[LWVNM Action] Fwd: A View From Just Outside the Roundhouse: Legislative Roundup: The Good, the Bad, the Unfinished

Sun Apr 13 18:42:44 MDT 2025

Dede Feldman’s review of the legislature is similar to mine! She says there
were lots of pocket vetoes and calls out the governor for some of her
inexplicable vetoes.

Meredith Ross Machen
505-577-6337
Meredith.machen at gmail.com

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Dede Feldman <dede at dedefeldman.com>
Date: Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Subject: A View From Just Outside the Roundhouse: Legislative Roundup: The
Good, the Bad, the Unfinished
To: <meredith.machen at gmail.com>

*A View from Just Outside the Roundhouse . . . April 13, 2025*

*Friends, Neighbors and Former Constituents,*

* Legislature 2025 is Now History*

The results are in, and it’s a decidedly mixed bag.  This time, I give
the *legislature
a B*, and *the Governor a D-*.

Friday was the last day the Gov. had to sign or veto the 195 bills (out of
about 1200) that passed the 2025 legislature.  She vetoed 35, not counting
pocket vetoes and the line-item vetoes she made on many bills, including
the budget and capital outlay appropriations. It’s one of the largest
percentages since Gov. Gary Johnson (a.k.a. Governor NO).  Many of the
vetoes (like the one that cut funding for oversight of CYFD) protect her
departments’ independence or her own power (like the one to allow her to
hire and fire Game and Fish Commissioners). Most maddening was her veto of
a lobbyist transparency bill, which, as sponsor Rep. Sara Silva said
ironically, would have allowed us to see which lobbyists were lobbying her
against this bill!

Here's my tally of the Good, the Bad and the Unfinished.

*The Good: *

*Health Care*

The best part of the session was the speed at which both houses created a
plan to reconfigure our failing behavioral health system and create a
*behavioral
health fund* to stimulate and organize services for people struggling with
addictions and mental health. The package also included several crime
bills—one deals with people too *incompetent *to stand trial. Another one
increases penalties for fentanyl-related crimes.  The bipartisan measures
came after last year’s catastrophic special session on crime and were
passed by mid-session. This is the way it’s supposed to work!

The legislature also created a Medicaid Trust fund to hedge against the
looming loss of federal funds, which cover 2/3 of the cost of medical
services to over 40% of our citizens.

*Protections for Medical Providers, Women, Immigrants*

More than most states, New Mexico protects its most vulnerable.  Women can
get abortions; trans people are treated like human beings and immigrants
live in “immigrant-friendly” cities. But the long arm of the Trump
administration is coming for them.  *Senate Bill 57* will protect the
privacy of doctors and medical providers at UNM who may be called upon to
perform abortions for out-of-state women and *SB 36* prevents state
employees from sharing sensitive information with anyone outside the agency
(like ICE) who might come knocking in search of suspicious people.

*Environment*

*A big win* happened here thanks to the persistence of *Land Commissioner
Stephanie Garcia Richard* and others who finally convinced lawmakers to
increase royalty rates on prize oil and gas leases on state land to a
reasonable rate (*SB 23*).

Other wins include a Strategic Water Supply (*HB 137*); protection against
PFAS chemicals (*HB 212*); a *Community Benefits Fund* that will invest
$210 million in clean energy projects and jobs (*SB 48*) and revamping the
Game and Fish Department into the Wildlife Department (*HB 5*).

*Good Government*

•*Open Primaries* will allow registered independents (DTS) to vote in
either the Democratic or Republican primaries.  This bill will enfranchise
thousands (many of them young people) who could not vote before in
important elections where the winner is often decided. A long time coming!!!

•A constitutional amendment to end the *“Pocket Veto”* will be on the
ballot in 2026.  This time the Governor rejected 17 items passed by the
legislature by simply failing to sign them, without explanation.  Under the
proposed amendment, an unsigned bill would become law, and the governor
would be required to give reasons for all vetoes.

*Guns*

• Expansion of red flag warning law to allow law enforcement to require
those who pose an imminent danger to relinquish their guns if they have
been deemed by the courts, families or law enforcement too dangerous.

*The Bad:*

We are now experiencing a remarkable failure to address an undeniable NM
crisis: the *shortage of medical providers* of all kinds.  How long have
YOU had to wait to get an appointment?  This failure is due to continued
conflict between trial lawyers and the doctors over malpractice insurance
rates and attorneys’ fees. About ten other measures suggested by the Santa
Fe nonprofit *Think NM* to allow interstate compacts, tax reductions, and
more failed as well.  Shameful.

*SB 4*, the Clear Horizons bill, sponsored by *Sen. Mimi Stewart*, would
have established in law greenhouse gas emissions limits that would put us
on pace for zero carbon emissions by 2050.  Its defeat in the Senate
Finance Committee by a few powerful Democrats was the biggest loss of the
session.

For the third year in a row, *taxes on alcohol* escaped a long-overdue
hike. *HB 417*, which brought together alcohol tax approaches in one bill,
was turned down in the House Taxation Committee.  Then, an overall tax
package, which contained an alcohol tax increase, was vetoed by the
Governor.

The *Governor’s veto of $80 million* appropriated to build *affordable
housing* in Bernalillo County.  The unified city-county plan depended on
this funding, particularly in the wake of expensive cuts from Housing and
Urban Development (HUD). The veto will have drastic implications, just as
the city is beginning to make progress on the issue.

*The Unfinished:*

The lack of measures to address *juvenile crime* became glaringly obvious
on the session’s last day when a mass shooting occurred in Las Cruces. The
Governor has threatened to call another special session to deal with this
and other crime measures.

The *Medical Malpractice* problem is an open wound and must be dealt with
or the patients (i.e., us) will die.

*Modernization* measures to amend the constitution and provide a salary to
NM’s volunteer legislators and lengthen the sessions failed once again.
Although advocates saw their efforts to get staff for legislators bear
fruit this year, we are still in the basement when it comes to having a
professional and representative body.

*CYFD* continues to be a big problem for NM’s kids, and the Governor is
resisting help and oversight from the legislature and now, the Attorney
General.  She vetoed the funding and other measures for CYFD oversight.

My biggest disappointment was the veto of the *lobbyist disclosure bill* I
had been promoting to shine some light on the activities of professional
lobbyists.  Lobbyists outnumber legislators in Santa Fe, sometimes by as
many as 10 to 1. This year, they spent about half a million to wine and
dine legislators this session, to what end…nobody knows.  Lobbying reform
might happen next year, as the Governor’s message indicates that she will
support a bill next session if some of the details are changed.

*Save the Date. *

*Sunday May 4 4:00 p.m.* *A Root Beer Float Party* to gather signatures and
$5 contributions for Tim Keller for Mayor.  It will be at my place, 1821
Meadow View Dr. NW. Come by to get some face time with the Mayor and
support public financing! Bring a mug.

*Bill O’Neill: Senate District 13 will miss his Door Knocking, Artistic
Flair*

When I decided to leave the Senate and give way to some “new blood” in
2012, I was relieved that Bill O’Neill, then a representative, was
interested. I didn’t want to leave District 13 in the lurch, and he was a
kindred spirit in two important ways.  First, he loved to go door-to-door
and meet people, as I did (and do). We talked about it together as almost a
spiritual practice.  Second, he was a writer—a very different one from me.
He knew I was working on *Inside the New Mexico Senate* as I left the
legislature. Partially, I saw leaving as the only real way to tell my
unvarnished truth about it, without creating so many enemies that I would
no longer be effective.  He encouraged me every step of the way. And I
returned the favor when the difficulties of getting anything published
reared their ugly heads for him. He finally had the success he deserved—and
he enjoyed it!

The courage he displayed early in standing up to Gov. Susanna Martinez on
the driver’s license issue and his success in getting us to “ban the box”
to alleviate the hiring prejudice against ex-cons have been underestimated.
And I especially appreciated his sponsorship of open primaries, independent
redistricting and other good government measures.  I will miss his
greeting, “Hey, you,” and his great contributions to Senate District 13.
RIP Bill, faithful public servant.

*Shameless Plug Department*

Anyone looking for a house?  We’re selling an adorable house that was
previously our daughter Abby’s home at 4th St. and Guadalupe Trail in
Alameda. Check it out here
<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zillow.com%2Fhomedetails%2F10119-4th-St-NW-Albuquerque-NM-87114%2F6737484_zpid%2F%3Futm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Demo-SendToFriendHDP-image&cf=7452&v=c4d49f5df3246466495f6c020e7e04747a2ac81e7fea38ff406f14b94d563399>
or call Bennett Hammer at 505-239-5045.

Meanwhile, have a good month!  Enjoy the flowers, pray for April showers
and that the wind stays away.  Next time—city politics.

Dede Feldman

*Contact Dede*

Senator Dede Feldman
1821 Meadow View Drive NW
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+Drive+NW+%0D%0AAlbuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>
Albuquerque, NM 87104
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+Drive+NW+%0D%0AAlbuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>

E-mail

dedefeld at comcast.net

Web-Site

www.dedefeldman.com
<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dedefeldman.com%2F&cf=7452&v=432ce42d1d7c88143591d629ec9388377ba718c3779a81009aacc500eaee6e1c>

Blog

http://
<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fsenatorfeldman.typepad.com%2F&cf=7452&v=6917aba2f892dc3dc45a3847e26c5217b000b65c9e17a465d4bf3ba8add4cd8d>
senatorfeldman.typepad.com
<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fsenatorfeldman.typepad.com%2F&cf=7452&v=6917aba2f892dc3dc45a3847e26c5217b000b65c9e17a465d4bf3ba8add4cd8d>

Follow

<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fsenatorfeldman&cf=7452&v=f0240dd4ee547803bc28f48ef594df926842788de12872b4ea7cfca0e7e58b09>
<https://click-800145.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=62597419&msgid=505353&act=SD6D&c=800145&pid=2555642&destination=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fprofile.php%3Fid%3D1299008076&cf=7452&v=b9d231eb9142f22a0869f5345f51f20278fbafa68a87c06ce5e1afbc5b346b35>

Manage Your Subscription
<https://app.icontact.com/icp/mmail-mprofile.php?r=62597419&l=7452&s=SD6D&m=505353&c=800145&vh=b9ca2475fc31d2ff91f58635c7f0fcfc3ef7d941>
This message was sent to *meredith.machen at gmail.com
<meredith.machen at gmail.com>* from *dede at dedefeldman.com
<dede at dedefeldman.com>*

Dede Feldman
Friends of Feldman
1821 Meadow View NW
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+NW+%0D%0A+Albuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>
Albuquerque, NM 87104
<https://www.google.com/maps/search/1821+Meadow+View+NW+%0D%0A+Albuquerque,+NM+87104?entry=gmail&source=g>

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[image: iContact - Engage, wow, and grow your audience]
<https://www.icontact.com/pricing?utm_medium=poweredby&utm_source=footerlink&utm_campaign=iC%20Footer&afid=144186>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.swcp.com/pipermail/action/attachments/20250413/6cff807d/attachment-0001.htm>