Lawmakers Deal Blow To Governor’s Support For Fracking Water Reuse
Bill Co-sponsor Rep. Joseph Sanchez, D-Alcalde
By NICHOLAS GILMORE
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Advocates for the reuse of so-called “produced water” — a group that includes the governor — have been handed a big loss with not much time left in the legislative session.
After more than four and a half hours of testimony and debate, a House committee voted 5-4 Saturday afternoon to table a bill that would set a quick timeline for new statewide regulations allowing the reuse and discharge of fracking wastewater, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has for several years expressed Read More
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Bill Would Overhaul Virtual Education In New Mexico … And Its Funding
Bill Sponsor Rep. Joy Garratt, D-Bernalillo
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Supporters of virtual education, many wearing shirts reading “Save Our Virtual Schools,” packed into a room at the state Capitol on Friday to push back against a bill that would overhaul New Mexico’s online learning regulations for the first time in nearly two decades.
The changes include a slash in funding for schools that serve distance learning students to fix a crisis: a $35 million hole in the roughly $4.5 billion pool of per-student funding.
The provision also would prevent nearly $40 million in state Read More
Head Slapping No Longer Allowed In High School Football
SPORTS News:
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In an ongoing focus on minimizing risk of injury in high school sports, the NFHS Football Rules Committee strengthened a rule related to illegal personal contact. Both revisions recommended by the committee were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
The Football Rules Committee is composed of one member from each NFHS member state association that uses NFHS playing rules, along with representatives from the NFHS Coaches Association and NFHS Officials Association.
Previously, Rule 9-4-7 stated that defensive players could not use the Read More
Lawmakers Promise More Big Wins For New Mexico As Governor Signs Year’s First Bills
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs one of the first bills to reach her desk this legislative session in the governor’s Cabinet room on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Bills signed Thursday included a $1.5 billion bonding package to improve New Mexico roads, interstate compacts for doctors and social workers and a prohibition on local governments operating immigration detention centers. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By Margaret O’Hara and Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the first laws of the year to reach her desk, legislators Read More
Community Invited To Roundtable Discussion On ‘Health Care In Northern New Mexico: Changing Landscape’ Feb. 24
Community News:
The Los Alamos Community Foundation, in partnership with the Los Alamos League of Women Voters and Anchorum Health Foundation, will host a community roundtable discussion featuring local medical experts on the current state of health care issues in Northern New Mexico.
The event is 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at SALA Los Alamos Event Center, 2551 Central Ave.
Many residents have experienced firsthand how access to health care in our region is increasingly at risk. Health care systems nationwide are undergoing seismic economic shifts, forcing hospitals and clinics to Read More
Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service To Close Doors Feb. 20
From Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.:
After 52 years of dedicated service to the communities of Los Alamos County and Rio Arriba County, Los Alamos Visiting Nurse Service, Inc. will close its doors on Feb. 20, 2026.
This decision was not made lightly. For more than five decades, our organization has been honored to provide home health and hospice care to patients and families during some of life’s most vulnerable moments. Unfortunately, mounting financial pressures have made it unsustainable for us to continue operating.
Over the past 20 years, home health and hospice agencies nationwide Read More
February Is National Heart Health Awareness Month—Community Blood Drives Throughout The Month
Three opportunities to donate blood with Vitalant in the month of February. Sign up today at www.vitalant.org or call them today. Look for the Promo Code for a gift card. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions
Did you know February is National Heart Health Awareness Month? Vitalant would like to help bring much needed awareness on how important transfusions are to the critical aspect of managing cardiac surgery patients . An estimated 50% of cardiac surgery patients require a blood transfusion and with it being the month of love, Read More
New Mexico House Passes $11 Billion Budget, Rejects Paying Counties With ICE Jails
Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces
Chair
House Appropriations and Finance Committee
By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
At the halfway point of this year’s 30-day session, the House approved a proposed spending plan setting aside a little more than $11 billion in recurring spending with boosts in spending for a number of early childhood, health care and public safety initiatives.
House Bill 2, which currently proposes a 2.7% increase in recurring spending for the coming fiscal year, reflects an effort by legislators to make “responsible investments,” Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Read More
DEA And NFL Alumni Health Team Up On Football’s Biggest Stage To Tackle Fentanyl Crisis
DEA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — For a third consecutive year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and NFL Alumni Health (NFLAH) are joining forces to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and spreading a critical message: One Pill Can Kill.
Building on the success of the last two years, this collaboration supports DEA’s newest initiative, Fentanyl Free America, with the goal of reducing demand for fentanyl and protecting communities from its devastating impacts.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is often pressed into counterfeit pills designed to look like prescription medications Read More
Reasonable Malpractice Reform Benefits Every New Mexican
By DAYMON ELY
Attorney
Former New Mexico Representative
At its heart, the debate over medical malpractice reform is not about trial lawyers or corporate profits – it is about our most basic values. Every New Mexican deserves access to quality health care. And every New Mexican deserves justice when that care falls tragically short.
Medical malpractice is rare. Fewer than 1% of medical providers are responsible for the vast majority of malpractice claims, but when tragedy strikes and a patient is harmed or killed, that patient or their family needs to know that they can get justice in a Read More
Primary Care Conference Open To Health Care Professionals
HCA News:
The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) invites all primary care clinicians, clinic administrators, health system leaders, and Medicaid stakeholders to attend a one-day conference focused on advancing value-based care and strengthening primary care in New Mexico.
- What: Helping Primary Care Practices Succeed: PCPR VBP Program Winter Conference
- When: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Where: Embassy Suites by Hilton, 1000 Woodward Place, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Register Now Through Eventbrite: Helping Primary Care Practices Succeed: PCPR VBP Program Winter Conference
Medical Community Opposes HB 213 Citing Patient Safety, Surgical Standards, And Proper Oversight
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Local medical students, ophthalmology residents, and doctors provided public comments cautioning policymakers that eye surgery is complex, high-risk medical care that requires physician-led training, supervision, and oversight to protect patient safety. Despite references in committee to a stakeholder compromise, no consensus exists among physicians or professional organizations regarding the expansion of laser eye surgery authority in HB 213.
HB 213 was rolled by the House Health and Human Services Committee and will be heard by the committee on Wednesday Read More
Fuselier: Loss And Grief For Seniors
By BOB FUSELIER
Los Alamos
We’ve all faced losses, whether the loss be a loved one, a career, a pet, a relationship, or way of life. As we age, we also face the loss of our health, abilities, and freedom to be independent. Eventually, we must all come to terms with the greatest loss we will ever face, our own death.
Unfortunately, we’re not always allowed to grieve our losses. The sense of separation, confusion, regret, guilt, constant sadness, and anger can be signs of ungrieved losses. We can’t avoid loss, but we can make sure we allow ourselves to go through the healing process of loss, what we know Read More
Sen. David Gallegos Introduces Critical ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’ Legislation, Requests Message From Governor
Sen. David Gallegos with the Martinez Family and baby Michael, who was placed in a Safe Haven Baby Box in Belen in 2024 and adopted by the Martinez family in 2025. Courtesy photo
New Mexico Senate Republicans News:
SANTA FE — Senate Republican Caucus Chair David Gallegos (R-Eunice) introduced necessary legislation (SB 206) on Jan. 30 to ensure the protection of women who may elect to anonymously place their newborn child in a ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’.
If passed, this legislation would alleviate potential legal exposure that local communities throughout New Mexico have cited as the primary reason Read More
New Mexico House Panel Passes Medical Malpractice Bill–Without Protections For Corporate Hospitals
Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez, R-Hobbs, right, gets emotional while discussing her mother’s battle with cancer during a House Health and Human Services Committee hearing Friday on amendments to House Bill 99 at the state Capitol. HB 99 calls for caps on punitive damages in medical malpractice cases in New Mexico. Photo by Matt Dahlseid/The New Mexican
By CLARA BATES
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The day before Valarie Gee’s son underwent a routine cardiac procedure, he was “jumping in the swimming pool” and running around, she said.
The next day, she added, the procedure left him paralyzed.
“When medical Read More
New Mexico Medical Society Addresses HB 99
From the New Mexico Medical Society:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Medical Society (NMMS) is encouraged that HB 99 has advanced out of the House Health & Human Services Committee, reflecting bipartisan recognition that New Mexico must act to stabilize access to healthcare and address the growing physician shortage.
At the same time, the Medical Society is deeply concerned about an amendment adopted in committee that leaves a considerable number of healthcare organizations exposed to uncapped punitive damages.
Protecting access to care requires a coherent and consistent medical liability Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces DOJ Launch Of Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Online Claims Portal
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has launched a new online portal for Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims, implementing the recently extended and expanded program.
Prior to the launch of this online portal, Sen. Luján and the New Mexico Delegation sent an open letter to New Mexico’s holders of health care records, birth and death records, tax records, school records and any other necessary records to request their full cooperation in delivering long overdue justice for Read More
House Bill Would Expand Medicare Consumer Protections
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE – State aging and insurance officials are urging lawmakers to support Senate Bill 21 and strengthen consumer protections for Medicare enrollees who have Medigap coverage.
The bill would allow beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare and Medigap supplemental to change Medigap plans during an annual open enrollment period, preventing insurers from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions. The bill is sponsored by Senators Liz Stefanics, Pete Campos, Rex Wilson, Martin Hickey, and Representative Tara Lujan.
“Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare—especially Read More
Senate Conservation Committee Unanimously Advances $2 Million Mosquito Monitoring Plan That Would Be ‘Early Warning System’ For New Mexico
Егор Камелев/Pixabay via Public DomainBy LILY ALEXANDER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
For Albuquerque Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, the fight against mosquitoes is personal now.
In September, Tobiassen’s husband contracted West Nile virus and spent four and a half months in the intensive care unit “fighting for his life”, she said Thursday during a committee hearing for Senate Bill 79.
The measure would appropriate $2 million to the New Mexico Department of Health for mosquito surveillance, prevention and mitigation in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.
“He survived — against the odds, might I Read More