Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed 22 bills into law in Santa Fe, focusing on diverse sectors such as education, environmental protection, healthcare, utility regulation, public finance, and disaster relief.
In education, the new legislation includes HB 156 to increase educational salaries and SB 343 addressing teacher salary rates. It also covers areas like protection of Hispanic education and returning educational retirees to the workforce.
The governor signed energy and environmental protection bills, including HB 091 on public utility rate structures and SB 009 imposing civil penalties for pipeline safety violations. SB 023 introduces changes to oil and gas royalty rates.
Healthcare received attention with SB 042 establishing a comprehensive addiction and recovery program. SB 045 and SB 078 focus on the use of healthcare assistance funds and the role of certified nurse anesthetists, respectively.
Community support and governance are addressed with several bills. HB 493 implements the Public Finance Accountability Act, while SB 031 allows for zero-interest natural disaster loans with a line-item veto. Other initiatives include nondisclosure of sensitive personal information and community benefit funds.
Governor Lujan Grisham commented on the signing, saying the legislature passed important measures reflecting New Mexicans’ priorities. Notably, some bills were signed with messages or line-item vetoes. Detailed information on specific vetoes and their rationales can be found on the governor’s website.
