Good Governance Bills, Proposal to Create a Statewide Board of Education & Navajo Nation President Assesses First Month on the Job

New Mexico in Focus Senior Producer Lou DiVizio opens the show with updates on several pieces of legislation moving through the Roundhouse: SB 73 would open primary elections to all voters in the state if passed. Right now only party-affiliated voters can participate. The bill passed the Senate last week and now moves on to the House.  HB 7 would guarantee access to reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare to anyone in the state is passed. It was voted through the House last week.  HB 4 would reform elections in several ways – by expanding automatic voter registration, allowing convicted felons to vote, creating a voluntary, permanent absentee voter list, and enacting the Native American voting rights act. It moves on to the Senate after passing the House last week.  Also last week, the House Taxation and Revenue Committee voted to table HB 230, which would increase alcohol taxes by 25-cents per drink. The chair of the committee, State Representative Derrick Lente says they’ll have to wait and see if a compromise can be reached. SB 418 would modernize the state’s Oil and Gas Act by considering the impacts on the environment and disadvantaged communities. It will go before the Senate Conservation Committee this week.  After that, New Mexico in Focus Political Correspondent Gwyneth Doland catches up with three lawmakers to ask about some good governance legislation, including two HJR 2 and HJR 8, which would modernize the state legislature.  Then, Gene Grant and the Line Opinion Panel talk through those good governance bills, and debate their potential effectiveness.  Gene and the Panel also discuss a SJR 1 which would recreate a state board of education, making that the authoritative body on education, instead of the current system of a single Public Education Secretary.  Finally, New Mexico in Focus Correspondent Antonia Gonzales speaks with newly-elected Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren about his first month in office, and his priorities for the tribe through the remainder of his term.  Host: Lou DiVizio Correspondents: Gwyneth Doland, Antonia Gonzales Line Host: Gene Grant Guests:  St. Rep. Natalie Figueroa, (D) NM District 30 – Albuquerque St. Sen. Gregg Schmedes, (R) NM District 19 – Tijeras St. Sen. Bill O’Neill, (D) NM District 13 – Los Ranchos de Albuquerque Dr. Buu Nygren, Navajo Nation President Line Opinion Panelists:  Dave Mulryan, president, Mulryan-Nash Advertising Andy Lyman, reporter, Santa Fe Reporter Merritt Allen, Vox Optima Public Relations For More Information:  NM Legislation Listings