Sine die! 2016 Legislative Session is over

The State Legislature finished the 30-day session on Thursday. Both the House and Senate adjourned sine die after the clock struck noon, exactly 30 days after the session began in January. No major bills were left to die on the vine; all of the bills either headed to Martinez’s desk or failed in committee earlier in the […]

Sine die! 2016 Legislative Session is over

The State Legislature finished the 30-day session on Thursday.

Both the House and Senate adjourned sine die after the clock struck noon, exactly 30 days after the session began in January.

No major bills were left to die on the vine; all of the bills either headed to Martinez’s desk or failed in committee earlier in the session.

While many crimes bills failed to pass, the Legislature did send a bill increasing some DWI penalties and a bill increasing child pornography possession penalties to the floor.

The budget, with cuts, passed earlier in the week. Unlike last year, capital outlay passed without much drama.

The final day largely limped along and at times it seemed like they had to fill time ahead of the deadline instead of racing to beat the clock.

“This is the calmest last day I’ve seen in 20-some odd years,” Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, said an hour and a half before the end of the session. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it this calm before.”

On the House side, the most significant piece of legislation—or at least the most potentially controversial—was a bill to regulate Uber and Lyft. The House approved changes made by the Senate from Wednesday night. The legislation now heads to Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk.

At one point, the House recessed briefly, with a little more than a half hour left in the session, while they waited for more legislation to be sent down.

The closest thing to drama in the Senate was when Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, tried to add a solar development tax credit extension to a House Bill on tax dates.

Stewart said it would impact the ability of New Mexicans to pay for rooftop solar installation and impact companies to install solar.

The amendment failed very narrowly on a 19-20 vote.

The Senate finished after a prayer for Sen. Carroll Leavell, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Leavell was not present on Thursday.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Former LFC chair John Arthur Smith dies

Former LFC chair John Arthur Smith dies

Longtime powerful state senator John Arthur Smith, a conservative Democrat who wielded a large amount of power around the state budget for years, died…
How Native families are particularly impacted by food insecurity

How Native families are particularly impacted by food insecurity

One in five children in New Mexico and one in seven people in the state experience food insecurity, according to a report presented to…
New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

With 8,800 nurse positions posted for hiring in New Mexico, hospital leadership told the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday that access…
Advocates hope NM downwinders may be included in future RECA iteration

Advocates hope NM downwinders may be included in future RECA iteration

Tuesday was the 34th anniversary of when President George H.W. Bush signed  the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act into law. The law provided compensation for…
State Land Office agrees to transfer 200+ acres to Valle del Oro

State Land Office agrees to transfer 200+ acres to Valle del Oro

The Valle del Oro Wildlife Refuge will soon be a bit bigger. The New Mexico State Land Office announced on Thursday that it will…
Seven uranium mines east of Gallup will be cleaned up

Seven uranium mines east of Gallup will be cleaned up

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed to cleaning up seven uranium mining sites east of Gallup. The agency says that the cleanup projects…
MLG speaks about education during oil, gas industry meeting

MLG speaks about education during oil, gas industry meeting

New Mexico produces the second highest amount of oil and gas in the country. The taxes from oil and gas production provide funding for…
Early childhood summit convened to discuss future of program

Early childhood summit convened to discuss future of program

About 200 people from tribal governors to legislators to advocates and teachers gathered at Bishop’s Lodge to discuss Early Childhood Education’s future in New…
Stansbury outlines funding secured for early childhood and youth services programs

Stansbury outlines funding secured for early childhood and youth services programs

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury secured $8.3 million for childhood development and youth services in the 1st congressional district through federal community project funding. Stansbury,…
Heinrich introduces legislation to address affordable housing

Heinrich introduces legislation to address affordable housing

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, introduced legislation in the Senate on Monday that would provide tax credits to incentivize new investments and additional…
New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

With 8,800 nurse positions posted for hiring in New Mexico, hospital leadership told the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday that access…
As rhetoric around undocumented workers heats up, new report shows their tax contribution

As rhetoric around undocumented workers heats up, new report shows their tax contribution

A nonprofit group released data showing how much taxes migrants pay in the U.S. as rhetoric on immigration grows more prominent just months from…
U.S. Supreme Court has one bodily autonomy case on its docket

U.S. Supreme Court has one bodily autonomy case on its docket

With the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to hear one reproductive rights case this term, the high court has only one case on its docket…
Heinrich helps introduce resolution in response to death of Amber Nicole Thurman

Heinrich helps introduce resolution in response to death of Amber Nicole Thurman

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich helped to introduce a resolution on Tuesday in the Senate that every patient has the basic right to emergency health…
Project 2025: How a consolidation of federal power could ban abortion

Project 2025: How a consolidation of federal power could ban abortion

If Project 2025 becomes federal policy next year, it would upend abortion rights and reproductive healthcare through a reshaping of and consolidation of power…
U.S. Supreme Court has one bodily autonomy case on its docket

U.S. Supreme Court has one bodily autonomy case on its docket

With the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to hear one reproductive rights case this term, the high court has only one case on its docket…
New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

New Mexico in critical nursing shortage

With 8,800 nurse positions posted for hiring in New Mexico, hospital leadership told the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday that access…
Heinrich helps introduce resolution in response to death of Amber Nicole Thurman

Heinrich helps introduce resolution in response to death of Amber Nicole Thurman

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich helped to introduce a resolution on Tuesday in the Senate that every patient has the basic right to emergency health…
Politics Newsletter: New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District map upheld

Politics Newsletter: New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District map upheld

Hello fellow political junkies! A court case alleging that redistricting gerrymandered New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District in a way that makes it hard for…
Heinrich and Domenici square off on debate stage

Heinrich and Domenici square off on debate stage

Incumbent U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Nella Domenici met for their first debate on Monday. KOAT-TV broadcast the debate, which…
Judge orders state agencies to ensure formerly incarcerated New Mexicans can vote in next month’s election

Judge orders state agencies to ensure formerly incarcerated New Mexicans can vote in next month’s election

By Trip Jennings, New Mexico In Depth A judge has ordered two state agencies to work together to ensure roughly 11,000 formerly incarcerated New…
Politics Newsletter: New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District map upheld

Politics Newsletter: New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District map upheld

Hello fellow political junkies! A court case alleging that redistricting gerrymandered New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District in a way that makes it hard for…
Seven uranium mines east of Gallup will be cleaned up

Seven uranium mines east of Gallup will be cleaned up

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has committed to cleaning up seven uranium mining sites east of Gallup. The agency says that the cleanup projects…
What to know about the seven candidates for PRC

What to know about the seven candidates for PRC

The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission nominating committee selected seven candidates to interview for spots on the influential regulatory board, including the incumbent James…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report