- New Mexico backtracks on cannabis cards for nonresidents
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has moved to phase out medical cannabis cards for nonresidents starting at mid-year, under a bill approved by the Legislature on Monday and supported by the governor. More than 600 people from Texas, Arizona and beyond have enrolled as patients in New Mexico's medical marijuana program since September based on a change in state statute signed into law last year by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. State health officials backtracked and said the residency requirement was dropped unintentionally from that legislation. They urged legislators this year to reinstate the requirement, arguing that opening up the program to nonresidents might prompt federal intervention.
- Legislature approves reforms involving state settlements
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is moving toward easing restrictions on the release of information on financial settlements involving state officials and payouts to whistleblowers. A bill was on its way to the governor's desk Monday that would eliminate a 180-day waiting period for the disclosure of financial agreements to resolve a variety of complaints against state officials. Final legislative approval came with a unanimous vote of the House on Sunday evening. The legislation came in response to financial settlements approved during the administration of former Gov. Susana Martinez, including a series of payouts that were sealed until the two-term Republican left office at the end of 2018.
- New Mexico public pension reform passes in state House
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico House has approved a proposal aimed at shoring up New Mexico's overextended pension fund for about 110,000 state and local government workers and retirees. The lower chamber voted 40-28 to send the bill back to Democrat-controlled Senate. The Senate passed a similar measure but must reexamine the proposal after it was amended. The effort is backed by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The bill seeks to address concerns about $6.6 billion in unfunded liabilities that are weighing down the credit rating of the state and its largest city and driving up borrowing costs.
- Legislators seek enforcement of age limits on tobacco sales
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico state legislators are embracing a proposal for more strenuous enforcement of new federal restrictions on retail tobacco sales to youths amid rising rates of vaping among children and young adults. The federal government late last year changed the minimum age from 18 to 21 nationwide for purchasing tobacco products, including vaping cartridges and e-cigarettes. A Senate bill that would license retail tobacco vendors and apply administrative sanctions against prohibited sales to youths under age 21 advanced toward a decisive House floor vote, with the endorsement Monday by a House panel on health policy.
- NM Senate OKs bill to stop forcing police to erase evidence
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A measure that would stop police from having to destroy seized electronic evidence that was obtained through a search warrant but wasn't the target of an investigation has passed the New Mexico Senate. The proposal unanimously approved Sunday seeks to fix a bill passed in 2019 that required law enforcement to wipe out some digital evidence. The requirement may have affected some pending cases in Albuquerque, where crime has soared in recent years. Democratic Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto of Albuquerque says the change is needed because law enforcement has no choice but to eradicate this evidence after 30 days. The new bill allows police to seal the evidence and get a court order to use it in an unrelated investigation.
- Key Democratic New Mexico senator won't seek re-election
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Sen. John Sapien, a key moderate Democratic senator who represents a swing district outside of Albuquerque, says he will not run for re-election. Sapien told The Associated Press on Sunday he concluded during the current legislative session that it was time to retire as a state lawmaker. The insurance salesman and financial adviser says he's entertaining new career opportunities. Sapien has represented for 12 years a district that includes poor Bernalillo, affluent liberal areas of Placitas and Corrales, and part of conservative Rio Rancho. Democrats hold a 26-16 edge over Republicans in the New Mexico Senate.
- Diocese of Gallup to sell historic school property in uproar
GALLUP, N.M. (AP) — The Diocese of Gallup has announced it will sell the property of the historic Sacred Heart School to a secular charter school. The Gallup Independent reports word of the pending sale recently stunned school officials and parents amid concerns about a conflict of interest. Sacred Heart School interim principal Amy Jo Mulvaney says she was caught off guard when Aequitas Education and Hozho Academy representatives toured the school late January. The representatives said they were purchasing the campus. Gallup attorney Patrick T. Mason led the Aequitas and Hozho group. He is also the attorney for the Diocese of Gallup.
- Report: New Mexico ex-mall employee knocked out former boss
FARMINGTON, N.M. (AP) — A former mall employee in northwestern New Mexico is facing charges after authorities say he knocked out his former boss and broke his nose. Court documents show that Justin Nachreiner is scheduled Wednesday to appear before a magistrate judge in Farmington, New Mexico, on aggravated battery. According to an arrest warrant, the 24-year-old Nachreiner attacked Journey shoe sore manager Cameron Tadeo last month after he fired Nachreiner. Other employees say Tadeo had sent a group message to employees to pick up their checks. Witnesses say Nachreiner was angry when he arrived and left after they heard a loud noise. Employees say they found Tadeo unconscious and bleeding from his nose. Nachreiner is being held without bond.