Carlos Muñoz looks out from underneath the hood of his 1955 Chevy Bel Air convertible outside of the State Capitol for Lowrider Day and Hispanic Culture Day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
State Police Officers Matt Broom and Alex Rodriguez take a look at Joan Medina’s 1987 Pontiac Grand Prix parked outside of the State Capitol for Lowrider Day Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
Making moo-ves for local meat, produce: Members of the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee offered a green thumbs up to House Bill 229, which would provide additional funding for the New Mexico Grown approved supplier program.
Sponsored by Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, the bill would provide $430,000 to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture during fiscal year 2026 to facilitate the program.
New Mexico Grown connects trained local producers to food banks, school nutrition experts and state agencies, like the Early Childhood Education and Care Department and Aging and Long Term Services Department. The connection allows for local produce and meat to be served in school cafeterias, child care centers and senior centers and distributed by food banks.
Ralph Vigil, a Pecos farmer and vice president of the Farmers’ Marketing Association, said New Mexico Grown greatly improved his sales and supports the “circle system” between producers and buyers.
“Without it, many of us small farmers wouldn’t be able to do this,” Vigil said.
Joint session honors Hispanic Culture Day: House Speaker Javier Martínez gets the question often: Is he related to the Mora Martinezes? Or the Chilili Martinezes? Or the Rio Rancho Martinezes — like Republican Rep. Alan Martinez?
The house speaker’s usual answer: “We’re probably primos somewhere down the road.”
That’s the great thing about New Mexico, Javier Martínez told a joint session of the House and Senate Tuesday afternoon: The state’s Hispano and Latino cultures, combined with the Indigenous traditions of the state, create “a beautiful tapestry.”
“That’s the tapestry that I’m talking about: At the end of the day, we’re all familia. We’re primos; we’re primas. That’s who we are as a people,” he said.
Lawmakers gathered Tuesday to recognize Hispanic Culture Day at the Capitol, a celebration highlighting the state’s rich Hispanic heritage and recognizing the contributions of Hispanic New Mexicans — including New Mexico-born legendary labor leader Dolores Huerta, who attended the joint session.
Amid a musical performance honoring New Mexico’s diverse landscapes, Sen. Leo Jaramillo, D-Española, and Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, stood up in the crowd of seated lawmakers.
They joined hands and danced on the House floor.
House honors acequias: Tuesday was Acequia Day at the Roundhouse, which the House unanimously marked by passing a memorial marking the occasion. Sponsored by Rep. Joseph Sanchez, D-Alcalde, House Memorial 21 honors the “contributions of acequias to the history, culture, economy and management of water resources in New Mexico.”
Numerous lawmakers spoke about the long history of acequias in New Mexico going back to the Spanish period and the role they play in the state’s rural economy and culture. Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, pointed out that 72 acequias destroyed by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire still haven’t been rebuilt three years later.
“Can you believe they have to do an archaeological survey to rebuild an acequia that existed?” she asked. She added she hoped lawmakers could agree that it would be good for President Donald Trump to approve waivers to speed up acequia repair.
“Hopefully he does a better job with that than egg prices, so we’ll hold him to it,” replied House Speaker Martínez.
Tribal regalia bill graduates first committee: Several tribal education advocates turned out Tuesday in support of Senate Bill 163, a measure that would prohibit public school leaders from barring Native American students from wearing tribal regalia including moccasins and jewelry during school events and graduations.
The bill comes after an incident last year in which Farmington High School staff members confiscated a cap decorated with an eagle plume and beads from a high school graduate-to-be who belonged to the Standing Rock Sioux tribe. The school district cited a policy preventing students from altering their graduation ceremony garb.
“Let our people continue to be who we are and let our pride shine through,” Navajo Nation Council delegate Eugenia Charles-Newton told lawmakers of the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee.
The bill ultimately passed the committee unanimously. Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces and the chair of SB 163’s next stop, the Senate Education Committee, noted the bill should be amended to go into effect as soon as it’s signed into law.
“Graduation is coming up in May, this doesn’t take effect until [June],” said, adding he recommended making sure it goes into effect right away so there “isn’t a question or another incident of this sort.”
Quote of the day: “Are you feeling OK?” — Sen. Carrie Hamblen, D-Las Cruces, checking in on notorious filibuster king Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington after he asked only one question about a bill during an afternoon Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee meeting.
Santiago Maestas, who works on the Pajarito Acequia in the South Valley of Albuquerque, raises his shovel high into the air while marching with close to 300 people for Acequia Day at the State Capitol Tuesday, Feb. 11. 2025. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Don Bustos, who works on Acequia del Llano, rests his head on his shovel while listening to speakers before the march around the State Capitol for Acequia Day Tuesday, Feb. 11. 2025. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican