By Nicole Maxwell
New Mexico Political Report and City Desk ABQ will cover a variety of topics this legislative session, including medical staffing, addressing medical malpractice issues, energy, housing, homelessness and the City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County’s legislative priorities.
Lawmakers have already filed proposals aimed at curbing emissions and increasing renewable energy, with the anticipation that President Donald Trump’s second administration will make moves to do the opposite.
Legislators are also expected to consider bills that would address the state’s health care worker shortage. Many lawmakers, advocates and health care workers themselves, have claimed the state’s medical malpractice laws are to blame for pushing nurses and doctors to other states.
The city and county priorities include public safety and behavioral health initiatives, including attempts to lower gun crimes.
Legislation City Desk ABQ is following includes HB 70, which seeks to establish the Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver Act. The act would, if passed, provide support services for people with behavioral health disabilities.
City Desk reporter Damon Scott wrote that the University of New Mexico, which operates one of the largest health systems in the state, did not take a position on the bill.
Public safety will be discussed at length this session as it was in the previous sessions.
The 2025 legislative session kicks off Tuesday and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will outline her priorities in her state of the state speech.