It was straight to business Thursday as Senate lawmakers took to the floor and presented the merits and concerns they have with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s special session agenda.

During the hour-and-a-half debate, it became clear that the rift between Lujan Grisham and top Democratic legislators over the special session remained wide open, even as Republican senators praised the governor and sponsored a slate of bills.

In comparison, the House only introduced one piece of legislation. House Bill 1 funds the special session but also puts money towards assisted outpatient pilot programs and provides grants and loans for wildfire response.

A mere three hours after the opening gavel, and after passing the HB 1 to the Senate, the House adjourned sine die, usually signaling the close of a session.

Legislative rules require that if one chamber remains in session, while the other gavels out, the adjourned body must return every three days as part of procedure. But there’s no requirement for them to do legislative work.

If the House continues not to convene, there would be no means for the Senate’s proposed legislation to become law.

‘I haven’t moved my positions’

Seventeen senators participating in the special session, just under half of the 42-member body, either announced retirement, or chose not to seek reelection.

Most of the bills introduced related to crime, which the governor laid out as the priority in her proclamation. Lujan Grisham’s agenda garnered praise from Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) and Sen. Craig Brandt (R-Rio Rancho).

Sen. Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque), who is not running for reelection and has moved to Las Cruces, said he is proud to sponsor the governor’s bills, saying they’re a step in the right direction to address crime.

“I haven’t moved my positions, but it seems like the governor has moved, and seen and actually is trying to take leadership,” he said.

Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces) called the lead up to the special session frustrating, saying the governor’s office continued to change the proposed policy ideas.

“These proposals have changed month to month, week to week, hour to hour,” he said. “In the last 24 hours, we’re seeing new proposals that were never presented, never contemplated for this special session.”

Cervantes chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and is poised to review most of the bills introduced in the special session.

Cervantes said lawmaking needs to be careful, saying some of the proposals already exist on the books or could have unintended consequences the way they are written now.

Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) urged his colleagues to support additional funding for pilot projects in courts across the state to offer treatments instead of jail time.

Ortiz y Pino said the governor’s statements that the legislature is not addressing crime are untrue, and the problems with a lack of mental health and drug abuse treatment won’t be solved with jailing people who can’t access it.

“To say we’re going to mandate treatment without providing any additional services is a guarantee you’re going to have people staying in jail because there is no room for them,” Ortiz y Pino said.

Sen. Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque) said she was concerned the median safety bill, also called the panhandling bill, could inadvertently limit free speech, does not address the real causes of pedestrian deaths and could potentially criminalize other activities, such as the annual Easter pilgrimage to Chimayó.

“Cities already have the ability to do this if they want to,” Duhigg said. “We do not need a state law, regulating – potentially limiting the public speech – on medians and roadways.”

Another top priority is addressing the damage from the South Fork and Salt fires in the Ruidoso areas, which is further flooding danger from the monsoon rains.

More than 850 homes were lost, and others remain imperiled by continued flooding, according to state officials.

Sen. William “Bill” Burt (R-Alamogordo) called on his colleagues to support state funding and relief efforts, saying while no official estimates are out, damages could be between $100 million and $150 million.

“I am hoping each and every one of you will consider in your heart to help the people of Lincoln, Ruidoso and Ruidoso Downs to begin the recovery and healing of the devastation,” Burt said.

In all, lawmakers introduced 15 bills and one constitutional amendment.

Of those, six bills were immediately assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Seven bills were instead sent to the Senate Committee’s Committee to determine if they are germane to the governor’s proclamation, then be heard by other committees.

As of 4:30 p.m. there were no posted agendas for any Senate committees.