State

Supreme Court Justice Testifies Before Committee About Plan To Expand Access To Civil Legal Services  

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Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon testifying today before the House Judiciary Committee. Courtesy/Administrative Office of the Courts

SUPREME COURT News:

SANTA FE – Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon outlined for legislators today a plan for increasing the availability of services to help low- and modest-income New Mexicans with civil legal problems.

The New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice developed the strategic plan for meeting the essential legal needs of people on matters ranging from safe housing and work environments to health care and financial issues. The Supreme

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State Leaders Seek Way To Address Litigated Claim New Mexico Not Providing Enough Water To Texas

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By Robert Nott
Santa Fe New Mexican

State leaders looking for a way to address a litigated claim that New Mexico is not providing enough water to Texas under a decades-old compact want funding for a water conservation pilot program south of Elephant Butte.

Though the plan remains vague, both Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Legislative Finance Committee are proposing to support it by allocating funding to the project in the 2021 fiscal year. 

The plan would let water users in the southern part of the state figure out how and when to leave certain areas of their farms unplanted — or fallow — to

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Roger Montoya Announces Run For House Seat

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Roger Montoya

From the Roger Montoya for NM Campaign:

Española – Today, Roger Montoya, co-founder and artistic director of Moving Arts Española, announced today his campaign for New Mexico representative for House District 40, which includes Mora County and parts of Rio Arriba, San Miguel and Colfax counties.

Montoya, a Democrat, is an accomplished painter, dancer and choreographer who has dedicated the past 30 years to bringing the healing power of arts to local children—many of whom have suffered heart-breaking trauma and loss.

The community arts center he founded with his partner Salvador Read More

Scenes From CD3 Candidate Leger Fernandez Event

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‘I am going to ask you to trust me,’ U.S. Third Congressional candidate Teresa Leger Fernandez told a crowd gathered Sunday afternoon at the home of Los Alamos residents Kyle and Michael Wheeler. Being an elected official, she explained, is a matter of trust. ‘I want to protect what we love,’ she said, adding that right now profit, and power seem to be held in higher regard over people and the planet’s health. Leger Fernandez said she feels the biggest issue is climate disruption but also listed healthcare and diversifying the economy as major issues. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

 

Kyle Read More

Governor Authorizes ‘Licensing For All’ Bill SB 137

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NMDT News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan-Grisham sent a message Friday to Senate President Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen authorizing Senate Bill 137 to move forward during the 30-day session.

The bill expands access to professional and occupational licensing to ALL New Mexicans, no matter immigration status. SB 137 is sponsored by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Rep. Javier Martinez.

The NM Dream Team has put together a fact sheet to provide more details on its campaign for SB 137. 

NMDT Campaign Manager Felipe Rodriguez said:

“SB 137 will play an important role in the transformative decade that Gov. Read More

Balderas Joins Coalition Fighting For Consumer Protections Under Title X Of Dodd-Frank Act

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Attorney General Hector Balderas

AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Attorney General Hector Balderas has joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general fighting to ensure that the states can continue to benefit from powerful tools under Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act that help them protect consumers from fraud and abusive consumers practices.

In an amicus brief filed in Seila Law, LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the coalition argues that the U.S. Supreme Court should preserve the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and other significant consumer protections provided by Title X. 

“In Read More

Chandler: Passage Of New Mexico Work And Save Act (HB 44) … An All-Around Win For New Mexico

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By REP. CHRISTINE CHANDLER
District 43
Los Alamos, Santa Fe

As a former employment and benefits attorney at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I know firsthand how employees benefit from employer sponsored savings plans. Retirement plans provide security for employees in their older years and are great incentive to keep top talent at your place of business. 

Unfortunately, LANL retirees are the exception across New Mexico. Roughly 336,000 private sector New Mexicans do not have access to a retirement savings plan at work. And if you are working for a small business, you are even less likely Read More

State Supreme Court Endorses Proposals To Help New Mexicans Obtain Civil Legal Services

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SUPREME COURT News:

SANTA FE — The state Supreme Court has approved proposals to expand the availability of civil legal services in New Mexico, particularly to lower- and middle-income residents and to people living in rural areas with few attorneys.

“The Court recognizes our state faces a significant gap in access to justice,” Chief Justice Judith K. Nakamura said. “Many people cannot afford an attorney to resolve legal problems ranging from housing and financial disputes to family matters such as child custody and support. To truly fulfill the promise of equal justice under the law, we must Read More