The NM Political Report (https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2016/01/19/watch-the-state-of-the-state-address-2/)

January 19, 2016

2016 Legislative Session

WATCH: The State of the State Address

By Matthew Reichbach | January 19, 2016

Susana Martinez at State of the State Union in 2016.

Thanks to New Mexico PBS, here is a livestream of the 2016 State of the State Address by Gov. Susana Martinez.

Stay with us for a story on Martinez’s speech, where she lays out her priorities for the session.

Medical cannabis qualified patient bill has one last stop before the governor’s desk
A bill aimed at limiting who can enroll in the state’s Medical Cannabis Program was approved in committee Monday morning and now has one more stop before the governor’s desk. The House Health and Human Services Committee passed SB 139 on a 6-1 vote. The bill would change the law to allow only New Mexico residents who have a qualifying condition to get a medical cannabis patient card. Though sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, the committee’s chair Democratic Rep. Debbie Armstrong of Albuquerque presented the bill, with the help of Secretary of Health Kathyleen Kunkel as her expert witness. Kunkel told the committee that a change in law last year that was aimed at forging a path to reciprocity, or allowing certified medical cannabis patients from other states to purchase and use cannabis in New Mexico, inadvertently resulted in about 600 out-of-state patients enrolled in New Mexico’s program. Kunkel said it has been an “administrative burden” on the Department of Health since the state started allowing non-residents to enroll in the program. Plus, she said, she fears that the current law will attract unwanted attention from the U.S. Department of Justice. “I am concerned that we are tempting the federal government to come in and interfere with our program,” Kunkel said. All three Republicans on the committee raised questions and concerns, but ultimately the only dissenting vote came from Rep. Zach Cook, R-Ruidoso.
Budget push comes down to the final hours
PRC reform bill heads to the Senate after narrow passage in House

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Medical cannabis qualified patient bill has one last stop before the governor’s desk
A bill aimed at limiting who can enroll in the state’s Medical Cannabis Program was approved in committee Monday morning and now has one more stop before the governor’s desk. The House Health and Human Services Committee passed SB 139 on a 6-1 vote. The bill would change the law to allow only New Mexico residents who have a qualifying condition to get a medical cannabis patient card. Though sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, the committee’s chair Democratic Rep. Debbie Armstrong of Albuquerque presented the bill, with the help of Secretary of Health Kathyleen Kunkel as her expert witness. Kunkel told the committee that a change in law last year that was aimed at forging a path to reciprocity, or allowing certified medical cannabis patients from other states to purchase and use cannabis in New Mexico, inadvertently resulted in about 600 out-of-state patients enrolled in New Mexico’s program. Kunkel said it has been an “administrative burden” on the Department of Health since the state started allowing non-residents to enroll in the program. Plus, she said, she fears that the current law will attract unwanted attention from the U.S. Department of Justice. “I am concerned that we are tempting the federal government to come in and interfere with our program,” Kunkel said. All three Republicans on the committee raised questions and concerns, but ultimately the only dissenting vote came from Rep. Zach Cook, R-Ruidoso.
House OKs probation, parole changes
Bill to create fund for uninsured clears House

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Lawmaker says AG is retaliating by trying to kick her off case
A New Mexico state lawmaker is going head to head with the state Attorney General in her private capacity as an attorney. And she thinks it relates back to something from the most recent state legislative session.
Gov. Martinez fills two legislative vacancies
Group scores lawmakers on transparency, ethics bill votes

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New Mexico's capital outlay process is often a crazy mess, lawmakers say
On Friday morning, three Santa Fe firefighters in uniform walked up to state Sen. Peter Wirth in a Roundhouse hallway. They came bearing a form, and if the majority leader would sign on the dotted line, they'd be one step closer to getting new equipment. They weren’t the only ones to seek Wirth's help.
A bill to protect pregnant workers passes first hurdle
State says they paid $1 million to settle claims against DPS

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The NM Political Report - New Mexico's best political reporting. Period.

January 19, 2016

2016 Legislative Session

WATCH: The State of the State Address

By Matthew Reichbach | January 19, 2016

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