The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

STATE News:

• “You deserve to feel safe in your home and your community…” –House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albq.).
• “There is nothing more fundamental to the well-being of our families and communities than public safety.” –Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos)

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico House Democrats (NMHD) shared a preview Friday of select policy priorities for the upcoming 60-day Legislative Session, which begins Jan. 21.

Key areas of focus include:

• Improving public safety;
• Supporting the well-being of New Mexico’s children;
• Relieving the financial pressures on working families; and
• Ensuring all New Mexicans have access to healthcare, housing and economic opportunities.

“You deserve to feel safe in your home and your community, and to be able to provide for your family and afford everyday necessities without financial strain, so you can get ahead, not just get by,” said Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque).

To better protect the well-being of children in the state, the Speaker also announced that House Democrats will once again propose the creation of an independent Office of the Child Advocate within the New Mexico Department of Justice, along with other measures to help make necessary reforms at the Children, Youth, and Families Department.

“It’s past time for us to start doing right by all of New Mexico’s children, so we are going to keep demanding greater oversight, transparency, and accountability at our Children, Youth, and Families Department until every child in our care is safe,” Speaker Martínez added. 

To improve public safety across the state, lawmakers will put forward a robust slate of legislation to tackle crime from all sides. This includes legislation to reduce gun violence, prevent youth from becoming involved in crime, deter violent crime, and meet the needs of New Mexicans who are struggling with substance use or behavioral health issues.

“There is nothing more fundamental to the well-being of our families and communities than public safety,”  said Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos), who chairs the Legislature’s Courts, Corrections, and Criminal Justice Committee. “This interim, we’ve been hard at work with our colleagues in the Senate and stakeholders from across New Mexico to develop well-vetted policies that will have a meaningful impact on the safety of our communities.”

Democratic lawmakers’ public safety proposals also include a $200 million down payment on behavioral health infrastructure. This would help meet the backlogged demand of those currently seeking treatment, as well as build capacity to accommodate more New Mexicans and the potential for discussed competency laws. 

“Right now, when someone makes the difficult decision to get behavioral health or substance use treatment in New Mexico, they face too many barriers, too many wrong doors, and too long of a wait,” said Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe). “We are committed to building out our systems, so that when our loved ones are struggling, they can get help where and when they need it.” 

House Democrats are also focused on improving economic stability and access to necessities for everyday New Mexicans. Priorities include investing in housing and healthcare affordability, cutting taxes for the middle class, protecting access to affordable healthcare, and supporting workers.

“Too many people across our state are struggling to afford rent, get the healthcare they need, or make ends meet with the pressures of rising inflation,” said Majority Whip Day Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque). “These policies and investments will uplift the workers and families at the heart of our economy, because we know that when working people can get ahead, our whole state benefits.”

The 2025 Legislative Session begins at noon, Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 60-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.