Hundreds of New Mexicans convened today at the Roundhouse for day 5 of the legislative session. 

For the first half of the day, the Roundhouse was packed with older New Mexicans, caregivers and advocates in honor of Senior Day, hosted by the state’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department. Secretary-Designate Emily Kaltenbach said several hundred people attended.

“Those stories you share will have a direct impact on the budget we get for our department this year,” Kaltenbach told the crowd in the rotunda. “That budget, which I think is very reasonable this year but critically needed, will support aging in place, providing services in our homes and our communities.”

Fern Reyna, Laverne Zaragoza and Alfie Levaldo traveled from Acoma Pueblo to ask lawmakers for additional funds for the senior center. 

“We’re looking to build a computer center, so we can learn to use computers and our smartphones, which are way too smart for us,” Zaragoza quipped. 

In addition, Levaldo said the pueblo needs additional funds to expand services with an assisted living facility and a daycare.

Adrienne Smith, president and CEO of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition, joined the crowd to encourage people to find their legislators and share with them their personal stories of caring for loved ones.

“I’ll tell you what, if you’re not a caregiver now, I bet you will be,” Smith said. 

She specifically asked Senior Day attendees to encourage lawmakers to reactivate the Long-Term Services Division and call for more direct funding for family caregivers.

New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department seeks $1M to reactivate key division

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also made an appearance at Senior Day, where she maintained her stance on public safety, promising New Mexicans that legislators would address stricter sentencing for drug offenses. 

Bill Watch

The Paid Family & Medical Leave Act received its first committee hearing this morning in the House Health & Human Services Committee and passed by a 6-4 vote. 

Both bills before the Senate Rules Committee moved on. Senate Bill 85, which proposes expanded definitions of expenditures and donations in campaigns, received a unanimous 9-0 pass, while Senate Bill 5, which reforms the state’s game commission, received two amendments and passed by a 7-2 vote.

Tomorrow, committees are getting warmed up with big bills. House Bill 4 on criminal competency, one of the top priorities by both lawmakers and the governor, will be heard in the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee at its 1:30 p.m. meeting.

Senate Conservation Committee has a full slate, with Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act first up, which would codify state emission reduction goals into law. Committee members will also hear two bills on stream protections, which you can read more about here. The agenda concludes with Senate Bill 23 which proposes increases to the state’s oil and gas royalty rates. NM State Land Office Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard backed earlier this month.

House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. to discuss a proposed one-mile buffer zone preventing oil and gas companies from producing pollution around schools, daycare facilities and public parks. 

Pups in the people’s house

Phillip Mondragon and Dolores Aragon brought their two dogs, Boo and Pumpkin, with them to Senior Day, driving up from Clovis on Sunday. Mondragon told Source NM that their 6-year-old service pups go everywhere with them to help Aragon with her sight.