New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has announced that the following legislation has been signed into law:

Signed House Bill 261 – Additional Funding for Courts [MESSAGE]

“I spent most of my career in courtrooms as a prosecutor,” Martinez said. “I’ve seen firsthand just how important it is to fund our courts. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made with this legislation. It’s always important – and even more so during a budget crisis – that every dollar of government spending be accounted for.”

House Bill 261 funds the courts to address their budget shortfall without overfunding the judiciary, and allows them to pay back their Board of Finance loan. The Governor previously vetoed versions of this bill where court expenses were not properly vetted by lawmakers.

The Governor convened a Board of Finance meeting earlier this month to provide additional funding to help the courts close out the current fiscal year.