New Mexico Press Association News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed SB151, landmark legislation that includes two targeted tax credits designed to strengthen local journalism and preserve newspaper printing infrastructure across the state.
The bill establishes the Local Journalist Employment Tax Credit and the Local News Printer Tax Credit, recognizing the critical role local news organizations play in keeping New Mexicans informed and connected to their communities.
“Local journalism is essential to informed communities and a healthy democracy,” said Belinda Wheeler Mills, President and CEO of the New Mexico Press Association. “We are deeply grateful to Gov. Lujan Grisham for recognizing the importance of local news and for signing legislation that provides meaningful support for the journalists and printing operations that make community newspapers possible.”
The legislation arrives at a critical time for the industry. Across the country, local news organizations have faced declining advertising revenues due to the national digital platforms’ dominance of the advertising marketplace, causing shrinking newsrooms and the closure of hundreds of newspapers. New Mexico has experienced similar challenges.
In the past year alone, the state has gone from four newspaper printing plants to just two.
The Local Journalist Employment Tax Credit is designed to help local news organizations retain and hire journalists by providing a tax credit tied to newsroom employment. The Local News Printer Tax Credit provides support to newspaper printing facilities operating in New Mexico, helping sustain the in-state printing infrastructure that many community newspapers rely on to reach readers.
Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher Carol A. Clark is Chair of the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Press Association, which represents newspapers and news organizations across the state and advocates for policies that support a vibrant and sustainable local news ecosystem.
“We could not be more pleased with the passage of Senate Bill 151,” Clark said. “We thank Sen. Carrie Hamblen and Sen. Peter Wirth, who championed and passed this legislation as part of the state’s broader tax package during the 2026 legislative session, and Gov. Lujan Grisham for signing this important bill into law.”
Sen. Hamblen said, “After two decades behind the microphone at a local NPR station, I know what disappears when a community loses its local news: not just headlines, but the connective tissue of civic life. Today, more than a third of New Mexico’s counties are classified as news deserts or teetering on the edge of becoming one. Senate Bill 151 tackles this crisis on two fronts: a payroll tax credit to help New Mexico-based newsrooms and journalists stay rooted in the communities they cover, and a companion credit to support the printing operations that bring those stories to people’s doorsteps. The recent closure of the Gallup Independent is a warning sign we cannot ignore: our presses and our press corps both need defending. New Mexico is stepping up while others step back.”
Sen. Hamblen was instrumental in advancing this effort, Mills said.
“She understands the importance of local journalism and worked diligently to help ensure this legislation moved through the process,” Mills said. “I’m also grateful to Sen. Peter Wirth for his leadership in advancing the bill and recognizing the need to support local news organizations across New Mexico.”
Mills also recognized Patrick Dorsey, publisher of the Santa Fe New Mexican, who initiated the effort to pursue policy solutions for local journalism during the 2025 legislative cycle.
“Patrick Dorsey was one of the first to raise the alarm and encourage us to start working toward a meaningful policy solution,” Mills said. “His early leadership and willingness to push this conversation forward helped set the foundation for what ultimately became this legislation.”
Dorsey said, “Sen. Wirth was instrumental in helping us develop the initial legislation in late 2024 and sponsored the bills in the 2025 session. Although we did not get them passed in that session, we gained a lot of legislative and industry support. Sen. Wirth and Sen. Hamblen carried the torch into the 2026 session, and we were able to successfully pass the legislation. I can’t thank Sen. Wirth and Sen. Hamblen enough for their strong advocacy and commitment to support independent local journalism, and Gov. Lujan Grisham for signing this critical legislation. Local newspapers are critical to the New Mexico local news environment and fundamental to maintaining access to trusted local news. These tax credits will help sustain newsroom jobs while also preserving skilled manufacturing jobs and printing infrastructure the citizens of New Mexico rely on.”
Wirth stated, “Local journalism is the backbone of an informed democracy and right now, that backbone is under serious strain. Across New Mexico, communities are losing their local reporters, their hometown newspapers, and the trusted voices that hold local government accountable.” And further, “At the same time, we’re watching national forces actively work to consolidate and gut local news ecosystems. With Gov. Lujan Grisham signing Senate Bill 151 into law, we’re sending a clear message: we will not let that happen here. The local journalist employment tax credit gives independent newsrooms a real financial lifeline to keep talented journalists on the ground, covering the stories that matter to our neighbors.”
“These provisions acknowledge that strong communities depend on strong local journalism,” Mills added. “Supporting reporters and preserving the ability to print newspapers in our state helps ensure that New Mexicans continue to have access to reliable local news.”
State officials will provide additional guidance in the coming months on implementation and eligibility for the new tax credits.
About the New Mexico Press Association
The New Mexico Press Association represents newspapers and news organizations throughout the state and has served New Mexico’s newspaper industry since 1900. The association advocates for a strong, independent press and works to support the sustainability of local journalism across New Mexico.