years, with an anticipated economic contribution exceeding $400 million over the same period.

Governor Lujan Grisham characterized the Senate's approval of Senate Bill 1, the interstate medical compact bill, and a $1.5 billion road bonding bill as an "important early win" for the legislative session. Lujan Grisham stated her expectation that the House would consider these bills expeditiously and transmit them for her signature. The bills passed the Senate with bipartisan support on January 24, 2026, with votes of 40-0 on the medical compact measure and 31-9 on the road funding measure.

The New Mexico Senate passed three priority bills on Friday, January 23, 2026, that Governor Michelle Grisham had identified as goals for passage during the first week of the legislative session. The bills included Senate Bill 1, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Act, along with two additional measures not fully detailed in the article excerpt. Grisham had announced these legislative priorities during her State of the State address delivered earlier in the session.

Governor Lujan Grisham requested that the state Senate pass three bills during the first week of the 2026 legislative session, including measures addressing interstate medical licensure compacts, involuntary commitment for mental health treatment, and road funding bonds. The Senate scheduled all three bills for a vote on Friday with plans to advance them to the House upon passage. Additionally, a House committee advanced a separate bill that would prohibit local governments from contracting with the federal government to house immigration detainees, a measure affecting current contracts in Torrance, Otero, and Cibola counties.

Governor Grisham requested that lawmakers approve funding to sustain New Mexico's universal childcare program, which launched in November 2025 as the first statewide universal childcare program in the nation and had enrolled 40,000 children by January 2026. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department requested approximately $160 million in funding, including a 52 percent increase to its operating budget to expand infant and toddler care services. The Legislative Finance Committee recommended $10 million for universal childcare while proposing a 5 percent increase to the department's overall budget.

State Rep. Eleanor Chavez introduced House Bill 9 in the New Mexico House of Representatives, legislation that would prohibit counties from contracting with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house people detained for immigration purposes. The bill advanced through the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Thursday, though it faced opposition from Republican legislators during the hearing. New Mexico currently operates three immigration detention facilities in Cibola, Torrance, and Otero counties with a combined detainee population exceeding 1,500 people.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department with the New Mexico Legislature approximately six years prior to the launch of the state's universal child care program in November 2025. The program, implemented with a budget of $450 million through summer 2026, provides free child care to families regardless of income level, with over 10,412 children enrolled between November and early January. The initiative is projected to save each family approximately $12,000 per child annually by transferring child care costs from families to state government.

Governor Lujan Grisham stated during her final legislative session that she would not leave office without medical malpractice reform, describing the current system as broken. She confirmed she was prepared to call lawmakers back for a special session later in the year if no medical malpractice bills were passed during the regular 30-day session ending February 19. Lujan Grisham issued an executive message this week enabling House Bill 99, a proposal by Representative Christine Chandler that would limit punitive damages in medical malpractice cases, to be considered during the session.

In 2019, Grisham issued an executive order setting a goal for New Mexico to achieve a 45 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Despite repeated legislative attempts over seven years, this emissions reduction target has not been codified into law. The state's Climate Action Plan, released in 2025, establishes an additional target of 82 percent emissions reduction by 2050 with carbon offsets, with the 2026 legislative session potentially offering the final opportunity to enact the governor's climate goals into statute before her term ends.

Governor Lujan Grisham designated Senate Bill 2, a $1.5 billion road bonding package, as a priority bill with the goal of advancing it through the Senate during the first week of the 2026 legislative session. The measure authorizes the State Transportation Commission to issue up to $1.5 billion in bond debt to fund construction and maintenance projects on state-owned roads. The bill advanced out of committee on the second day of the session.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham included Senate Bill 3, sponsored by state Sen. Moe Maestas, among her priority bills for the legislative session as part of her public safety initiative. SB 3 would modify the legal definitions of "harm to self" and "harm to others" to expand the circumstances under which individuals can be ordered into involuntary mental health treatment through civil commitment proceedings. The bill applies to both inpatient and outpatient commitment and received approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 22, 2026.

Governor Lujan Grisham committed during her 2026 State of the State address to strengthen New Mexico's criminal code in the areas of juvenile crime, pretrial detention, and firearms regulation. Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie, appointed by Lujan Grisham in her first term, announced these commitments at Public Safety Day at the Roundhouse on Wednesday alongside Republican lawmakers and law enforcement officials. The announcements followed a Legislative Finance Committee report documenting that violent crime in New Mexico was nearly twice the national average in 2024.

Lujan Grisham delivered her eighth and final State of the State address on January 20, 2026, outlining a legislative agenda for the 2026 30-day session that included a $160 million recurring increase for universal child care, a proposed ban on cell phones in schools, and stricter literacy and math requirements for K-12 education. The governor also called for a 180-day school year to boost proficiency rates and proposed doubling enrollment at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Her final-year agenda additionally included an assault weapons ban, a $1.5 billion transportation bonding package, codification of the state's Climate Action Plan into law, and civil commitment reforms related to mental illness and addiction interventions.

Lujan Grisham delivered her eighth and final State of the State address to the New Mexico legislature during the 30-day legislative session, outlining priorities for her last term as governor. Among the initiatives presented was a proposal for $160 million in taxpayer-funded child care available to every family in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham also announced plans to address juvenile crime during the address.

During her 2026 State of the State address, Grisham called for sustained funding of New Mexico's universal childcare program, which launched in November 2025 as the first statewide universal childcare system in the country. Grisham requested $160 million in recurring funds from lawmakers to support the program, which has enrolled an additional 10,000 children since its launch and removed income restrictions for eligible working families, students, and other designated populations. The governor cited a UCLA study indicating that 70 percent of New Mexico kindergartners are now on track in developmental areas including well-being, language, cognitive development, and general knowledge.

Lujan Grisham presented legislative priorities during her State of the State address on January 20, 2026, that included proposals to modify the Children's Code to allow more juveniles to be sentenced as adults and to impose enhanced penalties for certain crimes. Republican legislative leaders publicly responded positively to the governor's crime-focused proposals during a news conference following the address. The governor also proposed changes to medical malpractice policy, which House Republican leaders indicated aligned with their own session goals.

Governor Lujan Grisham delivered her State of the State address on January 20, 2026, at the opening of the 30-day legislative session, outlining an agenda for her final year in office. Her stated priorities included securing $160 million in funding for a universal free child care initiative, codifying emissions-reduction goals, implementing juvenile crime measures, overhauling civil commitment laws, and advancing gun control legislation including an assault weapons ban. The Governor also identified health care reforms such as medical malpractice reform and joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact as components of her legislative agenda.

Governor Lujan Grisham expanded an emergency public safety order in northern New Mexico at the request of local and tribal leaders to address violent crime and drug trafficking. The expanded order now encompasses six tribal governments and two counties, including Rio Arriba County, Santa Fe County, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and involves approximately 50 New Mexico National Guard members deployed to assist local law enforcement in Española, Santa Clara Pueblo, and Ohkay Owingeh. According to the governor's public safety adviser, the multi-jurisdictional effort resulted in a 40 percent decrease in outstanding felony warrants in Rio Arriba County over a 90-day period.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order on Monday prohibiting the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department from housing children overnight in county office buildings, effective March 1, 2026. The order addressed a longstanding practice in which children in state custody without immediate placement were kept in office facilities. CYFD halted new office placements as of Friday and began relocating the approximately 15 children then housed in offices to alternative placements.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order in 2019 establishing greenhouse gas reduction targets for New Mexico, including a 45% reduction by 2030, 75% reduction by 2040, and complete elimination by 2050. The executive order established a phased approach to achieving these emissions reductions across the state. The Legislature subsequently considered the Clear Horizons Act to codify these reduction targets into statutory law.

On January 20, 2026, Governor Lujan Grisham signed an executive order prohibiting the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department from housing foster children in its office locations. The executive order was issued on the same day a boy in state custody was accused of sexually assaulting a CYFD employee in an Albuquerque office parking lot and subsequently resisting arrest. The boy was charged with false imprisonment, aggravated battery on a peace officer, and battery.

Lujan Grisham indicated plans to advance proposals addressing juvenile crime during the 2026 legislative session, her final year as governor, including a measure that could allow more juveniles to receive adult sentences. The governor's senior public safety adviser Ben Baker stated that amending the New Mexico Children's Code, the set of state laws applying to minors, was among her objectives. The 30-day legislative session beginning in January 2026 was limited to the state budget and topics of the governor's selection, with public safety as a likely focus.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on January 19, 2026, banning overnight stays for children in the custody of the Children, Youth and Families Department in state office buildings, effective March 1, 2026. The order was prompted by a civil rights lawsuit settlement from 2020 that the state had promised to limit the practice, yet the number of children sleeping in offices had surged to 709 in 2024. CYFD officials have already halted new office placements and begun relocating children currently housed in offices to appropriate care settings.

Lujan Grisham signed an executive order on January 20, 2026, prohibiting the Children, Youth and Families Department from housing children overnight in county office buildings, effective March 1st. The order requires CYFD to place children in safe, licensed settings designed for child care and directs the agency to expand collaboration with housing providers. The practice had been used as a temporary measure when the state child welfare agency lacked immediate adequate placements for children in state custody.

Governor Grisham issued a directive in 2025 that treats positive toxicology screens in newborns as sufficient grounds for the state to assume custody at birth, resulting in more than 100 newborns taken into state custody after testing positive for drugs. This directive replaced the individualized assessment framework established by Senate Bill 42, which had shifted oversight of Plans of Safe Care from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Department of Health. The policy implements automatic intervention based on toxicology results rather than case-by-case evaluation.

Grisham backed proposed legislation announced in January 2026 by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Rep. Linda Serrato that would create penalties for unauthorized artificial intelligence use, including digital marker requirements for AI software companies and platforms to enable law enforcement tracing of harmful content. The bill would impose fines of $15,000 per day on companies failing to comply and would add one year to criminal penalties when AI was used to facilitate an underlying crime. The legislation would also permit victims of generative AI to claim damages of up to $1,000 per view or impression from creators or disseminators of unlawful AI content.

Governor Lujan Grisham recommended a state budget approximately $230 million higher than the Legislative Finance Committee's proposal for the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Her budget recommendation includes $81.1 million to reduce health care premiums for New Mexico residents who purchase plans through the state exchange. The governor and the Legislative Finance Committee will continue budget negotiations during the 30-day session beginning January 20th to reach a final agreement.

Grisham announced that GreenPower Motor Company would establish a 135,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, with the state providing $14.6 million in economic incentives to support the project. The facility was expected to create more than 340 jobs and generate approximately $200 million in economic activity for southern New Mexico through the production of all-electric vehicles including school buses and transit vehicles. Grisham characterized the investment as part of the state's efforts to diversify its economy and advance clean energy manufacturing capabilities.

New Mexico's bond rating was upgraded from Aa2 to Aa1 by Moody's Ratings in January 2026, marking the first upgrade since the early 1990s. The rating agency cited Grisham's administration's fiscal governance practices, including the establishment of trust funds to set aside hundreds of millions of dollars during periods of high oil revenues to reduce reliance on volatile severance taxes. The upgrade could reduce borrowing costs for the state's future infrastructure projects and increase economic appeal to out-of-state businesses.

The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration announced that Moody's Ratings upgraded the state's bond rating to Aa1 from Aa2, placing New Mexico among the top-tier rated states in the country. Grisham attributed the upgrade to years of disciplined budgeting and strategic investments, including the state's strategy of investing budget windfalls into permanent funds and using record oil and gas revenues to fortify the general fund reserves and strengthen pension funds. The upgrade was the first bond rating increase for New Mexico since the early 1990s.

Governor Grisham appointed Dawn Walters as New Mexico's first child advocate on January 9, 2026, filling a position created by lawmakers in the previous year through the establishment of the Office of the Child Advocate. Walters, who previously served as director of the Children, Youth and Families Department's office of advocacy, was selected from three candidates recommended by a seven-member selection committee and her appointment is subject to Senate confirmation. The new office was established to provide oversight of the state's child welfare agency.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham selected Dawn Walters, an official with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, as the first state child advocate, according to a letter sent to Attorney General Raúl Torrez on January 9, 2026. Walters, who currently heads CYFD's Office of Advocacy, will lead the newly created Office of Child Advocate, which will be administratively attached to the state Department of Justice and tasked with providing third-party oversight of the state's child welfare agency. Walters was chosen from three candidates reviewed by a selection committee and must now receive confirmation from the state Senate.

Lujan Grisham proposed a quantum computing tax refund consisting of $50 million annually over three years as part of her $11.3 billion budget plan for the upcoming 30-day legislative session. The proposed tax incentive was intended to support the quantum computing industry in New Mexico and capitalize on the state's existing concentration of quantum computing professionals. The proposal followed Lujan Grisham's announcement of a state partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop the Quantum Frontier Project.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Rex Wilson, a rancher and former Lincoln County commissioner, to fill a vacant state Senate seat representing District 33 on January 9, 2026. The appointment occurred less than two weeks before the start of a 30-day legislative session and came after Republican Party officials had criticized the delay in filling the position. Wilson, who also served as a regional director for Presbyterian Medical Services and founded Camp Sierra Blanca, an alternative education program for at-risk youth, was selected from among multiple nominees for the seat that had been vacant since October 2025.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico will continue to recommend the full childhood vaccination schedule despite the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reducing its recommendations from 17 to 11 vaccines. Grisham stated the state would not "join the federal government in walking away from decades of proven public health practice" and characterized the federal change as lacking scientific evidence or safety data support. The New Mexico Department of Health confirmed that vaccinations will continue to be covered by the Vaccines for Children Program, Medicaid, and private insurance with no anticipated changes to vaccine availability.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed over $160 million in funding to expand child care aid as part of her universal child care initiative for fiscal year 2027. The Legislative Finance Committee recommended a significantly smaller increase of less than $14 million in their budget proposal. Grisham expressed disappointment with the Legislative Finance Committee's funding level for the child care expansion.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed former Lincoln County Commissioner Rex Wilson to the New Mexico State Senate District 33 on January 8, 2026, filling a vacancy that had existed for more than two months following Nicholas Paul's resignation in late 2024. Wilson, a Republican from Ancho with prior experience as a Lincoln County commissioner from 1997 to 2003 and a career in healthcare administration, was selected from eight applicants submitted by county commissioners in the district. The appointment occurred less than two weeks before the 2026 legislative session began and days before a January 12 deadline for capital outlay requests, with Wilson to serve until a successor is elected in November 2026.

The New Mexico Department of Health announced it would maintain its existing childhood vaccination schedule rather than adopt the revised recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early January 2026. The state health department stated that the federal policy change was not based on new scientific evidence or safety data. New Mexico's schedule continues to recommend vaccination against eleven diseases for all children, including flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, certain forms of meningitis, and respiratory syncytial virus, which the CDC had stopped broadly recommending for routine immunization.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico would maintain its full childhood vaccination schedule following a federal decision by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reduce federally recommended vaccines for children. The state's Department of Health, led by Chief Medical Officer Miranda Durham, confirmed that all childhood vaccinations would continue to be covered under the Vaccines for Children Program, Medicaid, and private insurance, with no anticipated changes to vaccine availability. New Mexico directed parents and caregivers to consult with healthcare providers using the American Academy of Pediatrics' immunization schedule as a guide.

Sen. Brantley wrote to Attorney General Torrez on January 6, 2026, requesting clarification on enforcement of the Waiting Period Act, a 2024 state law requiring a seven-day delay between firearm purchase and ownership. Brantley noted that some gun dealers were complying with the law while others were not, creating inconsistency in implementation. She asked the attorney general to clarify the law's current legal status and recommend compliance procedures for gun dealers, as the law remained under federal court challenge.

Lujan Grisham and state lawmakers approved emergency funding of $17.3 million from the Health Care Affordability Fund during an October special legislative session to reduce health insurance premiums and cost-sharing for New Mexicans enrolled in BeWell marketplace coverage through June 30, 2026. The state action was taken after federal Affordable Care Act tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, which national experts estimated could result in average annual premium increases of $1,500 per person without intervention. Lujan Grisham's budget proposal for fiscal years 2026-2027 includes additional funding to extend the premium assistance beyond June 30 if Congress does not restore the federal tax credits.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced support for New Mexico joining nine additional interstate medical compacts during the upcoming legislative session. These compacts would allow medical professionals licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico, addressing documented shortages in healthcare workers including emergency medical technicians, physical therapists, physician assistants, and occupational therapists. Grisham's stated position represents a shift from the previous legislative session, when debate over the compacts stalled amid concerns raised by the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association and others regarding practitioner qualifications and malpractice liability.

New Mexico received $211.5 million in the first year of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, exceeding the state's initial request for annual funding under the five-year, $50 billion initiative announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on January 5, 2026. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham submitted a 128-page application in November 2024 that proposed directing nearly $400 million to expand specialty care and chronic disease management, $243 million to rural workforce development, $188 million to competitive grants for rural and tribal health projects, and $53 million to create a statewide health data platform across all 33 counties. The program aims to address workforce shortages and modernize rural health facilities, though state officials have not yet designated which hospitals or communities will receive funding when implementation begins in 2026.

Governor Lujan Grisham implemented a policy to provide taxpayer-funded child care to every family in New Mexico regardless of income. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders publicly praised the state's child care initiative on social media in December 2025, stating that New Mexico was leading the way in guaranteeing free child care for all families. The governor's child care program became a subject of public attention and discussion as the state prepared for its upcoming legislative session.

Lujan Grisham proposed a $150 million quantum tax refund consisting of $50 million annually over three years as part of her $11.3 billion budget plan for the upcoming 30-day legislative session. The tax incentive was designed to support quantum computing companies in New Mexico and was announced following the state's partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on the Quantum Frontier Project. Lujan Grisham's economic development office cited New Mexico's position as having the largest density of quantum computing workers in the nation as justification for the proposed tax refund.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 120 during the 2025 regular legislative session, which eliminated a sunset provision that would have required health plan enrollees to pay out-of-pocket costs for behavioral health services beginning in January 2027. The legislation requires health plans to continue covering the full cost of behavioral health services without cost-sharing obligations. The bill took effect on January 1, 2026, as part of a broader package of behavioral health measures enacted during the session.

Lujan Grisham's administration implemented tax changes that resulted in approximately $940 million in taxpayer savings during fiscal year 2025, according to the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue. These changes included elimination of income taxes on Social Security benefits for seniors, reduction of the gross receipts tax on business transactions, and creation of a refundable state child tax credit. The Social Security exemption provided average savings of $653 to roughly 141,000 taxpayers, while the expanded Working Families Tax Credit saved approximately $652 per taxpayer for roughly 208,000 low- and moderate-income households.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a plan to offer universal no-cost day care to every family in New Mexico, with implementation scheduled to launch on November 1. The program faces significant challenges, including limited child care capacity in rural communities and minimal growth in provider availability, with only 10 additional slots added across the state since late July. State officials are working to increase the number of providers while lawmakers assess sustainability concerns given projected revenue declines.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the New Mexico Waiting Period Act in 2024, which requires a seven-day waiting period before taking possession of newly purchased firearms throughout the state. The law faced immediate legal challenges from two residents following its enactment, and a three-judge appellate panel remanded the case to lower court in August with an opinion suggesting the law could be unconstitutional. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver declined to rehear arguments on the case, leaving the law's status unresolved pending further litigation in federal district court.

The New Mexico Legislature enacted the Waiting Period Act in 2024, which Governor Lujan Grisham signed into law, establishing a seven-day waiting period for most firearm purchases. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to rehear the case en banc after a three-judge panel ruled the law unconstitutional in August 2025. The Governor's Office stated it was disappointed in the ruling and indicated it was considering further legal options.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation in 2025 that appropriated $24 million from the state's general fund for New Mexico's site-readiness program, which aims to identify and prepare locations for business development. Economic Development Secretary Rob Black, appointed to his Cabinet-level position by Grisham, reported that the program has evaluated 47 sites across the state since its implementation. The initiative targets the extended timeline typically required to prepare land for construction, addressing a barrier that state officials identified as causing businesses to select locations in other states.

Governor Lujan Grisham included $6.2 million in additional state funding in her budget plan to expand the New Mexicare program, which provides up to $1,400 per month to informal caregivers. The program had enrolled fewer than 70 participants when Secretary Emily Kaltenbach took office in September 2024 and currently serves more than 500 individuals, with the proposed funding expected to increase enrollment to approximately 1,000 participants in the coming year. The expansion addresses the state's aging population and aims to reduce reliance on nursing home and emergency room care by supporting family caregivers.

Grisham presented an $11.3 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 during a briefing on Monday, which includes 7 percent salary increases for state police and firefighting personnel and an additional $160 million for her universal child care initiative. The proposal comes as state economists have revised revenue growth projections downward, with revenues expected to contract 1.6 percent in the current fiscal year ending in June 2026. Grisham's chief of staff Daniel Schlegel characterized the budget as responsible during the briefing with reporters, though the proposal is expected to generate debate with lawmakers during the upcoming 30-day legislative session regarding state government spending levels amid shrinking revenues.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed five regents to the board of Western New Mexico University who authorized a $1.9 million severance payment to then-university President Joseph Shepard in exchange for his resignation, along with legal fee coverage and a full professorship with annual salary of at least $200,000 for teaching four online classes per year. Grisham subsequently called for the resignations of those regents, who complied. Grisham later appointed new regents to the board who declared the $1.9 million payment invalid and have pursued reform measures at the institution.

Governor Lujan Grisham released an $11.3 billion budget plan in December 2025 that would increase state spending by approximately $503 million over current levels, representing a 4.6% increase. The proposal includes a 1% salary increase for all state workers and teachers, with larger raises available for law enforcement officers, wildfire crews, and certain emergency responders. The budget also allocates funds for child care assistance expansion, affordable housing initiatives, homelessness programs, and disaster response efforts.

Lujan Grisham proposed an $11.3 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2027, representing a 4.6 percent increase of $502.8 million over the current fiscal year. The budget proposal included 7 percent salary increases for state police and firefighting personnel and an additional $160 million for the governor's universal child care initiative. The proposal was expected to generate debate with lawmakers during the legislative session regarding the state's revenue constraints.

Grisham leads New Mexico, a state significantly affected by President Donald Trump's signature legislation signed in July that reduced the federal minimum royalty rate for oil and gas leases on federal land from 16.7% to 12.5%. According to economists at Resources for the Future, New Mexico could forgo between $1.7 billion by 2035 and as much as $5.1 billion by 2050 due to the royalty rate reduction, as the state receives nearly half of all federal mineral lease payments. The fiscal impact creates budgetary pressure for the state as it works to expand early childhood education and build future savings.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham authorized a National Guard deployment to assist the Albuquerque Police Department in April 2025 through an executive order, deploying up to 125 personnel to perform non-law enforcement duties such as holding perimeters in response to public safety challenges. The deployment lasted six months at a cost of $7 million to the state before concluding in December 2025. Grisham's administration expressed criticism of the mission's results during its operation, according to reporting, as city and state officials disagreed over whether the deployment achieved its intended objectives.

Governor Grisham signed Senate Bill 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, into law in April 2025, establishing a medical psilocybin program requiring administration by licensed healthcare providers in approved clinical settings. The New Mexico Department of Health announced plans to launch the program by December 2026, one year ahead of the legislatively mandated deadline of December 31, 2027. The accelerated timeline was attributed to substantial interest in the program and the goal of serving patients in need.

Grisham endorsed state Representative Anita Gonzales over incumbent Democrat Ambrose Castellano in the 2024 Democratic primary for House District 70, citing Castellano's history of voting with Republicans on high-profile bills. Gonzales defeated Castellano by 10 percentage points in the primary election, ending Castellano's tenure in the state House after two terms. Castellano announced his candidacy in June 2025 for his former legislative seat.

Department of Transportation Cabinet Secretary Ricky Serna committed on Friday to raising the railings on the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in Taos and replacing rail and sidewalk portions with materials designed to deter jumping, following seven suicides at the site in 2025. Serna pledged that the state would fund the $8 million project through the Transportation Department budget if the Legislature does not appropriate specific funding, with a final design targeted for June and construction to follow. Pedestrian access to the bridge has been closed since September 22, and the modifications are expected to be completed following the construction phase.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced New Mexico's universal child care program in September, making the state the first in the nation to offer free child care services to families. The program took effect in early November, eliminating fees for parents using licensed child care facilities across the state. The initiative enabled existing child care providers, such as Heather Apodaca in Grants, to expand their operations and increase capacity.

Governor Grisham issued an executive order in 2019 directing New Mexico to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030. Subsequent legislative attempts to codify this executive order into state law through the Clear Horizons Act stalled due to concerns regarding impacts on agricultural operations and the oil and gas industry. A revised version of the Clear Horizons Act with modifications including removal of certain enforcement directives and exemptions for emissions under 10,000 metric tons per year is expected to be introduced during the upcoming legislative session.

Grisham announced a universal child care access program for New Mexico in September, which the Early Childhood Education and Care Department subsequently pitched with a $1.2 billion budget request to support the expansion. The proposal drew criticism from lawmakers who cited concerns about anticipated state budget constraints and insufficient communication regarding the universal child care initiative.

Governor Lujan Grisham's administration launched a universal child care program that took effect on November 1, 2025, making New Mexico the first state to offer state-subsidized child care to families regardless of income level. Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky requested $160 million in additional funding to operate the program in the coming fiscal year, which would bring total state child care assistance spending to approximately $600 million annually. Legislators expressed concern during budget hearings that the program was announced before securing long-term funding commitments and questioned how other state agencies would accommodate the substantial budget increase.

The New Mexico Department of Health issued a recommendation on Monday that newborns receive an initial dose of the hepatitis B vaccine within 24 hours of birth. This action follows a decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to end its long-standing recommendation for universal newborn hepatitis B vaccination. The state health department's recommendation diverges from the federal committee's guidance, which was issued after all committee members were replaced by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Melanie Kenderdine resigned as secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department on December 4, 2025, citing personal reasons, as announced by Governor Lujan Grisham. Kenderdine had served in the position since May 2024, bringing prior experience as co-founder and executive vice president of the Energy Futures Initiative and in senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy. Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erin Taylor assumed the position of acting secretary following Kenderdine's departure.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's office received a request from the Trump administration to provide five years of personal data on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients within seven days, with the threat of withholding food assistance funding if the state refused compliance. New Mexico, along with approximately 20 other states, had previously filed a lawsuit that resulted in a federal judge issuing a preliminary injunction in October barring the federal agency from cutting off administrative SNAP funding based on states' refusal to share recipient information. Attorney General Raúl Torrez's office indicated the state was coordinating with other states to develop a response to the administration's demand.

Bowie, New Mexico's public safety cabinet secretary, characterized a months-long delay by the Department of Public Safety in responding to a public records request as "unacceptable" after The New Mexican inquired about the department's handling of an Inspection of Public Records Act request filed in June seeking information on DWI checkpoints conducted by New Mexico State Police. The department had repeatedly requested additional preparation time, citing the request's burdensome nature. Bowie stated that the delayed response did not meet the standards he expected from the department.

The New Mexico Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by cannabis industry executive Duke Rodriguez challenging Governor Lujan Grisham's line-item vetoes of a $161 million state spending bill passed during an October special legislative session. The petition alleged that Lujan Grisham had overstepped executive authority by striking out timelines and guardrails from the appropriations measure. The court issued a unanimous order to dismiss without providing a written explanation for its decision.

Governor Lujan Grisham ordered $30 million in emergency state funds to be distributed to New Mexico residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program after the federal government did not issue November benefits during a shutdown lasting from October 1 to November 12. The distribution covered approximately 30 percent of monthly benefits for program participants including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. New Mexico's congressional delegation subsequently sent a letter to federal officials requesting reimbursement for the state expenditure.

The New Mexico Supreme Court denied a petition filed by Duke Rodriguez challenging the legality of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's line-item vetoes of a spending bill passed during an October special legislative session. Grisham had vetoed provisions that would have set time limits for state spending of certain funds and removed the phrase "minimum federal" food benefits, which her office contended was language that would have prevented proper execution of the appropriations. All five justices agreed to summarily deny the petition without providing an explanation for their decision.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced a plan in early July to take newborns exposed to drugs or other substances into state custody through the Children, Youth and Families Department. As of late November, approximately 100 infants had been taken into state custody under the initiative, with 90 children entering custody amid investigations into 116 families since the public announcement, while 66 remained in state care. State officials reported that the initiative was functioning effectively and coordinating with hospitals to implement the plan and improve safety and treatment for affected children.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham authorized $3 million in emergency funding for police work in Northern New Mexico between August 12 and October 23, 2025. The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management distributed the funds to nine law enforcement agencies, including the Pueblo of Pojoaque Police Department, Española Police Department, Rio Arriba County Sheriff's Office, and others. As of the reporting date, approximately $1.79 million had been disbursed, with spending documented for purposes including patrol overtime, equipment purchases, technology installations, and personnel costs.

During its regular session in early 2025 and an October special session, the New Mexico Legislature allocated approximately $40 million to backfill federal health insurance subsidies expiring under the Affordable Care Act. The funding is designed to mitigate premium increases for approximately 76,000 New Mexico residents purchasing health insurance through the state exchange. The state allocation is intended to maintain current premium levels through June 2026.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's legal representatives filed a brief with the New Mexico Supreme Court requesting dismissal of a lawsuit challenging her line-item vetoes of language in a spending bill passed during an October special session. Grisham exercised her veto power to remove provisions including time limits on fund expenditure and the phrase "minimum federal" in food benefits language, which her attorneys characterized as overly restrictive constraints on Executive Department operations. The lawsuit, filed by businessman Duke Rodriguez, contends that the line-item vetoes were unconstitutional and violated separation of powers principles.

The New Mexico Health Care Authority requested $1 billion in federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program to expand access to specialty care and chronic condition management, strengthen provider training programs, and build a statewide health care data system. Governor Lujan Grisham submitted a 128-page application dated November 4 to secure five years of funding through the initiative, which was established as part of the federal reconciliation bill signed into law in July. The program aims to address rural health disparities including higher rates of chronic disease, longer travel times to care, and fewer hospitals and clinics operating in rural New Mexico communities.

The New Mexico Legislature approved a $162 million appropriation to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through January 20, 2026, or until federal funding resumed. The bill passed the House 52 to 9 and the Senate 30 to 6 with an amendment requiring a $50,000 programmatic review of SNAP administration. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was traveling internationally when the legislation reached the office of Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales for signature authority.

Governor Lujan Grisham declared a state emergency and signed forty executive orders of $750,000 each to create a $30 million emergency fund to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits through November 10 after federal SNAP payments were halted. The state subsequently loaded full SNAP benefits onto recipients' EBT cards on Saturday following a Supreme Court administrative stay on a lower court order to restore benefits. Legislators convened in a special session to address the ongoing funding gap, with state officials proposing to redirect unused Healthcare Authority funds before drawing down long-term emergency savings, given that the state spends approximately $20 million weekly to cover SNAP costs.

Grisham signed an executive order in October 2024 allocating $30 million in state funds to provide partial food assistance to New Mexicans through existing EBT cards during a federal government shutdown that disrupted SNAP benefit payments. When federal SNAP benefits were set to expire on November 10, Grisham announced that New Mexico residents would receive their full November SNAP benefits after the state loaded funds onto EBT cards prior to a U.S. Supreme Court pause on federal benefit payments. Grisham's office indicated that a special legislative session would proceed as scheduled to secure additional state funding for food assistance programs.

On October 28, Grisham signed an executive order allocating $250,000 to provide emergency water delivery to the Melody Ranch community in Torrance County, which had experienced water shutoffs since May due to a severely depleted well producing approximately 5 gallons per minute. The order authorized the state Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to deliver potable water on a temporary emergency basis to approximately 75 homes in the neighborhood. The executive order followed an emergency disaster declaration issued by the Torrance Board of County Commissioners on October 27.

Grisham called a special legislative session for Monday to address extending SNAP food benefits as federal funding for the program remained uncertain during a federal government shutdown. The governor, who was attending the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Brazil, directed Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales to oversee the session as acting governor in her absence. The state had previously announced $30 million in food assistance to temporarily fill SNAP benefits for New Mexico residents.

Lujan Grisham called a special legislative session scheduled for Monday to address food benefits for New Mexico residents dependent on federal food assistance. The session was convened after the $30 million in state funding appropriated to compensate for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during a federal shutdown was set to expire on Monday. This marked the second special session the governor had called to address federal reductions in benefit programs, following an October session in which lawmakers passed a $162 million spending package for health care and food assistance.

Grisham's office stated that the governor has not ruled out calling a special legislative session to allocate additional state funds toward food assistance programs in response to federal SNAP benefit reductions. New Mexico dispersed $30 million in state-funded food aid in November 2025 from an emergency fund to supplement lapsed federal benefits, though those funds were designed to last only until November 10 and covered approximately 30 percent of recipients' monthly benefits. The decision to convene a special session would depend on the extent of federal action and the level of benefits ultimately provided by the Trump administration.

Governor Lujan Grisham allocated $30 million in state emergency funds to distribute SNAP benefits to 559,500 New Mexico residents through the Healthcare Authority, with payments processed onto EBT cards beginning November 1, 2025. The allocation was announced in response to a federal government shutdown and suspension of SNAP funding by the Trump administration. Lujan Grisham stated the state funds would ensure food assistance continued for ten days while federal court rulings directed the Trump administration to utilize its contingency fund for benefit payments.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico would provide $30 million in state-funded food assistance to SNAP recipients, with benefits distributed beginning Saturday. The state funding was designed to supplement federal SNAP benefits during a period of uncertainty regarding federal funding releases, with the state contribution equaling approximately 30% of each recipient's monthly allotment. Lujan Grisham stated the measure was necessary to address New Mexico's status as having the highest per-capita SNAP participation rate in the country, affecting approximately 460,000 residents or 21% of the state's population.

Governor Grisham announced a $30 million allocation to provide temporary food aid to New Mexico residents in the event that federal SNAP benefits were halted during a federal government shutdown. The funds were designated to provide approximately 10 days of assistance as a stopgap measure. Grisham did not rule out the possibility of convening a special legislative session in response to the shutdown's impacts on the state.

Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico would provide state funding to maintain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits during a federal government shutdown. The New Mexico Department of Health's Farmers' Market Nutrition Program allocated assistance funds to the Santa Fe Farmers' Market Institute to distribute $40 vouchers to qualifying individuals in November 2025. The vouchers could be used to purchase fresh and locally-grown foods at the Santa Fe Farmers Market for households participating in state or federal assistance programs.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday that New Mexico would allocate $30 million in state funds to provide food assistance during a federal government shutdown that halted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments. The allocation was designed to deliver approximately 30 percent of monthly SNAP benefits to recipients on their EBT cards beginning November 1, 2025. Grisham's action addressed a funding gap affecting more than 450,000 New Mexico residents who rely on the federal nutrition assistance program, which typically costs the state over $80 million monthly in federal funds.

Following federal court rulings that required the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP during a government shutdown, Governor Grisham announced she would proceed with her plan to allocate $30 million in state funds to maintain partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits in New Mexico. Grisham stated she lacked confidence that the federal government would release SNAP funds in the immediate term. The governor's commitment ensured that New Mexico residents relying on the food assistance program would continue to receive benefits while the federal funding dispute was resolved.

Grisham announced that New Mexico would allocate $30 million in state funds to provide food assistance to residents during a federal government shutdown that threatened to halt SNAP benefits. The funds were designated to temporarily replace federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for a period of 10 days. Grisham made the announcement at a news conference in Albuquerque alongside state lawmakers including House Speaker Javier Martinez.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed 40 executive orders, each authorizing $750,000 in emergency spending, to allocate $30 million in state funds to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for 459,500 New Mexicans during a federal government shutdown. Republican state legislators, including House Republican Caucus Chair Rebecca Dow and Senate Republican Caucus Chair David Gallegos, questioned both the decision to use state funds and the governor's use of multiple executive orders to authorize the spending without legislative approval. Gallegos and other Republican legislators argued the responsibility for addressing the SNAP benefit freeze should rest with the state's congressional delegation rather than the state government.

Lujan Grisham announced $30 million in emergency state food assistance beginning November 1, 2025, to address the suspension of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits affecting approximately 460,000 New Mexico residents. The governor issued 40 executive orders declaring a state of emergency and authorizing the Health Care Authority to distribute nutritional assistance through existing Electronic Benefit Transfer cards, with initial payments covering approximately the first 10 days of November. The state funding was designed to partially offset the loss of federal SNAP benefits during a federal government shutdown, with recipients expected to receive approximately 30 percent of their normal monthly benefit amounts.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on October 29, 2025, that New Mexico would use $30 million from the state contingency fund to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for approximately 460,000 residents for a 10-day period beginning November 1 during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Grisham stated she would issue executive orders to authorize the spending, an action she indicated she had used multiple times that year in response to natural disasters. The governor acknowledged that the state could not sustain SNAP coverage indefinitely and indicated she would consider calling lawmakers back for a second special legislative session if federal funding remained unavailable after the contingency funds were exhausted.

Grisham announced Project Jupiter in February 2025, a massive data center development in southern New Mexico designed to support artificial intelligence operations by OpenAI and Oracle on a 1,400-acre site. The Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners voted in September 2025 to approve $165 billion in industrial revenue bonds for the project. The initiative has prompted litigation and raised questions regarding the region's water supply capacity and compliance with the state's Energy Transition Act regarding a proposed natural gas generating station.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship received the National Impact Award from College Promise, a nonprofit organization focused on college affordability and access. The scholarship program covers tuition and fees for residents attending any of the state's 29 public colleges or universities regardless of income, serving both part-time and full-time students pursuing certificate through bachelor's degrees. More than 41,000 students currently benefit from the Opportunity Scholarship.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Gene Grant as executive director of the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs on October 22, 2025. Grant, a former host of the PBS program "New Mexico in Focus" and former chief program and policy officer at Animal Protection New Mexico, replaced Charles Reado, who transitioned to the position of deputy director. The office's executive director position carries an annual salary of more than $98,000.

Lujan Grisham and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon unveiled an "actionable roadmap" for exporting natural gas to Japan during a roundtable discussion with Shigeo Yamada, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, and Yoichi Murakami, vice president and executive director of Fujitsu Limited, held at the Palace of the Governors on October 20, 2025. The governor also announced talks between New Mexico State University and Fujitsu Limited to establish a high-tech innovation and research hub. The initiative was developed in coordination with Wyoming officials and Japanese business and diplomatic representatives.

Governor Lujan Grisham provided leadership in advancing a universal child care initiative that would make New Mexico the first state in the nation to offer free child care to all families regardless of income. The proposal emerged from over a decade of advocacy and followed the 2022 passage of a constitutional amendment for early childhood funding by New Mexico voters. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department developed the initiative in partnership with stakeholders including providers, educators, and families.

In 2023, Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 53 into law, which prevents state agencies and local officials from issuing permits or leases for nuclear waste storage facilities in New Mexico. The legislation was enacted amid Lujan Grisham's stated concerns about the hazards of storing nuclear materials and her characterization of such storage projects as economically detrimental to the state. After Holtec Industries terminated its land use agreement with the Eddy Lea Energy Alliance for the HI-STORE Consolidated Interim Storage Facility in October 2025, Lujan Grisham issued a statement affirming the state's commitment to the statutory ban on nuclear waste storage.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham convened a special session of the New Mexico State Legislature on October 1 to address funding challenges resulting from federal budget cuts. The legislature approved new state funding over two days to maintain food security, affordable healthcare, and access to care for residents affected by the federal funding reductions. The special session concluded with lawmakers from both parties reaching agreement on the fiscal measures needed to protect these services.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation in February designating the 2025-2026 school year as the "New Mexico Year of the Arts in Education." The proclamation was formally announced at the New Mexico State Fair EXPO in Albuquerque on September 3, with Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales delivering a dramatic reading of the document. The designation prompted planning of showcases, exhibitions, and celebrations throughout the school year to highlight arts education programs across the state.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 3 on Wednesday, legislation that temporarily allows New Mexico to establish immunization policies based on guidelines from the New Mexico Department of Health or American Academy of Pediatrics rather than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bill, which passed on a party-line vote during a special legislative session, also requires adult immunization recommendations to be based on standards from medical organizations other than the CDC, with these provisions set to expire in July. Grisham stated in an executive message that the changes were necessary due to delays in the Department of Health and Human Services adopting updated CDC COVID-19 vaccine guidelines before the respiratory illness season.

Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 3 on October 8, 2025, authorizing the New Mexico Department of Health to establish its own vaccine guidelines independent of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The legislation grants the state health department authority to adopt vaccine recommendations from physician groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, permits the purchase of vaccines outside CDC recommendations, and allows school vaccination requirements that may differ from federal standards. The changes are effective December 31, 2025, through July 1, 2026, with the option for legislative extension, while maintaining existing medical and religious exemptions for vaccinations.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 3, legislation passed during a special legislative session that grants the state Department of Health authority to set vaccination recommendations for schoolchildren independent of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control's vaccine advisory committee. The bill was enacted in response to confusion generated by inconsistent federal COVID-19 vaccine recommendations in August and September. Since the measure did not achieve a two-thirds majority in the House, it will take effect on December 31 rather than immediately.

Lujan Grisham received Senate Bill 3, which passed the New Mexico Legislature and grants the state Department of Health authority to set vaccine guidelines independently of federal recommendations, including the ability to purchase vaccines outside CDC recommendations and establish school enrollment requirements that may differ from federal standards. The bill allows the state to use vaccination recommendations from the state health department and physician groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, with these provisions set to expire on July 1, 2026 unless extended by the Legislature. Lujan Grisham had two weeks from the bill's passage to sign or veto the legislation.

New Mexico's Department of Health became authorized to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for children immediately following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations approved in October 2025, without waiting for gubernatorial action on Senate Bill 3. The legislation, passed by both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature during a special session, would not take effect until 90 days after the governor's signature. Lujan Grisham had not yet signed SB 3, which was the only bill from the special session remaining without her signature as of mid-October 2025.

Governor Lujan Grisham's administration did not appeal the July 2018 district court ruling in Yazzie/Martinez v. State of New Mexico, which found the state had failed its constitutional obligation to provide adequate education to all public school students. Following the ruling, Lujan Grisham increased state spending on public education by hundreds of millions of dollars during her administration. In April 2024, after plaintiffs filed a motion of noncompliance, District Court Judge Matthew Wilson ordered the state to develop a remedial action plan, which the Public Education Department released in draft form targeting Native learners, economically disadvantaged students, English-language learners, and students with disabilities.

Governor Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature approved an emergency allocation of $5.9 million to support public television and radio stations across the state following the elimination of federal funding for public broadcasting by Congress. The allocation included $1.7 million specifically for New Mexico PBS to address an 18 percent budget cut for fiscal year 2026 that resulted from a congressional rescission vote. The state funding was designed to cover the resulting gap for in-state public television and radio operations, including tribal stations identified as most at-risk, though New Mexico PBS continued to face an additional $1.7 million shortfall for fiscal year 2027.

Grisham was deliberating on Senate Bill 3, legislation passed during a special legislative session that would authorize the New Mexico Department of Health to temporarily adopt vaccine schedules and recommendations from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than federal standards, with the law set to sunset on July 1. According to the governor's communications director, Grisham was considering her course of action on the bill, which passed the legislature without an emergency clause and therefore would not take effect immediately upon signature. The bill would allow the state to establish its own vaccine protocols during a period when federal guidance on certain vaccines remained pending.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 1, a $161 million spending package allocating funds to Medicaid, food assistance, public broadcasting, rural hospitals, and tax credits for individuals purchasing insurance on state exchanges in response to anticipated federal funding reductions. The bill transferred $120 million in unspent money from the Healthcare Authority and included $5.6 million for public radio and educational television following federal funding cancellations for public media. Grisham also signed three additional bills from the special legislative session while remaining undecided on a fourth bill that would expand state authority to set vaccine policy independent of federal guidelines.

Lujan Grisham signed four bills passed during a special legislative session in October 2025. The governor did not immediately sign Senate Bill 3, which would modify vaccine requirements for schoolchildren by removing CDC guidance as a basis for vaccination mandates and instead allowing requirements based on guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics or the New Mexico Health Department. A spokesman stated that Lujan Grisham was still deliberating on Senate Bill 3 following the session's conclusion.

Grisham signed House Bill 1, the budget bill enacted during a special legislative session in early October 2025, which allocated $6 million in state funds to public broadcasters experiencing losses from federal funding cuts. Approximately $1.7 million of the allocation was designated for New Mexico PBS. The legislation was passed to address a funding gap created by a congressional rescission vote that reduced federal support for public media.

Governor Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation on Tuesday directing lawmakers to address state budget gaps resulting from federal spending cuts to healthcare, food assistance, and public broadcasting. The legislature convened and passed House Bill 1, authorizing $161 million in one-time spending that included $46 million for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, $5.6 million for public radio and educational television, and funding for rural healthcare providers and mental health programs. The special session also addressed expiring federal tax credits for health insurance by considering House Bill 2, which would expand eligibility for state cost-sharing subsidies on the healthcare exchange.

Governor Grisham placed several issues on the agenda for a New Mexico special legislative session convened in October 2025 to address impacts from federal budget cuts. The agenda included funding to fill gaps in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, support for public media, rural health care provisions, insurance tax credits, and state vaccine standards. Democratic lawmakers stated the session represented an initial step to mitigate effects of federal reductions on state residents and programs.

Grisham issued a proclamation on Tuesday convening a special legislative session beginning Wednesday that limited the scope of consideration to studying and preparing for the implementation of interstate medical licensing compacts rather than approving them outright. The proclamation specified that lawmakers would not be authorized to vote on joining the compacts during the session. The restricted agenda reflected an ongoing dispute among state officials regarding New Mexico's participation in agreements that would allow medical professionals licensed in other states to practice within the state.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced that a Northern California-based company developing affordable fusion energy alternatives selected Albuquerque for its first research and manufacturing campus in October 2025. The $1 billion project, located in the Mesa del Sol planned development in southeastern Albuquerque, received approval of $776.6 million in industrial revenue bonds from city councilors. Construction on the facility is expected to begin in 2026.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called a special session of the New Mexico legislature beginning October 1, 2025, using her constitutional authority to convene lawmakers to address anticipated federal funding reductions to the state. The session was convened in response to expected cuts from the federal Reconciliation Bill signed by President Donald Trump, including $513 million in reduced Medicaid federal revenue and the expiration of enhanced federal tax credits for health insurance. Legislation introduced during the special session included funding increases for the Healthcare Affordability Fund, expansion of the Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund, and amendments to criminal competency statutes.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation for a special legislative session beginning in October 2025 that included proposed funding to offset federal cuts to state healthcare and food assistance programs and legislation to address expected increases in insurance premiums from expiring tax credits. House Republican leaders criticized the agenda, arguing that the special session should instead address crime reduction, reforms to the Children, Youth and Families Department, and medical malpractice reform, and stated that Republican legislators were not provided bill drafts until the day before the proclamation was released. Republicans indicated they would introduce their own legislation on these priority issues, noting that such proposals require gubernatorial approval for consideration during the special session.

Lujan Grisham issued a formal proclamation calling for a special legislative session to address anticipated federal budget cuts resulting from the multitrillion-dollar budget reconciliation bill signed into law by President Donald Trump in July 2025. The bill is expected to reduce discretionary spending through 2034, prompting the governor to convene the legislature to develop state-level responses to the federal reductions. Republican legislators criticized the special session's scope, with some calling for the inclusion of additional policy priorities beyond those designated by the governor.

Lujan Grisham called a special legislative session in Santa Fe to address federal funding cuts affecting the state. The session convened amid uncertainty about the scope and adequacy of proposed measures, with legislative finance officials warning that available funds would be insufficient to fully offset the anticipated federal losses. Lawmakers gathered to develop short-term fiscal responses to the budgetary challenges resulting from reduced federal allocations.

Grisham called for a special legislative session to consider a package of measures including new investments in food assistance, funding for public broadcasting, and efforts to ensure health care remains affordable in response to recent federal funding changes. The special session was convened to address the impact of the multitrillion-dollar budget reconciliation bill signed by President Donald Trump on the state's health care and food assistance systems. Cabinet Secretary Kari Armijo of the New Mexico Health Care Authority indicated that lawmakers would examine how these federal changes affected both the health care system and food system across the state.

Lujan Grisham predicted during a Democratic Governors Association press call that failure to renew federal Enhanced Premium Tax Credits set to expire at the end of 2025 would result in 27,000 New Mexicans losing health insurance marketplace coverage. She stated that many affected individuals earned too much to qualify for Medicaid and would face delayed preventive care and surgeries, increasing emergency room burdens. Lujan Grisham called for extension of the tax credits to prevent double-digit premium increases and indicated that New Mexico would address expected federal funding decreases during a special legislative session in Santa Fe.

Governor Lujan Grisham suggested that the New Mexico Legislature take up legislation on interstate medical compacts during a special legislative session beginning October 1, 2025. Interstate medical compacts are agreements that streamline the licensing process for medical professionals to work across state lines, with New Mexico currently participating in only two such compacts. Lujan Grisham's communications director indicated that the governor hopes legislators will reconsider their initial concerns about time constraints and include the compacts legislation on the special session agenda.

Lujan Grisham announced on September 26, 2025, that Pacific Fusion, a Northern California-based commercial fusion energy company, would establish a $1 billion research and manufacturing facility in Albuquerque. The facility, to be located in the Mesa del Sol development and beginning construction in 2026, will focus on research and manufacturing rather than power generation and is expected to employ more than 200 people. The announcement was made jointly with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, company officials, state lawmakers, and representatives from New Mexico's two national laboratories.

An advisor to Grisham stated that the governor would support legislation banning local bodies from entering into immigrant detention contracts during the next regular legislative session, following a recommendation by the New Mexico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Such legislation had previously passed the New Mexico House of Representatives earlier in the year but did not reach a floor vote in the Senate before the legislative session concluded. The proposed ban would affect detention facilities in Torrance, Otero, and Cibola counties that currently operate under contracts with private contractors and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Lujan Grisham joined other Democratic governors in calling for bipartisan negotiation to extend enhanced federal tax credits under the Affordable Care Act ahead of their scheduled expiration. She stated that the expiration would result in premium increases of up to 75% and force more than 27,000 New Mexicans to lose insurance coverage through the state exchange BeWell. Lujan Grisham characterized the situation as leaving affected residents ineligible for Medicaid while facing potential cuts to that program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency filed notices of intent to appeal a federal judge's ruling that requires the agency to award hundreds of millions of dollars in noneconomic damages to victims of the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. The judge's August ruling ordered FEMA to compensate fire victims for pain and suffering related to the state's largest wildfire, which resulted from two botched U.S. Forest Service prescribed burns. Grisham criticized FEMA for refusing to accept the court's ruling and pay the additional compensation to fire victims, many of whom are elderly or low-income residents still experiencing the fire's effects.

In August 2025, Lujan Grisham signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Española, Rio Arriba County, and the nearby Santa Clara and Ohkay Owingeh pueblos due to rising crime and drug overdoses. The executive order authorized the state to allocate up to $750,000 for emergency services and resources and directed National Guard troops to provide military support to civil authorities in response to the declared emergency. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia reported that his department had received the first disbursement of emergency funds, with allocations including $75,000 for police overtime, $40,000 for dispatcher overtime, and $40,000 for narcotics testing equipment.

Grisham declared a state of emergency in Española on August 12 related to public safety concerns, citing a significant increase in crime and deadly drug overdoses in the Northern New Mexico city. In response to the emergency declaration, Grisham deployed nearly 70 New Mexico National Guard members to Española to aid local law enforcement, marking the second such National Guard deployment by the governor in 2025. The Guard members were not authorized to make arrests and received training in crisis intervention prior to deployment.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced in September 2025 that New Mexico's methane and ozone emissions rules for the oil and gas sector have reduced facility emissions in the Permian Basin by half compared to Texas, according to satellite data provided by MethaneSAT. The announcement highlighted that New Mexico achieved these emission reductions while oil and gas production in the state increased by 100 percent since 2020, compared to a 20 percent increase in Texas production over the same period. Lujan Grisham attributed the difference in emissions outcomes between the two states to regulatory policy rather than geological factors.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a policy mandating 72-hour state custody for infants who test positive for prenatal exposure to fentanyl, methamphetamine, or alcohol. The directive was issued following the deaths of two infants. The policy requires toxicology testing of newborns and automatic temporary removal from parental custody based on positive results.

The New Mexico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights voted 7-2 in July 2025 to recommend closure of New Mexico's three immigrant detention centers following an inquiry into allegations of wrongdoing, unsafe conditions, and due process violations. Governor Lujan Grisham had previously undertaken efforts to end federal immigration detention in New Mexico. Private operators of the detention centers, CoreCivic and Management & Training Corp., subsequently disputed the committee's findings and contested the recommendation for closure.

The State Ethics Commission filed a complaint in First Judicial District Court against Corrections Secretary Alisha Tafoya Lucero alleging that New Mexico Corrections Department staff collaborated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at probation offices in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, resulting in the arrest and deportation of individuals meeting with probation officers. The commission contended that these practices violated the Nondisclosure of Sensitive Personal Information Act, legislation signed by Governor Lujan Grisham earlier in 2025. The complaint seeks a declaratory judgment clarifying that federal law does not prohibit state enforcement of the nondisclosure statute.

Lujan Grisham announced in September 2025 that she would convene a special legislative session beginning October 1 to address anticipated reductions in federal funding to New Mexico resulting from a reconciliation bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in July. The governor identified potential agenda items including additional funding for rural healthcare providers, public broadcasting, healthcare premium reduction, food assistance, and resources to address Medicaid changes. Republican legislative leaders responded by requesting that Grisham provide them with proposed legislation language and seek their input on special session priorities, stating they had not been meaningfully consulted despite Democratic leadership receiving such briefings.

Grisham announced that New Mexico will offer no-cost universal childcare to all children in the state, effective November 1st, making New Mexico the first state to remove income eligibility requirements from its child care assistance program while continuing to waive family copayments. The program builds on prior state investments in early childhood education, including the creation of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019 and the Early Child Trust Fund in 2020, along with a 2022 constitutional amendment approved by voters to allocate additional funding from the Land Grant Permanent Fund. Grisham estimated the program will save families an average of $12,000 per child annually.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a universal child care initiative making New Mexico the first state in the nation to guarantee universal access to child care beginning November 1. The program provides free child care to families with incomes at or below 400 percent of the federal poverty level and is projected to serve approximately 12,000 additional children once fully implemented. The initiative includes funding for facility expansion through low-interest loans and capital outlay dollars, reduced administrative barriers for home-based caregivers, and wage incentives for child care providers.

Grisham's administration posted a job opening for New Mexico's first state child advocate position on Friday, a role created through legislation sponsored by Representative Michelle "Paulene" Abeyta. The Office of Child Advocate will be tasked with receiving reports and investigating concerns at the Children, Youth and Families Department. The selection committee, chaired by Abeyta, opened the position to qualified applicants through local and national job postings.

Lujan Grisham announced a universal child care access initiative for New Mexico with an implementation date of November 1. The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, under Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, proposed changes to state rules to effectuate the program. The proposal received varying reactions from stakeholders regarding its implementation and scope.

Following shootings of two Democratic Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses, House Speaker Javier Martínez requested that the Legislative Council Service director remove lawmakers' home addresses from the New Mexico Legislature's official website. Martínez stated he had previously removed his own home address after his residence was shot at several years prior. The action was taken in response to security concerns raised by the incidents in Minnesota.

Governor Lujan Grisham's communications director Michael Coleman issued a statement denouncing President Trump's August 25, 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to identify and potentially withhold federal funding from jurisdictions that have eliminated cash bail requirements. Coleman stated that the order's one-size-fits-all approach ignores state sovereignty and the ability of states to develop evidence-based policies suited to local needs. The statement indicated that Lujan Grisham opposed the federal mandate on the grounds that pretrial detention policy should remain a state matter rather than subject to federal coercion through funding threats.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced plans to call a special legislative session beginning October 1 following negotiations with top Democratic lawmakers in the state House and Senate. The governor stated she initially sought a broad agenda including road funding, interstate medical compacts, juvenile crime, and federal immigration detention facilities, but agreed to a narrowed focus after discussions with legislative leadership. Under the agreement, the special session will concentrate on state-level responses to federal budget changes, with other issues deferred to the 30-day regular legislative session scheduled to begin in January.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on September 8, 2025, that New Mexico will implement a universal free child care system with no income eligibility requirements, making the state the first in the nation to offer such a program. The state Early Childhood Education and Care Department will begin writing rules by November 1 to remove all income thresholds for child care assistance, replacing the current system that limits eligibility to families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level. The announcement followed a 2022 constitutional amendment passed by New Mexico voters that directed state lawmakers to establish sustainable funding sources for expanding early childhood education infrastructure.

The New Mexico Environment Department approved a plan by Los Alamos National Laboratory to vent radioactive tritium gas from four waste containers stored at the facility's Area G disposal site within six months. The containers, filled with tritium and hazardous waste and sealed since 2007, were discovered in 2016 to be building internal pressure with potential rupture risk. State and federal Environmental Protection Agency officials will monitor the venting process, which is scheduled to occur over 12 to 16 days on weekends, with authority to halt operations if necessary.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico will remove income eligibility requirements from its child care assistance program, making the state the first to offer free universal childcare to all families regardless of income. The program, administered through the Early Childhood Education and Care Department established in 2019, is funded through a 2022 constitutional amendment allocating 1.25% of the Land Grant Permanent Fund annually to early childhood education, along with the Early Childhood Trust Fund created in 2020. Grisham stated that the policy change will save families an average of $12,000 per child annually.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on September 8, 2025, that New Mexico will implement a universal free child care system, removing all income eligibility thresholds by November 1, making the state the first in the nation to offer child care at no cost to all residents regardless of income. The policy builds on a 2022 Constitutional Amendment approved by voters that directed the state to fund early childhood education expansion. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department will also begin accepting applications from local governments and schools for low-interest loans to expand or create child care facilities under rules approved in the most recent legislative session.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a universal child care program set to take effect November 1, 2025, making New Mexico the first state to guarantee no-cost child care for all families regardless of income by removing all income eligibility requirements and waiving family copayments. The program represents an estimated annual savings of $12,000 per child for families and includes a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund for facility construction and renovation, with an additional $20 million requested for fiscal year 2027. The state simultaneously plans to increase child care capacity and workforce support by raising reimbursement rates for providers and targeting the recruitment of 5,000 additional early childhood professionals to fully implement the universal system.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 535, which secures funding to continue the 988 suicide crisis helpline for New Mexico residents. The 988 helpline was rolled out in the summer of 2022 and operates 24/7 through phone and text access. The New Mexico Health Care Authority analyzed the bill during a recent legislative session.

Grisham signed the Energy Transition Act, legislation designed to transition New Mexico's electricity generation toward wind and solar power. The San Juan Generating Station, which had operated for decades, subsequently closed. According to the article, wind and solar energy contributed less than 5% of power generation in most of the state as of September 2025, six years after the act's passage.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham created the Technology and Innovation Office within the Economic Development Department with more than $90 million in funding from the Legislature to accelerate innovation and connect scientific discovery with real-world impact. The office's mission is to support the startup, growth and relocation of technology-based industries, rapidly move research from labs to markets, and diversify New Mexico's economy. Recent initiatives under this office include a $25 million quantum campus in downtown Albuquerque with Roadrunner Venture Studios and a new partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to fund research with military and civilian applications.

Governor Lujan Grisham invoked her authority under Article IV of the New Mexico Constitution to call a special legislative session scheduled for October 1, marking the seventh such session since she took office in 2019. The session agenda includes appropriating additional funding for food assistance and public broadcasting, establishing resources for the New Mexico Healthcare Authority to address pending Medicaid enrollment changes, authorizing funding for the Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund, and reducing healthcare premiums. The governor's office stated the session would address budget shortfalls resulting from changes to federal policies affecting New Mexico, including reforms to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Medicaid.

Governor Grisham signed the Medical Psilocybin Act into law in April, legalizing the use of psilocybin for medical purposes in New Mexico and making the state the first to legalize psilocybin through legislation rather than ballot initiative. The law permits regulated medical use of psilocybin, commonly known as magic mushrooms, for treating various mental health conditions. The legislation was advanced through legislative advocacy by constituents including veterans and individuals with trauma-related conditions who testified to their representatives about the therapeutic effects of the substance.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced on September 4, 2025, that she would convene a special legislative session beginning October 1 to address federal budget reductions resulting from H.R. 1, legislation signed by President Donald Trump in July. The governor's office estimated that reductions in federal Medicaid and SNAP funding alone would result in multi-billion-dollar annual losses to the state. The special session would consider measures including rural health care stabilization grants, health insurance premium reduction efforts, food assistance program investments, public broadcasting funding, and additional resources for the state Health Care Authority.

Governor Grisham announced on September 4, 2025, that she would call a special legislative session beginning October 1 to address state-level responses to federal spending reductions in Medicaid and food assistance programs. The special session, the seventh called by Grisham since 2019, was designed to provide stopgap funding for rural health care and public broadcasting stations affected by federal budget changes. Staff negotiations with Democratic legislative leaders indicated a potential spending package exceeding $400 million to mitigate the impact of federal policy changes scheduled to take effect in 2027 and beyond.

An aide to Governor Lujan Grisham informed the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee that the governor would consider adding a ban on immigration detention agreements to her agenda for a potential special legislative session. Such agreements currently allow counties including Torrance County to serve as fiscal agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement contracts with private detention operators like CoreCivic. The proposal would prevent local entities from entering into or continuing such agreements, building on House Bill 9, which passed the New Mexico House of Representatives during the regular legislative session but was not taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Governor Grisham called a special legislative session beginning October 1 to consider measures addressing food assistance, public broadcasting funding, and health care affordability and stabilization in response to federal funding cuts. The session agenda originally included a proposal to prohibit immigration detention facilities in the state, which was subsequently removed from consideration. The timing and scope of the special session reflected efforts to respond to changes in federal funding allocations affecting state programs.

Lujan Grisham signed an agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to establish a four-year, $120 million Quantum Frontier Project partnership aimed at advancing quantum computing technology in New Mexico. The initiative will leverage the state's universities, private companies, and national laboratories including Sandia and Los Alamos to conduct research and testing, with DARPA and New Mexico each contributing up to $120 million over the four-year period. New Mexico joined Illinois and Maryland as partners in DARPA's broader Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to test and validate emerging quantum technologies.

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez directed special prosecutors to assume two cases involving rape and murder allegations from McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin, citing improper case dismissals and failure to refer cases to outside prosecutors. Torrez stated that the transfer was necessary to ensure prosecution of cases involving serious felonies and protect community safety. The action was announced on Friday and added to an existing petition filed by Torrez requesting the state's highest court consider removing Martin from her position.

Governor Lujan Grisham indicated she may push legislation during a potential special legislative session to ban ICE detention facilities in New Mexico, where three such facilities currently operate. The proposed legislation would target federal immigration detention facilities, including the Otero County Processing Center, which houses approximately 1,027 immigrants awaiting deportation under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The governor's office did not immediately provide comment following a tour of the Otero facility by two Republican state senators who expressed concerns about the proposed ban.

Lujan Grisham appointed at least four members to the Water Quality Control Commission, which agreed in August 2025 to reopen a rule on the use of produced water, a toxic byproduct of oil and gas drilling and fracking, at the request of an oil and gas interest group. The rule, which had been finalized in May 2025, concerns whether produced water is safe for use in construction, industry, and agriculture. The reopened rule process occurred despite public opposition to reconsidering the water safety standards.

Rep. Romero toured the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral on Monday alongside eight Republican lawmakers to observe the federal immigration detention facility. During the visit, Romero reported receiving responses from ICE officials that she characterized as alarming, including statements that individuals crossing the border are criminals, despite immigration violations being classified as civil rather than criminal matters. The tour reflected differing perspectives among New Mexico lawmakers regarding immigration detention facilities amid ongoing discussions about a proposed ban on such facilities.

Lujan Grisham stated in August 2025 that she would oppose the deployment of National Guard troops to New Mexico to conduct immigration enforcement operations. The statement came in response to reports that federal officials were considering mobilizing up to 1,700 National Guard members from 19 states, including New Mexico, to assist the Department of Homeland Security with immigration enforcement operations from mid-August through mid-November. Lujan Grisham's position represented a direct disagreement with the proposed federal mobilization of state military resources for immigration-related activities within New Mexico.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued an executive order in August 2025 declaring a state of emergency in Española and Rio Arriba County in response to what the Governor's Office characterized as a surge in violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats. The declaration allocated $750,000 in state funding to law enforcement agencies within the county, including jurisdictions bordering Española and two pueblos in the region. Local jurisdictions were tasked with identifying and prioritizing their funding requests for review by the governor's administration.

New Mexico lawmakers passed legislation in 2023 authorizing free school meals for all K-12 public school students statewide. A Legislative Finance Committee report released in August 2025 found that the program has increased school meals participation rates across the state as intended, though implementation costs have grown rapidly. The report also identified challenges in complying with a Public Education Department requirement that 50 percent of school breakfasts and lunches be made from scratch, citing staffing and infrastructure limitations in many districts.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced the distribution of $120 million in state funding for housing and homelessness programs across New Mexico beginning in August 2025. The funding, sourced from general fund, Government Results and Opportunity Fund, and capital outlay appropriations approved by the New Mexico Legislature over the past two years, will be overseen by the Office of Housing at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The allocation directs more than $80 million to the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County area, more than $11 million to Las Cruces-Doña Ana County, and $13 million to other areas of the state, with projected outcomes including over 1,500 affordable housing units and 1,500 shelter beds.

Lujan Grisham issued a gubernatorial directive to increase the number of drug-exposed infants taken into state custody. During a Legislative Health and Human Services Committee meeting in Gallup, Democratic lawmakers including Senator Linda López stated the directive exceeded gubernatorial authority and contradicted legislative intent. Legislators expressed concerns that the policy would further traumatize children and families and potentially discourage parents from seeking medical care.

Governor Lujan Grisham, along with the state attorney general, requested that New Mexico's Supreme Court remove McKinley County District Attorney Bernadine Martin from office following her election victory in 2024. Martin had been twice elected to the position and won her Democratic primary against challenger Grant Birtcher with 57 percent of the vote. The action represented an effort to oust an elected prosecutor through judicial intervention rather than through electoral processes.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed a 2024 state law establishing a 7-day waiting period for firearm purchases. A federal appeals court blocked the law on August 19, 2025, ruling that waiting periods do not fit within historically grounded exceptions to Second Amendment protections. Grisham indicated the state was reviewing legal options to appeal the decision.

The Consensus Revenue Estimating Group projected $14.11 billion in General Fund revenue for fiscal year 2027, representing a $485 million increase over the current year's budget. Governor Grisham stated that the revenue growth would help protect essential state services against expected federal budget reductions estimated at approximately $206 million annually through fiscal year 2030. The state was also projected to maintain reserves of $3.94 billion, or 36.4% of recurring appropriations, for fiscal year 2026.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed House Bill 143, the Lobbyist Activity Reports bill sponsored by Representative Sarah Silva and Senator Jeff Steinborn, in April. The legislation would have required lobbyists to disclose their work and activities to increase transparency in state government. Grisham's veto prevented implementation of a measure designed to enhance public disclosure requirements for lobbying activities.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued Executive Order 2025-358 on Wednesday declaring a crime emergency for the Española area in Rio Arriba County. The order authorized $750,000 in emergency funding to support local law enforcement agencies through overtime pay for officers, public safety equipment purchases, and coordinated multi-agency efforts targeting violent crime and drug trafficking. While the executive order includes standard language permitting National Guard deployment, state officials indicated no immediate plans exist to activate military personnel and that resources will instead prioritize reinforcing local police department capacity.

Governor Grisham issued Executive Order 2025-358 declaring a state of emergency for Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and surrounding Pueblo communities in response to increased violent crime and drug trafficking. The declaration authorized up to $750,000 in state funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to coordinate emergency response efforts and provide additional resources to affected areas. According to state data, police calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled over the past two years, while the county currently records the state's highest overdose death rate.

Governor Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller issued a joint statement on Monday condemning President Donald Trump's announcement to deploy 800 National Guard troops to Washington D.C. for law enforcement purposes. Lujan Grisham had previously activated New Mexico National Guard members earlier in the year to assist Albuquerque police with crime in the city. The governor and mayor's statement distinguished their respective deployments in their response to Trump's federal initiative.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham implemented a new strategy to address the care of newborns exposed to drugs and alcohol that includes a 72-hour protective hold for affected infants to allow for immediate home assessment. The policy establishes a brief period of family separation during which authorities evaluate the safety of the home environment before determining appropriate placement. Grisham's initiative is designed to prioritize infant safety while maintaining the goal of family reunification and providing treatment services to parents struggling with substance use disorders.

Governor Lujan Grisham considered adding public media funding to a possible special legislative session following congressional defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The action was in response to New Mexico public radio and television stations losing approximately $5.8 million in annual federal grants and allocations. Twenty New Mexico stations faced potential closure or significant programming reductions without alternative funding sources.

Governor Lujan Grisham commented on a federal court ruling that temporarily blocked enforcement of a provision in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" signed by President Donald Trump on July 4, which would have cut Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood clinics for one year. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction on July 28 finding that Planned Parenthood would likely succeed in proving the law constitutes an unconstitutional bill of attainder that singles out the organization for punishment. Lujan Grisham stated in a tweet that the ruling was significant for New Mexico, where nearly 885,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid and five Planned Parenthood health centers provide cancer screenings, STI testing, contraception and reproductive care to thousands of residents.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Kristopher Houghton, an assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico and former judicial attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, to a vacant New Mexico Court of Appeals seat. Houghton, a University of New Mexico School of Law graduate admitted to the state bar in 2008 with prior experience clerking for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, will assume the position on August 16, 2025. The appointment fills the vacancy left by Judge Kristina Bogardus's June 2025 retirement and will remain in effect until the November 2026 election, at which point Houghton must run for election to retain the seat.

Governor Grisham's administration announced its intention to proceed with adoption of a clean fuels rule through a state board hearing scheduled for the coming weeks, despite federal rollbacks of emissions regulations and climate science findings announced by the Trump administration. The state maintained its commitment to independent clean energy policies separate from federal energy policy shifts that emphasized oil and gas development. State Environment Secretary James Kenney stated that the federal proposal to rescind the EPA's 2009 Endangerment Finding disregarded established climate science and threatened New Mexico's economic and public health interests.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham considered calling a special legislative session in late summer or early fall of 2025 to address federal budget cuts resulting from President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," signed July 4, 2025, which reduced Medicaid funding by more than $1 trillion and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding by $295 billion over the next decade. The proposed special session agenda included legislation to reinforce New Mexico's health care and SNAP systems in response to the federal cuts affecting approximately 764,407 Medicaid beneficiaries and 21.2% of state residents receiving food assistance. The session would also address criminal justice provisions, including increased penalties for felons in possession and updates to competency standards, as well as a proposal to ban local governments from contracting with federal immigration authorities to detain immigrants for civil violations.

U.S. Rep. Vasquez conducted an oversight visit to the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral on July 30, 2025, and documented that the facility was operating above capacity with 1,100 detainees in a facility designed for 1,089 people. Vasquez found that over 80% of detainees held no criminal charges or convictions. During the visit, Vasquez was restricted from speaking with detained individuals due to facility policy and documented infrastructure failures including non-functional phones and toilets, as well as reports of understaffed medical teams.

Lujan Grisham considered calling a special legislative session in New Mexico to address immigration detention in the state. The potential special session would have included legislation to end immigrant detention operations within New Mexico. No final action on convening such a session was described in the available information.

Governor Lujan Grisham's chief general counsel indicated to lawmakers that a special legislative session would likely be called in late August or early September to address federal budget cuts and other matters. The session is expected to include consideration of a measure that would ban immigration detention centers in New Mexico. The governor had previously called for a special session to address food assistance, public broadcasting funding, and health care affordability following federal funding reductions.

Governor Grisham requested a major disaster declaration for New Mexico following deadly flash floods in Lincoln County on July 8 that killed three people. President Donald Trump approved the major disaster declaration on Wednesday, making federal funds available to impacted residents for temporary housing and repairs, as well as loans for uninsured property damage. The approval also opened federal funding on a cost-sharing basis with 75 percent reimbursement to state, tribal, and eligible local governments for emergency repairs and replacements of damaged facilities.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 323 in April 2019, which took effect July 1, 2019 and decriminalized possession of up to half an ounce of marijuana by making it a petty misdemeanor punishable by a $50 fine rather than a criminal offense. The New Mexico Supreme Court subsequently ruled in July 2025 that warrantless vehicle searches based on marijuana odor remained lawful during the two-year decriminalization period between July 2019 and June 2021, when marijuana possession was still technically illegal despite reduced penalties. Lujan Grisham later signed the Cannabis Regulation Act on April 12, 2021, which fully legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older, effective June 29, 2021.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated she is prepared to "fight like hell" to protect New Mexico from the impacts of President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which became federal law on July 4, 2025. Grisham condemned the legislation and indicated she may call a special legislative session to address projected state budget shortfalls resulting from the law's Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts. According to Democratic Party analysis, approximately 112,000 New Mexicans could lose health insurance under the federal law, with additional impacts including potential closure of rural hospitals and cuts to food assistance programs.

President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration for flooding that occurred in Lincoln County in the Ruidoso area, which killed three people and damaged hundreds of homes. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated that the federal declaration provided resources sought for the affected community and committed to continuing recovery efforts for families and businesses in New Mexico. The Federal Emergency Management Agency appointed José M. Gil Montañez as the federal coordinating officer to lead recovery operations in the area.

Governor Lujan Grisham implemented a policy change directing hospitals to hold infants born with drug exposure until New Mexico's child welfare agency petitions courts for custody determinations. The New Mexico Hospital Association submitted a memo expressing concerns about the policy, citing potential strain on nursing and social work staff and fears that patients might avoid seeking care to avoid the new requirements. The policy represented a shift toward taking substance-exposed newborns into custody rather than releasing them to potentially unsafe living situations.

Mayor Tim Keller signed an executive order on July 21, 2025, reaffirming Albuquerque as a city of refuge and directing the police department to inform residents when immigration agents are in the area. The order restricts city departments from assisting with civil immigration enforcement actions and prohibits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies absent a warrant. The measure was announced at City Hall alongside immigrant advocates, city council members, and state officials, building on the city's previous immigration-related resolutions and policies adopted since 2000.

Governor Lujan Grisham unveiled a plan to increase state custody of newborns exposed to drugs rather than returning them to their families. The governor stated that New Mexico had erred on the side of returning children to potentially unsafe families. The proposal drew concern from hospitals working to understand the initiative and from advocacy organizations that raised questions about potential outcomes for affected families.

In September 2023, Grisham signed an executive order declaring gun violence a public health emergency in New Mexico and imposing restrictions on firearm possession in certain public places. Earlier in 2024, Grisham signed House Bill 8, a public safety omnibus package addressing issues including weapon conversion devices and criminal penalties for shooting threats. The executive order and legislation represent Grisham's regulatory and legislative actions responding to New Mexico's gun violence rates, which ranked third among states for firearm-related deaths per capita in 2022.

Catron County commissioners issued an emergency declaration citing damage from Mexican grey wolves and requested that Grisham activate elements of the New Mexico Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and State Defense Force to address wolf-related conflicts in the county. The commissioners estimated that $907,000 would be needed to staff a county wolf investigation program. Grisham did not approve the request for military deployment.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 1 into law on Wednesday following its passage in a special legislative session on Tuesday. The bill, known as the "feed bill" for its traditional funding of legislative session expenses, included a $4 million appropriation for Capitol complex improvements drawn equally from the capital maintenance fund and the legislative cash balance fund. The funding allocated money for elevator system upgrades, repairs to a parking structure, renovation of the Legislative Education Study Committee office area, and reconfiguration of House member offices in the Capitol Annex to provide individual offices for each representative.

Governor Grisham unveiled a new state protocol requiring the Children, Youth and Families Department to assume temporary custody of newborns exposed to fentanyl, methamphetamine, or born with fetal alcohol disorder. The directive also mandates that guardians seek treatment for addiction as part of the updated process. Grisham discussed the new protocols with the Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board in July 2025, describing it as an effort to prevent deaths and address systemic failures in child welfare.

Governor Lujan Grisham unveiled a new policy governing the handling of newborns exposed to illicit drugs or diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, requiring the Children, Youth and Families Department to take immediate custody for at least 72 hours of babies found to have illicit substances in their system after birth. Under the policy, judges will determine whether babies can return home or remain in CYFD custody, with safety assessments conducted by Department of Health and CYFD officials before discharge. The policy change was announced following the deaths of two children exposed to drugs at birth and represents a shift away from the prior emphasis on family reunification toward prioritizing newborn safety in cases involving parental substance abuse.

Grisham announced a new state strategy to increase removal of children born with drugs in their systems from their families and implement stricter oversight of families who retain custody of such children. The policy implements legislation passed in 2025 that strengthened New Mexico's laws enacting the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Grisham stated the change was made in response to recent deaths of children exposed to drugs at birth.

Grisham announced a new strategy prioritizing the removal of children from homes where parents are active drug users, rather than maintaining family unity in such cases. The governor stated the approach was implemented in response to recent deaths of children exposed to drugs at birth. Grisham indicated the state would enforce legislation passed during the legislative session that implements the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed the New Mexico Voting Rights Act in 2023, which expanded automatic voter registration and set a July 1, 2025 implementation date for the program at Motor Vehicle Division offices. The law also restored voting rights to individuals with felony convictions upon release from prison and enacted the Native American Voting Rights Act to improve polling access on tribal lands. In the first week of implementation, more than 8,400 New Mexicans registered to vote or updated their voter information through the automatic system.

Governor Lujan Grisham announced the completion of broadband expansion projects that extended high-speed internet access to over 500 rural locations in Cibola and McKinley counties through the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion. The projects, funded by American Rescue Plan Act grants totaling $6.8 million, included a nearly 50-mile fiber network in Cibola County connecting 109 homes and fixed wireless systems in McKinley County serving 410 locations across Gallup and Thoreau. These initiatives were designed to provide rural residents, students, and businesses with reliable internet connectivity.

Governor Grisham signed the Turquoise Alert system into law in April 2025, establishing a notification system for missing Native people in New Mexico that went into effect in July 2025. The system authorizes alerts for missing persons who are enrolled or eligible for enrollment in federally or state-recognized tribes. Implementation of the law assigned the Department of Public Safety responsibility for developing the system, with individual law enforcement agencies determining verification procedures for tribal enrollment eligibility.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July 2025, expanded the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include New Mexico downwinders for the first time, making residents sickened by radiation from atomic testing eligible for federal compensation. The legislation represented the largest expansion of RECA since its inception and reauthorized the program after it had expired one year prior. Grisham did not take a recorded action on this federal legislation, which was enacted by Congress and sent to President Trump.

Following passage of the Republican "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" in the U.S. House of Representatives, Grisham issued a statement indicating her administration was reviewing the legislation to identify impacts on New Mexico and announced she was prepared to call a special legislative session to address the bill's effects. Grisham stated the budget would reduce Medicaid funding for rural hospitals, decrease food assistance programs, and threaten education funding in the state. The governor said her administration would utilize available resources to mitigate harm from the legislation.

Attorney General Raúl Torrez criticized the Children, Youth and Families Department following the death of a 4-month-old infant in Albuquerque in June 2025 who had been exposed to drugs throughout his life. The agency had assigned the child's grandmother to monitor the family's safety plan rather than conducting direct oversight, a decision Torrez and Republican lawmakers characterized as inadequate given the documented drug use in the home. The child's parents, Victor Gonzales and Gabriella Muniz, were charged with child abuse in connection with the death.

In late May 2025, Governor Lujan Grisham issued an executive order addressing drought conditions in New Mexico, though the order did not explicitly include an emergency declaration despite the press release announcing one. The order urged local governments to consider firework bans and directed the New Mexico Drought Task Force to provide action recommendations by July 31, 2025. The executive order did not address the causes of the drought, which state climatologists attributed to climate change intensifying drought conditions to levels not seen in recorded history.

Lujan Grisham joined all other Democratic governors in condemning President Trump's deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to immigration raid protests. In a joint statement issued by the Democratic Governors Association on Sunday, Lujan Grisham stated that federal activation of National Guard forces within state borders without gubernatorial consultation constitutes an "alarming abuse of power" and violates the executive authority of governors as Commanders in Chief of their respective National Guard units. The governors emphasized that such federal interference undermines state authority and local law enforcement capacity.

When President Trump designated a 60-foot strip of land along New Mexico's border with Mexico as a National Defense Area, Grisham's staff stated they were not consulted regarding the designation and would not participate in implementing it. The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico subsequently announced 82 federal charges filed under Title 50 for unauthorized entry into the newly created military zone. Grisham's office characterized the federal action as a "scheme" in response to the border designation.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez announced settlements with insulin manufacturers Sanofi-Aventis U.S. and Novo Nordisk on Wednesday requiring both companies to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for uninsured customers and provide insulin free to eligible low-income individuals. The agreements resulted from investigations by the state Department of Justice into insulin pricing practices. New Mexico has more than 200,000 adults with diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association.

Lujan Grisham issued an executive order on May 22 declaring a state of emergency due to drought and severe fire conditions in New Mexico. The order established the New Mexico Drought Task Force, chaired by State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson and including representatives from multiple state departments, and directed it to coordinate response efforts, share water conservation resources, and draft recommendations for mitigating drought and reducing wildfire risk by July 31. The task force held its first meeting on May 28 to begin developing guidance for governing bodies on drought mitigation and fire prevention measures.

Grisham issued an executive order deploying National Guard troops to Albuquerque to assist local police with public safety challenges in the city. Social justice organizations including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, the Brown Berets, and the American Indian Movement held a press conference on May 24, 2025, to respond to the deployment. The groups stated that the National Guard presence would not address underlying causes of crime such as poverty, homelessness, and addiction.

Lujan Grisham joined fellow Democratic governors in criticizing proposed cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program included in congressional Republicans' spending bill heading toward a House vote. During a media call on Wednesday, Lujan Grisham stated that the cuts would affect working American families and New Mexico residents who depend on these programs. As of the previous month, 822,542 New Mexicans, representing approximately 39 percent of the state population, were enrolled in Medicaid.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 3, the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, into law in February 2025. The legislation tasks the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts with coordinating the development of regional behavioral health plans and expanding access to services throughout the state. The Administrative Office of the Courts subsequently hired Esperanza Lucero as behavioral health integration and reform administrator to implement the requirements of SB 3.

Grisham's Food Initiative distributed grants through the New Mexico Economic Development Department's Healthy Food Financing Fund to eight businesses and organizations selected in the latest round of funding announced on Thursday. The grants target projects that address food insecurity while promoting economic development in the agricultural sector. Among the recipients was a small farm specializing in culturally significant okra.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez joined a coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general in filing two federal lawsuits against the Trump administration on May 13, 2025, challenging conditions placed on federal transportation and disaster relief funds. The lawsuits claimed that Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened to withhold billions of dollars unless states complied with specified immigration enforcement actions and eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The attorneys general argued that the Trump administration violated the U.S. Constitution by conditioning federal spending, a power reserved for Congress rather than the executive branch.

Grisham made multiple national television appearances on CNN and Bloomberg TV to discuss Republican proposals to reduce federal Medicaid spending, characterizing the GOP budget plans during a virtual press event with Democratic governors from Kansas, Kentucky, and Hawaii. During the Tuesday event, Grisham stated that up to half of New Mexico's 820,000 Medicaid-covered residents could lose health care coverage if Congress approved a budget bill scaling back federal funding, and warned that 46 percent of rural hospitals nationally were already struggling and could close under reduced federal Medicaid spending. Grisham also addressed concerns about Trump administration tariffs on imported prescription drugs and referenced New Mexico's 2020 law authorizing the importation of prescription medications from Canada, noting that the state is pursuing an importation program.

The New Mexico Health Care Authority terminated a $1.75 million contract with the nonprofit New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool on Wednesday. The contract was established to support implementation of a health coverage expansion program intended to serve undocumented immigrants and other populations. The termination occurred amid questions regarding the contract award process and its terms.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a program offering $1,000 in travel assistance to immigrants without legal status who voluntarily self-deport from the United States. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem characterized the program as cost-effective, stating it would save taxpayers 70 percent compared to deportation enforcement. The program would be facilitated through the CBP Home app, with the $1,000 stipend provided to participants upon arrival in their home country.

When President Trump designated a 60-foot strip of land along New Mexico's border with Mexico as a National Defense Area, Grisham's office stated that they were not consulted on the designation and would not participate in implementing the policy. The U.S. Attorney for New Mexico subsequently announced 82 federal charges filed against individuals for unauthorized entry into the newly created National Defense Area, with violations carrying potential penalties of up to one year in prison under Title 50 charges.

President Trump designated a 60-foot strip of land along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico as a "National Defense Area" and authorized U.S. Northern Command to temporarily detain individuals trespassing in this area until law enforcement could assume custody. Governor Lujan Grisham's office stated that the governor had not been consulted on the announcement and that New Mexico would not be assisting with the initiative, characterizing it as inefficient given current migration levels.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 364 during the 2025 legislative session, which allows any person legally able to work in the United States, including noncitizens, to become a police officer in New Mexico. Previously, only U.S. citizens were eligible for police officer positions in the state. The law was designed to address staffing shortages in law enforcement agencies across New Mexico, where departments at state, city, and county levels reported significant numbers of unfilled positions.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham relocated the state Office of Housing from the governor's office to the Department of Workforce Solutions in April 2025, pending identification of a permanent institutional home. The four-person office, which had operated informally without statutory authorization after two years of failed legislative efforts to establish it formally, will now coordinate with the state's workforce agency to connect job creation with housing development. Department of Workforce Solutions Secretary Sarita Nair was tasked with recommending a permanent location for the office, with options including remaining at the Department of Workforce Solutions, moving to another agency, or operating as a standalone entity.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the relocation of the State Office of Housing to the Department of Workforce Solutions after the Legislature failed for a second consecutive year to pass legislation creating statutory authority for the office. The reorganization was intended to link housing strategies more directly to job creation and provide the office with resources to address the state's housing shortage. Grisham stated the move would allow existing state housing investments to produce tangible progress while the administration continued pursuing permanent legislative authority for the housing and homelessness initiatives.

Torrez announced a formal investigation into the death of 16-year-old Jaydun Garcia at an Albuquerque halfway house operated by the state's Children, Youth and Families Department. The investigation will extend beyond Garcia's death to examine other reported incidents of children harmed while in CYFD custody, including cases of abuse, neglect, improper housing, sexual assault, and abuse by armed guards. Torrez stated the Department of Justice will conduct a comprehensive examination of the circumstances surrounding these cases and indicated willingness to advocate for changes to state law if necessary.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 586, legislation establishing permanent state oversight and regulations on hospital mergers, acquisitions, and private equity takeovers in New Mexico. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Katy Duhigg and followed a 2024 temporary oversight measure that was set to expire on July 1, 2025. The legislation emerged after a proposed merger between Presbyterian Healthcare Services and Iowa-based UnityPoint Health prompted lawmakers to address hospital ownership transactions in a state that previously lacked such regulatory mechanisms.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the Medical Psilocybin Act into law, making New Mexico the third state to legalize psilocybin for therapeutic use following Oregon and Colorado. The legislation removes psilocybin, the psychoactive chemical in psilocybin mushrooms, from New Mexico's Schedule 1 drug list to permit its medical implementation. The act authorizes the use of psilocybin in approved settings to treat qualified medical conditions, though psilocybin remains classified as a Schedule 1 substance under federal law.

Lujan Grisham, along with Democratic governors from Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, and Oregon, sent a letter to the Trump administration objecting to a proposed rule that would restrict state regulation of health insurance marketplaces. The proposed rule would modify open enrollment periods, remove young immigrants known as Dreamers from eligibility, reduce special enrollment options outside the standard enrollment period, and prohibit certain transgender treatments as essential health benefits. Lujan Grisham stated the changes would create confusion among the more than 70,000 New Mexicans enrolled in the state-run BeWell marketplace.

Following the death of a foster teenager in state custody at an AMIkids facility in Albuquerque in April 2025, Grisham directed the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department to thoroughly investigate the incident and review all policies regarding youth in similar placements. The teenager died by suicide at the state-contracted home for boys, which is operated by the Florida-based nonprofit AMIkids Inc. CYFD oversees the contract with AMIkids and is subject to state and federal confidentiality laws that limit public disclosure of details regarding the investigation.

Grisham vetoed House Bill 14, which proposed to eliminate the gross receipts tax on medical services in New Mexico, citing concerns about how the legislature planned to pay for the tax cut. The state currently charges an 8 percent gross receipts tax on medical services, the highest in the nation alongside Hawaii, while health care professionals have identified the tax as a barrier to recruiting and retaining doctors. Think New Mexico and other advocates had promoted the bill as a mechanism to address the state's documented shortage of health care workers.

Grisham signed legislation limiting rent application fees, which was the only housing-related bill to pass the legislature during the 2024 session. Grisham fired Daniel Werwath, the state's top housing official, in early April after a bill to create a state Office of Housing, Planning and Production failed to advance for the second consecutive year. Housing advocates expressed concern that further progress on addressing the state's housing crisis would be delayed until the next legislative session.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham used line-item veto authority to remove $1 million in start-up funding and a separate $650,000 appropriation for the newly created Office of the Child Advocate from the state budget bill, while leaving intact a similar earmark in another section of the spending bill. Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced that the Department of Justice would redirect funding to cover the budget shortfall for the Office of the Child Advocate, which will be administratively attached to his agency. Torrez stated his intention to continue working with the Legislature to secure adequate ongoing funding for the office.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez announced the launch of a federal disruptions tracker website by the New Mexico Department of Justice on Tuesday to document the impact of federal disruptions on state residents. The website allows users to submit information about interruptions, reductions, or delays in Social Security payments, disability benefits, federal funding freezes, mass layoffs, or discontinued program grants. Torrez stated the tracker was created to provide New Mexicans with timely, reliable information about federal changes affecting their finances, employment, and benefits, and to support the Department of Justice's efforts to restore access to cut federal resources.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham did not sign Senate Bill 13, sponsored by Senator Benny Shendo Jr., by the Friday constitutional deadline, resulting in a pocket veto that prevented the bill from becoming law. Senate Bill 13 would have authorized tribes to form state-funded schools through state-tribal education compacts and integrate tribal educational priorities, including Indigenous language and cultural education, into curriculum. Grisham's pocket veto of the bill was among 17 bills passed by the House and Senate that remained unsigned as of the deadline.

On April 7, 2025, Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 364 into law, which permits non-citizens with work authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to serve as sheriffs and police officers in New Mexico. Previously, only U.S. citizens were eligible to hold these law enforcement positions. The legislation expands the candidate pool available to law enforcement agencies in the state.

Lujan Grisham vetoed 18 bills from the 2025 legislative session on April 11, 2025, including measures addressing lobbyist disclosure requirements, custom license plates, and designating tortillas as the state bread. In addition to these vetoes, Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed 17 additional bills without signing them by the deadline, including legislation on housing affordability, university admission policies related to immigration status, the Gaming Control Board, and updates to the state's Sunshine Portal. Lujan Grisham signed 160 bills during the session.

Grisham signed the Community Solar Act into law in 2021, establishing a program that allows residents to subscribe to solar projects and receive credits on their utility bills without owning panels themselves. The legislation included provisions to reach low-income residents, with the Public Regulation Commission estimating that subscribers could reduce electric bills by an average of up to 30 percent. The first community solar project in New Mexico broke ground in February 2025, approximately four years after the legislation's enactment.

Governor Lujan Grisham vetoed House Bill 36 on April 11, 2025, which would have permitted optometrists to perform laser eye surgeries after completing a 36-hour course and four hours of supervised training on models. Lujan Grisham's veto message referenced data indicating that allowing optometrists to perform these procedures in other states had not increased access to care, as practitioners typically established practices in areas already served by ophthalmologists. The bill would have enabled optometrists, who do not attend medical school, to conduct procedures that ophthalmologists complete after eight years of specialized training following their bachelor's degree.

Lujan Grisham signed the state's $10.8 billion budget on April 11, 2025, while exercising her line-item veto authority to strike at least $1.6 million in funding for an Office of Child Advocate within the Department of Justice. The vetoed allocation was designated to support oversight functions and complaint mechanisms related to the Children, Youth and Families Department. Lujan Grisham stated in her executive message that the vetoed language "inappropriately interferes with the executive managerial functions and statutory duties of another agency."

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed four new regents to Western New Mexico University's board in March, leaving one seat vacant. The previous board had approved a $1.9 million severance payment to university president Joseph Shepard along with a full professorship paying at least $200,000 annually for teaching two online classes per semester. The new regents held their first meeting and began addressing governance practices, with regent John Wertheim clarifying proper procedures for approving meeting minutes.

Lujan Grisham signed 22 bills on Thursday, including measures addressing teacher pay and licensure. This brought her total to more than 150 of the 195 bills passed during the 60-day legislative session. The signings occurred one day before the Friday deadline for the governor to sign legislation into law.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham vetoed 16 bills on April 11, 2025, the deadline for legislative decisions, while signing three major appropriations bills with line-item vetoes: the state budget, a capital outlay funding bill, and a capital outlay reauthorizations bill. Her most significant veto was HB 14, a tax omnibus bill, which she rejected citing concerns that the majority of its tax changes would not take effect for two years and that the legislature failed to utilize $3 billion in one-time state funds available that year. Grisham also vetoed bills designating tortilla as the state bread and creating new state license plates, stating in her veto messages that the legislature prioritized symbolic measures while failing to advance legislation on synthetic cannabinoid regulation and housing development.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bills 2 and 3 on Friday, establishing the state government's $10.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which represents a 6 percent increase from the previous year. The governor exercised line-item veto authority, rejecting 87 provisions across four categories including those that attempted to create substantive law, enact general policy, intrude on executive functions, or unduly restrict appropriations. The 14 line-item vetoes that eliminated spending totaled approximately $331 million, or 3 percent of the overall budget.

Grisham announced that New Mexico would expand its measles reporting and tracking system as cases continued to rise in the state's southeast region, implementing infection rate mapping similar to COVID-19 protocols. The governor directed the health department to increase educational outreach regarding measles vaccination, particularly emphasizing vaccine availability for infants and vulnerable populations, and stated the public could expect regular briefings on measles and infectious diseases. Grisham also expressed concern about the loss of approximately sixty million dollars in federal public health funding and the resulting cancellation of community vaccination outreach contracts and elimination of temporary health department staff.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham attended a cleanup event on Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe on Tuesday as part of her statewide Breaking Bad Habits anti-litter initiative. The event drew 75 volunteers who collected approximately 120 bags of trash and discovered 100 sharp needles left by drug users. Grisham's Breaking Bad Habits campaign, launched in October, includes a website where residents can register cleanup events, report illegal dumping, and participate as Youth Land of Enchantment Ambassadors.

Grisham vetoed 16 measures on April 11, 2025, including House Bill 14, a tax package that would have extended relief to an estimated 100,000 middle-income New Mexicans. In her veto message, Grisham stated that the Legislature waited until the final days of the session to pass the tax measure and that the package lacked "strategic coherence and fiscal credibility." Grisham also vetoed several specialty license plate bills during the same action, bringing her total vetoes from the legislative session to 18 bills.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 70 into law on Wednesday, which expanded New Mexico's anti-racketeering statute to include human trafficking, sexual exploitation of children, criminal sexual penetration, criminal sexual contact, dogfighting, cockfighting, and bringing contraband into places of imprisonment as predicate offenses. The Republican-sponsored measure represented one of a limited number of public safety bills passed during the 60-day legislative session. The expansion broadened the range of criminal conduct that could constitute racketeering violations under state law.

On Tuesday, Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 137, the Strategic Water Supply Act, into law, establishing a grant program for brackish water reuse projects in New Mexico. The legislation excluded produced water from hydraulic fracturing despite the governor's stated intention to continue pursuing treatment and reuse of fracking wastewater. The state Water Quality Control Commission is concurrently finalizing regulations for pilot projects that would allow treatment and reuse of produced water under the existing Produced Water Act framework.

Grisham signed House Bill 212 and House Bill 140, legislation designed to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in New Mexico. HB 212 bans intentionally-added PFAS chemicals in manufactured goods sold in the state through a phased approach beginning in 2027, while also restricting the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS to emergency situations only. HB 140 designates discarded firefighting foams as hazardous waste, enabling state regulation of the substances and establishing mechanisms to shift remediation costs from taxpayers to polluters.

Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 041 into law, which established a "Turquoise Alert" system to notify the public of missing Native Americans who are enrolled members or eligible for enrollment in federally recognized Indian nations, tribes, or pueblos. The legislation instructs the Department of Public Safety to implement the alert system for missing persons at risk due to safety or health concerns, unexplained circumstances, or mental or physical disabilities, coordinating with law enforcement, state agencies, and media outlets. The bill passed both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature unanimously.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 4 into law, which guaranteed free breakfast and lunch for all public school students while requiring schools to improve the quality of food served in their cafeterias. The legislation mandated that schools take steps to enhance nutrition offerings, including whole wheat options, plant-based meals, and nonsugary snacks. The bill took effect in 2023, one year before child obesity rates in New Mexico began declining among measured age groups.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 21, legislation that establishes state control over surface water quality and creates a program to address legacy contamination in New Mexico. The governor also signed additional bills addressing PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals, during a ceremony at the Roundhouse. The bills were characterized by legislative sponsors and environmental advocates as representing a significant shift in the state's approach to water and environmental management.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the deployment of between 60 and 70 New Mexico National Guard members to Albuquerque to assist the Albuquerque Police Department, following a request from Police Chief Harold Medina. The National Guard members were to be unarmed, identifiable by polo shirts rather than fatigues, and assigned to duties including scene security, traffic control at critical incidents, and support at the Metropolitan Detention Center and Sunport. Grisham stated the deployment was being conducted in coordination with the state Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police, and APD.

Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 16 into law on Monday, allowing decline-to-state voters to participate in primary elections of their choice without changing their voter registration status. The legislation permits unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in Democratic, Republican, or Libertarian primary contests while maintaining their current registration. The bill passed the Senate 27-11 and the House 36-33, positioning New Mexico among seven states with similar primary participation laws for unaffiliated voters.

House Bill 143, awaiting Governor Lujan Grisham's signature following the 2025 legislative session, would require lobbyists to disclose which bills they worked on and their position regarding those bills. Currently, New Mexico does not mandate such disclosure of lobbying activities or positions on specific legislation. The bill's April 11 deadline for gubernatorial action represents an opportunity to implement transparency measures in the state's legislative process.

In 2023, Grisham signed Senate Bill 4 into law, establishing free breakfast and lunch for all public school students in New Mexico while requiring schools to implement measures to improve food quality in cafeterias. The legislation was enacted as childhood obesity rates in the state declined from pandemic peaks of 18 percent among kindergarteners and 28.6 percent among third graders. Despite the decline, obesity rates remained elevated compared to a decade prior, when 11.6 percent of kindergarteners and 18.1 percent of third graders were classified as obese.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 21 into law on April 8, 2025, establishing a state permitting system for waters that lost federal Clean Water Act protections following the U.S. Supreme Court's Sackett decision. The legislation creates a framework allowing New Mexico to eventually assume surface water permitting authority from the Environmental Protection Agency, a responsibility currently held by the federal agency in New Mexico and two other states. The bill addresses protections for seasonal waterways that were removed by the Supreme Court ruling, which had particular impact on New Mexico due to its arid climate and reliance on limited water resources.

Governor Grisham signed an executive order on Tuesday declaring a state of emergency in Albuquerque and authorizing the deployment of 60 to 70 New Mexico National Guard troops to assist the Albuquerque Police Department beginning in mid-May. The order was issued at the request of Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina in response to increased crime in the city, particularly along the Route 66 corridor. The deployed troops will conduct crime scene security, distribute supplies to homeless populations, transport prisoners, provide courthouse security, and operate drones for suspect location and incident assessment, with the executive order also freeing state funds for the National Guard operation.

Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 16 into law on Monday, establishing semi-open primaries in New Mexico that allow approximately 330,000 unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections without changing their voter registration status. The bill was among 60 measures signed by Lujan Grisham on that date, bringing the total number of bills signed during the legislative session to 82. The signed legislation addresses multiple policy areas including healthcare, public safety, economic development, and education.

On March 21, Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 66, which increased the cap on attorney fees in workers' compensation cases from $22,500 to $30,000, with scheduled increases to $32,000 in 2027 and $34,000 in 2029. The law also raised the cap on insurance company advances for discovery costs from $3,000 to $3,500, with further increases to $4,000 in 2027 and $4,500 in 2029. The legislation directs the Advisory Council on Workers' Compensation and Occupational Disease Disablement to review these caps and make recommendations to the Legislature in 2029.

Grisham characterized President Trump's tariffs, instituted on what Trump called "Liberation Day," as "a massive tax increase on New Mexicans" and stated they would increase prices on groceries, fuel, cars, building materials, and electronics. The tariffs impose charges on foreign-produced goods at varying rates, including 34 percent on Chinese goods, 20 percent on European Union goods, and 10 percent on United Kingdom goods. Grisham stated the tariffs were "unnecessary and reckless" and noted that analysis from Yale University's Budget Lab estimated they could cost American households $4,200 annually.

The New Mexico Legislature passed House Bill 143 during its recent session, which would require registered lobbyists to disclose additional details about who pays them and what positions they hold on specific legislation. If signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the bill would also mandate that lobbyists file supplemental reports within 48 hours if their positions on legislation change. The legislation, championed by Senator Jeff Steinborn since 2017 and co-sponsored by Representative Sarah Silva, aims to increase transparency regarding which entities attempt to influence the state's legislative process.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed legislation in March 2025 that allows bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs when the way is clear, effective July 1, 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, permits what is known as an Idaho Stop at intersections throughout New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, approximately 60 percent of cyclist accidents between 2019 and 2023 occurred at or near intersections, with 39 cyclists killed during that period.

Following an alleged arson at the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters in Albuquerque on April 1, 2025, Republican leaders called on Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to convene a special legislative session focused on increasing criminal penalties. Lujan Grisham stated that she shared concerns about crime and indicated she would likely call such a session, though she did not specify a timeframe. The governor's conditional commitment to the special session came after the 60-day regular legislative session concluded without what Republicans characterized as adequate crime legislation.

In 2023, Lujan Grisham signed the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Act into law, which prohibits public bodies from restricting or discriminating against a person's right to access gender-affirming care and defines such care broadly to include psychological, behavioral, surgical, pharmaceutical, and medical services. That same year, Lujan Grisham signed additional protections into law that prevent public bodies from releasing information or using their resources to assist outside investigations seeking to impose civil or criminal liability on medical providers who offer gender-affirming care in New Mexico. These legal protections established New Mexico as a jurisdiction with statutory safeguards for gender-affirming care access and provider protections ahead of subsequent federal policy changes.

Following a mass shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces on March 28, 2025 that killed three teenagers and wounded fifteen others, Governor Lujan Grisham announced plans to convene a special legislative session focused on public safety. Four suspects were arrested in connection with the shooting, three of whom were juveniles. Lujan Grisham's call for the special session came after a previous legislative session on public safety in the prior year lasted only five hours and did not advance most of her agenda items.

Following the failure of the New Mexico Legislature to pass major health care workforce reform bills during the 2025 legislative session, Grisham stated she did not disagree with Republican lawmakers' assessment that the state's doctor shortage and medical malpractice issues were significant problems requiring action. Republican legislative leaders called for an immediate special session to address the inability of New Mexicans to receive health care due to lack of medical professionals, and Grisham acknowledged agreement with the caucus on the priority of malpractice reform and the doctor shortage. Both the governor and Republican lawmakers indicated intention to continue work on addressing the state's health care worker shortage.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham requested a $10 million capital outlay project in 2023 that was approved to establish the Center for Reproductive Health in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The center, a partnership between the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Bold Futures, Strong Families New Mexico, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, is expected to open in late summer or fall 2026 and will provide medication and procedural abortion, contraception, pregnancy loss support, lactation support, and doula services. Grisham subsequently requested an additional $10 million in capital outlay funds for a reproductive health center in Northern New Mexico.

The New Mexico Academy of Ophthalmology requested that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham veto House Bill 36, legislation passed during the recent legislative session that would expand the surgical scope of practice for optometrists. The bill would allow optometrists to perform certain eye surgeries after completing a 32-hour course and a 4-hour unsupervised practice session on models, compared to the 13 years of education and training required for ophthalmologists. Supporters of the bill argued it would increase access to eye care in underserved areas such as rural counties lacking ophthalmologists, while opponents contended the training requirement was insufficient and that access improvements were unlikely based on outcomes in other states.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham plans to sign Senate Bill 41 into law, which establishes a Turquoise Alert system for missing Native Americans in New Mexico. The alert system will operate similarly to the state's Amber Alert system and apply to enrolled or eligible tribal members who go missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances or face heightened risk due to health concerns or disabilities. The bill passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously and requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan for rapidly issuing alerts and maintaining records on each case.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 73 on March 26, 2025, which allows cyclists in New Mexico to treat stop signs as yield signs and red traffic lights as stop signs, provided the intersection is clear of other vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. The law, commonly referred to as an "Idaho stop," takes effect on July 1, 2025. Proponents cited safety benefits including reduced cyclist exposure to vehicles and increased visibility at intersections, noting that Idaho experienced a 14.5 percent reduction in cyclist injuries following implementation of a similar law in 1982.

During the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 66 into law on March 21, which increased the cap on legal fees in workers' compensation cases as sponsored by Representative Pamelya Herndon. Grisham has signed 22 bills into law during the session, with additional bills awaiting her signature including Senate Bill 124, which would grant the superintendent of insurance broader authority to issue subpoenas. Following a shooting in Las Cruces on the final day of the session, Grisham indicated that a special legislative session would likely be called later in the year to address public safety matters.

Following a mass shooting at a park in Las Cruces, Grisham announced plans to call a special legislative session to address public safety legislation. Grisham stated that lawmakers had not sufficiently addressed crime during the 60-day regular session that concluded on Saturday. The governor indicated that the special session would focus on completing public safety measures that remained unfinished at the end of the regular legislative period.

Following a fatal shooting at a public park in Las Cruces that killed three people and injured 15 others, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated she was considering calling lawmakers back to the Capitol to address violent crime in the state. Grisham had previously signed a public safety law in February that included enhanced penalties for mass-shooting threats, fentanyl trafficking, and repeated vehicle thefts, and that banned devices such as Glock switches that convert firearms into automatic weapons. Legislators delivered multiple crime-related bills to Grisham during the 60-day session, including a unanimously approved measure to expand the state's racketeering law to address human trafficking, contraband smuggling, and cockfighting.

Following the conclusion of the 2025 New Mexico legislative session on March 22, Governor Lujan Grisham announced her intention to call a special session to address public safety concerns, stating that the state "does not have sufficient tools" to prevent incidents such as the March 21 mass shooting in Las Cruces. Lujan Grisham had signed a public safety and behavioral health care package in February but continued to press lawmakers for additional measures, particularly regarding juvenile crime. The governor criticized legislative committee chairs for what she characterized as insufficient debate on her proposed bills during the 60-day session.

The New Mexico Legislature passed House Bill 219, which would establish Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park on approximately 1,000 acres along the Rio Grande near the Robledo Mountains in Doña Ana County. The bill received unanimous approval in the Senate and passed the House with a 48-16 vote, and was sponsored by three Democrats from Las Cruces. The legislation was sent to Governor Grisham for signature, with projected development costs between $8.1 million and $9.3 million and annual operating costs of $338,452.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a public safety and behavioral health care package in February 2025 during the 60-day legislative session, which lawmakers had prioritized alongside her public safety agenda following a failed special session the prior year. Grisham criticized the Legislature on the final day of the session for failing to pass additional measures addressing juvenile crime, specifically noting that Senate Bill 255, which she described as a weakened version of her proposal, did not advance. Following the Legislature's adjournment on March 22, 2025, Grisham announced she would call a special session to address what she termed New Mexico's ongoing public safety crisis.

Following a mass shooting in Las Cruces that killed three people and injured at least fifteen, Governor Lujan Grisham announced that legislators should prepare for a special legislative session. Lujan Grisham stated that the state legislature had failed to address violent crime and noted that the session was concluding without passage of bills addressing juvenile crime or banning assault weapons. The governor indicated her intention to convene a special session to address these legislative gaps in the aftermath of the shooting.

House Bill 91 passed the New Mexico Senate on a 26-16 vote and awaits Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's signature. The legislation would allow utilities including the Public Service Company of New Mexico, El Paso Electric, Southwestern Public Service Company, and New Mexico Gas Company to develop and propose low-income rate structures or programs, subject to approval by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. If signed, the bill would enable New Mexico to join more than 20 other states that have implemented low-income utility rate programs.

The Trump administration developed a plan to establish a 60-foot militarized buffer zone along the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico, to be occupied by active-duty troops with authority to detain migrants who cross unlawfully. Governor Lujan Grisham stated that the resources would be better directed toward targeting high-risk individuals through the state's Organized Crime Commission and characterized the proposal as a waste of military personnel. The plan also drew criticism from U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez and U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, who argued that military resources would be better used for other national security purposes and expressed concerns about military readiness.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 5 on Friday, which establishes a new Office of Child Advocate within the New Mexico Department of Justice to oversee the Children, Youth and Families Department. In her signing message, Lujan Grisham stated that while oversight of CYFD was warranted, she characterized the bill as problematic in its approach and design. The governor's signing came after her administration had expressed concerns about the proposed office throughout the legislative session.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed Senate Bill 163 into law on March 19, 2025, which prevents school boards from banning tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies. The legislation was prompted by an incident in May 2024 in Farmington, New Mexico, where a Native American high school graduate was required to remove a graduation cap decorated with an eagle plume and beads. The bill passed unanimously through both chambers of the New Mexico legislature before receiving the governor's signature.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 163 during a bill signing ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in March 2025. The legislation allows Native American students across New Mexico to wear tribal regalia at graduation and public school events. The bill had passed the state Senate and was celebrated by youth interns and community members at the signing event.

Lujan Grisham included a $10 million appropriation in House Bill 450, a $1.2 billion capital outlay measure funding over 1,400 projects statewide, to construct a reproductive health clinic in Northern New Mexico. The appropriation was added to the bill in its final stages and became a point of contention among House Republicans, who cited the inclusion as a reason they could not support the overall spending measure. The capital outlay bill typically receives bipartisan support despite the controversial nature of this particular appropriation.

Grisham signed Senate Bill 163 into law on March 19, 2025, which prohibits public schools from banning tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance worn by students who are members of federally recognized tribes, nations, or pueblos. The legislation was enacted in response to an incident at Farmington High School where a Hunkpapa Lakota student's graduation cap featuring an eagle plume and beading was confiscated and replaced with a generic cap. The bill passed both chambers of the legislature on unanimous votes and became effective immediately upon Grisham's signature due to an emergency clause.

The New Mexico Senate approved legislation that would grant police powers to the state Regulation and Licensing Department to address the illicit cannabis market, sending the bill to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for consideration. The measure represents one of several cannabis industry proposals that industry leaders hoped would reach the governor's desk before the legislative session concluded. Grisham had not yet signed or taken action on the legislation as of the article's publication date.

The New Mexico Senate passed a measure on Monday requiring additional disclosures from lobbyists, with the bill advancing on a 22-15 vote. The legislation did not include requirements for disclosure of gifts to lawmakers. The bill now heads to the House for consideration.

Lujan Grisham met with senators and urged amendments to House Bill 5, which establishes an outside oversight office for New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department, stating she believed the House-approved version was unconstitutional. The Senate adopted an amendment offered by Senator Katy Duhigg addressing potential conflicts of interest in child welfare investigations and voted 28-13 to approve the revised bill. Lujan Grisham publicly lauded the changes to the legislation after the Senate vote.

The New Mexico House unanimously passed Senate Bill 163 and sent it to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for signature, which would allow Native American students enrolled in or eligible for enrollment in federally recognized tribes to wear tribal regalia and objects of religious or cultural significance at school ceremonies without restriction. The bill would take effect immediately to protect students graduating in spring, following an incident in which Farmington High School staff confiscated and damaged a student's beaded graduation cap with an eagle plume. Lujan Grisham's Indian Affairs and Public Education departments developed the legislation, which would align New Mexico with over a dozen other states with similar protections.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement supporting House Bill 137, the Strategic Water Supply Act, after it passed the House of Representatives on a 57-4 vote in March 2025. The amended bill authorizes the treatment of brackish water for use in manufacturing and renewable energy while removing the previously controversial provision allowing treatment of fracking wastewater. Grisham stated the measure would balance economic opportunity with responsible stewardship of New Mexico's freshwater supplies.

Governor Lujan Grisham supported House Bills 134 and 274, which would have implemented harsher penalties for juvenile offenders and imposed life sentences for fentanyl traffickers, respectively. The House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee tabled both bills on 4-2 party line votes in March 2025. Following the committee action, Lujan Grisham issued a statement calling on legislators to address juvenile justice reform during the remaining two weeks of the legislative session.

The New Mexico Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 88, legislation to establish a $2 billion Medicaid Trust Fund designed to preserve state Medicaid funding in the event of federal cuts to the program. The trust fund would be built up over several years and used to match federal dollars if the state experiences reductions in federal Medicaid support. The measure received bipartisan sponsorship and support from both Senate Democrats and Republicans.

Grisham appointed Mariana Padilla as Cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department, a position Padilla assumed in September 2024. The state Senate unanimously confirmed Padilla's appointment on Wednesday following a vote by both the full Senate and the Senate Rules Committee. Padilla, a former Albuquerque Public Schools science teacher and director of the New Mexico Children's Cabinet, became the fifth person to serve as chief of the state's public education system during Grisham's tenure.

Grisham's proposed Clear Horizons Act, which would have codified greenhouse gas emission reductions to 2005 levels by 2050, was tabled in the New Mexico Senate during the 2025 legislative session. The bill was tabled following votes by Democratic Senators George Muñoz and Benny Shendo, who joined with Senate Finance Committee Republicans. This legislative session represents Grisham's final opportunity to advance climate-related legislation before leaving office at the end of the next calendar year.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham called for a solution to skyrocketing fire insurance rates in her 2025 State of the State Address, specifically requesting legislation to address wildfire preparedness. The New Mexico Legislature advanced SB 33, the Wildfire Prepared Act, which would establish $20 million in grants to help residents "fire-proof" their homes and create a task force to develop defensible space standards around residential properties. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and the House Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Committee on a 7-2 vote, with observers indicating a high likelihood that Grisham would sign the legislation into law.

Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 8, Senate Bill 1, and Senate Bill 3 during a ceremonial signing on Thursday in 2025. House Bill 8 is an omnibus public safety bill that reforms criminal competency laws, prohibits weapon modifications that convert semiautomatic firearms to fully automatic, and enhances efforts addressing shooting threats, fentanyl trafficking, and drunken driving. Senate Bill 1 establishes a behavioral health trust fund and Senate Bill 3 directs the development of region-specific behavioral health plans.

Governor Lujan Grisham appeared on CBS News to discuss proposed Republican cuts to Medicaid, stating that over 800,000 New Mexicans would become under- or uninsured if the House Republican budget plan became law. Lujan Grisham characterized the cuts as affecting not only Medicaid recipients but also those with private insurance, asserting that premiums, co-pays, and prescription drug costs would increase for the broader population. The governor's comments were made as part of broader opposition from New Mexico's congressional delegation to the proposed Medicaid reductions.

Governor Grisham announced the appointment of Matthew Chavez as a judge in the Second Judicial District Court in Albuquerque effective March 15, 2025, filling a vacancy left by retiring Judge Stan Whitaker after 18 years of service. Grisham simultaneously appointed Brenna Clani-Washinawatok as a judge in the 11th Judicial District Court in Aztec and Gallup, replacing retiring Judge Daylene Marsh after 12 years on the bench. Both appointees are graduates of the University of New Mexico School of Law, with Chavez transitioning from his position as chief legal counsel for the state Department of Public Safety and Clani-Washinawatok coming from her role as a child support hearing officer with the New Mexico Health Care Authority's Child Support Division.

Governor Lujan Grisham stated that New Mexico would likely require a special legislative session later in 2025 to address potential impacts of federal policy changes on state programs. Grisham identified Medicaid as a major concern given the state's existing inadequate health care system. The governor indicated that federal support reductions could affect hundreds of aspects of everyday life in New Mexico that citizens typically take for granted.

Lujan Grisham signed multiple public safety and behavioral health bills into law on Thursday at the State Capitol alongside state lawmakers, Cabinet secretaries, and law enforcement officials. The legislation included overhauls of the behavioral health system and criminal competency laws. The measures also established tougher penalties for certain crimes.

Grisham signed House Bill 8, known as the crime package, along with Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 3, known as the behavioral health package, at a signing ceremony on February 27, 2025. House Bill 8 contains provisions addressing crime deterrence and competency determinations, creating pathways for individuals who are seriously ill and potentially dangerous as well as those who may receive treatment. Senate Bill 3 assigns responsibility to the state court system for developing regional behavioral health plans and providing case management services.

Grisham announced to the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce that she expects to call a special legislative session by October 2025 to address federal funding cuts. The governor indicated the session would focus on healthcare funding and maintaining rural hospital operations in response to anticipated reductions in federal support. Grisham also stated she is likely to sign House Bill 8, a public safety package addressing criminal competency reforms, drunken driving, and fentanyl trafficking.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 8, Senate Bill 1, and Senate Bill 3 into law on February 27, 2025, during a ceremony at the state legislature. House Bill 8 constitutes the crime package, while Senate Bills 1 and 3 together form the behavioral health package designed to address public safety and mental health services in the state. The legislation resulted from cooperative efforts between the House and Senate over a 30-day period within the 60-day legislative session.

Governor Lujan Grisham identified potential reductions in federal funding for education, climate change investments, infrastructure, and Medicaid as vulnerabilities for New Mexico and indicated her intent to work with legislators to create state funds to mitigate such cuts. State legislators, including House Appropriations and Finance Committee Chair Nathan Small, incorporated the state's $3 billion in reserves into budget planning as a contingency against anticipated federal funding reductions. Senator George Muñoz introduced legislation to establish a $100 million state natural disaster fund that would provide no-interest loans to residents awaiting FEMA reimbursement.

Grisham announced a deal with BorderPlex Digital Assets, an Austin-based company, to develop a multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence data hub and advanced manufacturing center in Santa Teresa in Doña Ana County. The digital infrastructure campus is projected to create up to 1,000 jobs in the area and will include microgrid power generation and water treatment facilities designed to serve trade-centric businesses. Grisham signed the agreement with Lanham Napier, chairman of BorderPlex Digital Assets, at a Capitol news conference on Tuesday.

Governor Grisham appointed Democrat Martha Garcia to New Mexico House District 6 on February 26, 2025, filling a seat that had been vacant since the previous representative's resignation the prior year. The appointment came over halfway through the 60-day legislative session and followed a process in which county commissioners initially nominated another candidate who was found by the state Department of Justice to not meet residency requirements. Garcia, a former Cibola County Commissioner, was selected over former state Senator Clemente Sanchez.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed former Cibola County Commissioner Martha Garcia to represent House District 6, which covers parts of Cibola and McKinley counties, during the 2025 legislative session. The appointment filled a vacancy left by the retirement of longtime Representative Eliseo Lee Alcon. Garcia, a Democrat from Pine Hill, was selected after an initial nomination process was invalidated when the Department of Justice determined that the previously nominated candidate did not meet residency requirements for the district.

The Senate Finance Committee voted 6-5 to table Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act, a priority measure of Governor Lujan Grisham, during the 2025 legislative session. The bill would have codified greenhouse gas emission limits previously established through executive order, with targets increasing over time toward net-zero emissions by 2050. The tabling motion was supported by committee chair Senator George Muñoz and Senator Benny Shendo, both Democrats, alongside Republican members.

The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-1 in favor of House Bill 8, an omnibus crime package consisting of six bills designed to reduce crime, after the House of Representatives had already passed the legislation. The package includes House Bill 4, which would expand prosecutors' authority to involuntarily commit individuals to locked psychiatric facilities if deemed dangerous and unable to stand trial, and would establish community-based competency restoration programs. The bill has advanced to a final Senate vote before reaching Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk.

Lujan Grisham introduced legislation in the 2025 legislative session to incentivize treatment and reuse of brackish water and fracking wastewater as part of a strategic water supply initiative to address New Mexico's water shortage. A legislative committee substitute removed fracking wastewater from the measure while retaining a $75 million allocation for the program, narrowing its scope to focus on naturally occurring brackish water resources. The Governor's Office indicated the revised bill would encompass a broader universe of brackish water sources.

Governor Lujan Grisham has appointed five individuals to serve as Cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department during her tenure, contributing to a pattern of leadership turnover in the state's education system. Lawmakers introduced Senate Joint Resolution 3, which would replace the Cabinet secretary position with a state school board model that would appoint a statewide superintendent to lead the Public Education Department. The proposal would return New Mexico to a governance structure that was used for approximately 40 years before being abandoned in 2003.

State Rep. Roybal Caballero introduced House Joint Resolution 15, which would amend the New Mexico Constitution to prohibit slavery and involuntary servitude in all forms. The proposed amendment seeks to close what supporters characterize as a loophole in the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which permits involuntary servitude as punishment for crime. Roybal Caballero collaborated with the advocacy group "Millions for Prisoners New Mexico" in developing the measure.

Governor Lujan Grisham expressed support for a six-bill crime package under consideration by the state House of Representatives while calling for additional legislation to address public safety concerns in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham stated that pending Senate bills addressing violent crime, gun crimes, and juvenile offender issues remained unscheduled for hearings and urged the Senate to advance these measures. The governor indicated she was awaiting additional public safety bills beyond the initial crime package to reach her desk for action.

Grisham introduced a Strategic Water Supply initiative that would tap and treat brackish water and hydraulic fracturing byproducts for industrial uses. House Bill 137, a committee substitute establishing the Strategic Water Supply program, advanced from the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee on a 5-4 vote in February 2025, despite resistance from environmental advocates and oil and gas industry representatives. The measure had previously failed during the 2024 legislative session.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham expressed support for HB 258, legislation that would codify methane capture requirements for the oil and gas sector into statute rather than leaving them as regulatory rules that could be altered by future administrations. The bill requires oil and gas companies to capture 98 percent of methane from operations by the end of 2026, with limited exceptions for safety-related incidents, and cleared the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on a 7-4 vote in February 2025. Grisham's senior climate policy advisor stated that the bill also extends the existing methane waste rule while providing operators with greater flexibility, including automated reporting provisions designed to reduce costs for both industry and state regulators.

Haaland officially announced her campaign for governor of New Mexico in 2026 through a campaign launch video released on February 11, 2025. The former U.S. Interior Secretary and congresswoman centered her announcement on the cost of living and public safety. If elected, Haaland would become the first Native American woman to serve as governor of any state.

Governor Lujan Grisham introduced Senate Bill 205 to create an Office of Housing within New Mexico's executive branch after a similar proposal failed in the previous legislative session. The bill requests $2 million in funding for an initial staff of six and includes an emergency clause requiring the office to open by May. The proposed office would assist municipalities in streamlining regulations and building codes to accelerate housing construction and address New Mexico's housing shortage.

Governor Grisham backed House Bill 10, legislation that would establish a cannabis enforcement bureau within the state licensing department and authorize the bureau to employ certified law enforcement agents to investigate crimes in the cannabis industry. The bill received its first committee hearing in February 2025. Cannabis industry operators including Ultra Health CEO Duke Rodriguez expressed concerns about the proposal's approach to enforcement.

In her January 2025 State of the State address, Governor Grisham called for the state to establish its own medical malpractice insurance offering to reduce expenses for healthcare providers, citing New Mexico's second-highest malpractice insurance increases in the nation. Grisham framed the proposal as part of a broader strategy to expand the healthcare provider workforce by making medical professions more affordable and sustainable. The New Mexico Medical Society responded positively to the Governor's suggestion, while some state senators pursued an alternative approach through SB 176, which proposed limiting attorney payments in malpractice suits and redirecting portions of awards to care improvement funds.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed former state Senator Greg Nibert to the Public Regulation Commission on New Year's Day. The New Mexico State Senate confirmed Nibert's appointment in a brief hearing on January 29, 2025, approving his six-year term on the commission. Nibert, a Republican from Roswell and an attorney with legislative experience, replaced former Commissioner James Ellison.

In her State of the State address on January 21, 2025, Governor Lujan Grisham announced her intention to exempt foster families and grandparents raising grandchildren from personal income tax and to double their monthly stipends by up to $900. Committee Chair Senator Joseph Cervantes stated that Grisham's staff indicated they were in the process of drafting legislation to implement these changes, with Cabinet Secretary Theresa Casados expected to present draft legislation to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The proposals were discussed by child protection experts before the legislative panel as potential measures to address foster family recruitment and retention within the state's child welfare system.

Grisham announced approval of House Bill 4 during a news conference on Tuesday morning. The criminal competency bill, sponsored by Rep. Christine Chandler, expands the types of crimes that could result in criminal commitment and establishes treatment options for lower-level offenders. The legislation earned unanimous approval from the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday night.

Senate Bill 4, the "Clear Horizons Act," passed out of the Senate Conservation Committee on a 5-4 vote in January 2025. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, establishes greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets of 45 percent by 2030, 75 percent by 2040, and 100 percent by 2050, using the state's 2005 emissions baseline of approximately 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Grisham's Environment Department Cabinet Secretary James Kenney and senior climate policy analyst Travis Kellerman testified in support of the legislation.

Attorney General Torrez announced that New Mexico would join more than 20 states in filing a lawsuit to block a Trump administration executive order pausing all federal grant programs. Torrez stated that New Mexico and school districts throughout the state depend significantly on federal grants to support rural and tribal communities, sustain social programs, and provide assistance to students with greatest need. The State Department of Justice indicated that FEMA fire relief funding had become inaccessible as a result of the funding freeze.

In 2019, Grisham announced plans to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions through an executive order. Senate Bill 4, Clean Horizons and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, seeks to codify those goals into statute, establishing targets of 45% emissions reductions below 2005 levels within five years, 75% within 15 years, and 100% within 25 years. The bill would require the Environmental Improvement Board to create monitoring requirements and production rules for various sectors and includes a $3 million appropriation to the New Mexico Environment Department for program administration.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 2019 executive order to reduce climate-warming emissions would be codified into law through Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act, which cleared its first committee hearing in January 2025. The legislation mandates statewide greenhouse gas emissions reductions of at least 45% below 2005 levels by an unspecified date, 75% by 2040, and net-zero emissions by 2050, with the Environmental Improvement Board tasked with determining additional reductions after 2050. The bill allocates $3 million to the Environment Department to hire ten staff members for implementation and monitoring, and requires climate equity considerations in rulemaking affecting overburdened communities including tribal, minority, and low-income areas.

Governor Lujan Grisham called for expanding involuntary commitment of defendants found mentally unfit to stand trial. House Bill 4, sponsored by Representatives Christine Chandler and Marianna Anaya, would expand the criteria for determining dangerousness and establish assisted outpatient treatment as a court-ordered option for defendants with mental health disorders. The bill received consideration in the House Judiciary Committee in January 2025 as lawmakers examined alternatives to the current practice of dismissing hundreds of court cases annually when defendants are found incompetent to proceed.

Grisham delivered her State of the State address on Tuesday to open the 2025 legislative session, during which she proposed universal child care funding and highlighted New Mexico's establishment of a constitutional right to child care, universal pre-K, and free college for residents. The governor also proposed exempting foster families and grandparents raising grandchildren from personal income tax and announced a $50 million spending initiative on housing development subsidies. Grisham called on lawmakers to "double down on our achievements, and let's expand their reach" in her 50-minute address.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez issued guidance on January 22, 2025 to community leaders regarding immigration enforcement in response to a federal order rescinding protections for sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals. The guidance addressed reported threats by the U.S. Department of Justice to local authorities and outlined constitutional limitations on federal authority to compel state and local enforcement of federal immigration law under the Tenth Amendment. Torrez provided specific guidance to law enforcement leaders, places of worship, courts, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions regarding their obligations and rights in relation to immigration enforcement activities.

During her State of the State address on the first day of the 2025 legislative session, Grisham called for changes to New Mexico's law governing treatment for infants born with drugs in their system, specifically proposing that care plans prescribed to families be made mandatory rather than voluntary. Grisham also proposed transferring management of the law from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Department of Health. This proposal represented a shift from the Children, Youth and Families Department's previous position opposing mandatory treatment requirements and advocating to retain its oversight role.

Grisham delivered her State of the State address on the opening day of the 2025 legislative session, proposing universal child care funding as a legislative priority. The governor also proposed exempting foster families and grandparents raising grandchildren from personal income tax. Grisham announced a proposal to allocate $50 million in development subsidies to address housing affordability.

New Mexico Attorney General Grisham issued guidance to community leaders on January 22, 2025, addressing immigration enforcement following a federal order that rescinded protections for sensitive locations such as churches, schools, and hospitals. The guidance outlined constitutional limits on federal authority to compel state and local enforcement of federal immigration law under the Tenth Amendment. Grisham's statement noted that threats of federal prosecution against state and local officials who do not enforce federal immigration laws represent a distortion of law and a departure from Department of Justice traditions.

Governor Lujan Grisham signaled in her State of the State address on January 21, 2025, that she intends to pursue legislation to compel behavioral health treatment for individuals through court order, a proposal that caused a legislative stalemate during a special session in July 2024. She also announced plans to reform criminal competency laws and proposed a new tax rebate to assist businesses with security personnel and equipment costs. Lujan Grisham stated her intent to address public safety issues while respecting civil rights, though she did not provide detailed legislative language for the proposed measures.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed a strategic water supply program that would receive $75 million under legislation sponsored by Representative Susan Herrera, establishing the state government as a middleman to solicit projects for treating salty water deep underground and oil and gas wastewater while creating regulatory rules for those projects. Climate justice protesters gathered at the New Mexico Legislature on January 21, 2025, with members of Youth United for Climate Crisis Action announcing plans to oppose Grisham's strategic water supply proposal. The protesters, representing multiple environmental and community organizations, cited concerns about the lack of scientific evidence supporting the safety of the program for human consumption and environmental protection.

Lujan Grisham delivered her State of the State address on the opening day of the New Mexico Legislature's 2025 60-day session at the state Capitol. The address, delivered to the House and Senate on the House floor approximately one to two hours after the session began at noon, outlined her administration's accomplishments and presented her plans and priorities for the legislative session and the year ahead. Senate Republican leaders subsequently provided a response approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the governor's address.

Governor Lujan Grisham ordered Attorney General Raúl Torrez to investigate residency claims made by former state Representative Harry Garcia, who stated he had moved to a trailer park he owns in House District 6 to qualify for appointment to that legislative seat. Garcia previously represented House District 69 before losing in the Democratic primary election. The investigation was initiated following Garcia's announcement of his new residency in the district where he sought legislative appointment.

New Mexico Attorney General Torrez filed a civil lawsuit against Western New Mexico University President Joseph Shepard and all five members of the Board of Regents regarding a $1.9 million severance payment awarded to Shepard in January 2025. The lawsuit sought to recover the funds, void Shepard's severance agreement, and nullify his subsequent employment contract as a tenured professor, claiming the payment violated the state's Anti-Donation Clause, the New Mexico Constitution, and the state Open Meetings Act. Torrez requested a judge prohibit Shepard from spending the money and place it in trust pending the conclusion of an ongoing audit of the university's finances.

Lujan Grisham issued a statement condemning the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents' approval of a $1.9 million severance package for outgoing president Joseph Shepard, characterizing the decision as demonstrating a disconnect from state fiscal priorities. The governor's office announced it would begin reviewing candidates for the WNMU Board of Regents to institute new leadership at the university. Lujan Grisham stated that the board's assertion it operated outside the governor's office and Department of Higher Education oversight was incorrect and indicated a broader accountability issue requiring resolution.

Grisham issued a letter directing the five members of the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents to resign following their December 20 approval of a multimillion-dollar severance package for university President Joe Shepard. The board had unanimously voted to replace Shepard's contract with a new agreement providing a $1.9 million payout and a full professorship position paying $200,000 annually. All five regents indicated their intention to comply with Grisham's directive and step down.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver declined to investigate former state Representative Harry Garcia's claimed residence in House District 6, stating that her office was neither authorized nor equipped to verify his address. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had requested that Toulouse Oliver determine the veracity of Garcia's residency claim as the governor considered whether to appoint him to a vacant seat in the district. Toulouse Oliver cited the principle that "the sworn attestation of the registrant is accepted unless a contestant bears the burden of showing otherwise" in explaining her office's position.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed former Republican state senator Greg Nibert to a six-year term on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission in January 2026. Nibert, an oil and gas lawyer from Roswell, was selected from six final candidates, including incumbent commissioner James Ellison who sought reappointment. The appointment followed a selection process overseen by the Public Regulation Commission Nominating Committee and was made in accordance with state law requiring the governor to fill the seat with either a Republican or an independent.

Governor Lujan Grisham ordered Attorney General Raúl Torrez to investigate former Representative Harry Garcia's residency claims after Garcia stated he resides in a trailer park he owns in House District 6, which would make him eligible to run for that open seat. Garcia had previously represented House District 69 before losing in the Democratic primary. The investigation was initiated to determine the validity of Garcia's residency declaration for the purpose of establishing candidacy eligibility.

Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Greg Nibert to the Public Regulation Commission on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, selecting him from a list of four candidates recommended by the PRC nominating committee. Nibert, a former Republican state senator who lost his legislative seat in 2024, began his six-year term as a regulator of utilities tasked with ensuring reliable and safe utility services at reasonable prices. Nibert identified the Energy Transition Act of 2019 as a key statute guiding his work on the commission and cited renewable energy advancement and regional utility organization participation among his priorities.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter to the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents on Tuesday requesting the immediate resignation of all board members amid state ethics investigations into university president Joe Shepard's spending and a multimillion-dollar severance contract. The request came after board member Lyndon Haviland announced her resignation the same day, citing the accomplishment of university programs she had prioritized during her three-year tenure. Grisham stated that the resignations would help ensure the university could regain stability and prioritize student needs.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered Attorney General Raúl Torrez to investigate whether state Representative Harry Garcia, who lost his primary election in House District 69, met residency requirements to be appointed to the vacant House District 6 seat. Garcia claimed to reside in a trailer park he owned in District 6 following his primary loss. Grisham's directive sought to determine Garcia's eligibility for the appointment before it could be finalized.