By Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board – Feb
The legislative session is over, and if there’s one thing it showcased it’s that our citizen Legislature can set aside political differences and come together to do what’s best for constituents.
The work lawmakers did over those 30 days will make a real difference in the lives of everyday New Mexicans, instituting key reforms for New Mexico’s guardianship system, providing money to Albuquerque’s district attorney to bolster prosecution efforts and approving a measure that will make it easier to establish crisis-triage centers throughout the state. Analysts say those crisis centers could decrease drug overdoses, alcohol-related deaths and even suicides.
That just scratches the surface on the 111 bills that made it through the Legislature this year.
Of course, most of the legislation adopted must still be acted on by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez, but she has signaled that she supports much of what has been sent to her desk for her signature.
While the last regular legislative session devolved into an ugly standoff between Democrats and Republicans, this year’s session was a study in bipartisanship from the beginning.
Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate worked quickly to add New Mexico to a multistate compact that allows nurses licensed elsewhere to continue practicing here. The bill was on the governor’s desk within days of lawmakers convening, and Martinez signed it just hours after it was sent to her.
That victory appeared to set the tone for the rest of the session, and our state is better for it.
Among the most significant measures that were approved this session, and that the governor should sign into law, are:
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PET FOOD FEE: Lawmakers passed a bill that would impose a modest fee on dog and cat food companies to help fund spay-neuter programs that will reduce the number of euthanasias in the state.
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