New Mexico

Otero County Rep. John Block introduced 30 bills this session. Here’s where they stand.

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

As of Wednesday, Jan. 31, at least 641 bills, resolutions and memorials had been introduced at the 2024 New Mexico Legislative session.

Among them were bills submitted by Otero County Rep. John Block, a Republican who took the seat in 2022. Block sponsored 30 pieces of legislation targeting controversial topics like the death penalty, abortion and pretrial detention.

The New Mexico Legislature will wrap the 30-day session Feb. 16, during which it primarily focused on the passage of a budget for the upcoming fiscal year while wrestling with record levels of revenue driven by the oil and gas industry in the state.

Among the handful of policy bills introduced by politicians during the session were gun rights, paid family medical leave and oil and gas regulation reform.

Most of the bills bearing Block’s signature have stalled in committee. Here’s a breakdown of the bills Block said residents should keep an eye on.

House Bill 51

House Bill 51 that is a reintroduction of 2023’s H.B. 163, according to Block, which would give small businesses a 25% credit on gross tax receipts.

The bill was referred to the House Commerce Committee and House Taxation and Revenue Committee where it is stalled.

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House Bill 110

Block introduced House Bill 110 which would limit certain types of abortions, a reintroduction of the 2023 House Bill 258 which proposed criminalizing abortions. HB 258 was postponed indefinitely.

HB 110 targets healthcare employees that don’t warn their patients of a heartbeat.

“A health care provider who knowingly performs an abortion and thereby kills a human fetus without determining, according to standard medical practice, whether the fetus has a detectable heartbeat; without informing the pregnant woman of the results of that determination; or after determining, according to standard medical practice, that the fetus has a heartbeat is guilty of a third-degree felony resulting in the death of a human fetus,” read the bill language.

HB 110 was stalled in the committee assignments process.

House Memorial 10

House Memorial 10, titled “Foster Children Task Force,” would create a joint taskforce among the Children, Youth and Families Department and Health Care Authority Department to tackle placement of foster children.

“Also, in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee (HGEIC), HM 10, I am co-sponsoring with many other representatives, will bring a solution to children sleeping in N.M. Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) offices. The memorial passed the committee unanimously,” Block said.

The memorial received a “do pass” recommendation from the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee.

Impeachment, death penalty, gun permits and pretrial detention

Block sponsored several other stalled pieces of legislation alongside fellow Republicans.

House Resolution 1 proposed the impeachment of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The resolution was referred to the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee and House Judiciary Committee where it stalled.

House Bill 78 proposed the permitless carry of firearms by adults. It stalled in the committee assignment process.

House Bill 77 asked the Legislature to reinstate the death penalty in New Mexico. It stalled in the committee assignment process.

House Bill 44 would have created an avenue for defendants to rebut pretrial detention orders if proven they are dangerous. It stalled in the committee assignment process.

Senate Bill 17

While Block did not sponsor Senate Bill 17, he said he was an avid supporter of it.

Senate Bill 17 introduces ways to sustain and improve hospital care statewide, including addressing funding.

“SB 17, the Health Care Delivery and Access Act (HDAA) would increase the federal Medicaid matching dollars available to the state to support statewide hospital access, workforce and quality and is funded through a hospital assessment,” said Pamela Blackwell with New Mexico Hospital Association Government Relations and Communications.

More: Gun buyers would have to wait one week under bill passed by NM Senate

In a news release from the New Mexico Hospital Association, the bill will have some of the best benefits for the state.

“Improve recruitment and retention of providers and workers, provide enhanced quality of care to patients, continue to reinvest any gains into services for our communities,” said Blackwell in the release.

Updates on pieces of legislation can be found at nmlegis.gov.

Juan Corral can be reached at JCorral@gannett.com or on X, formerly Twitter at @Juan36Corr.

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New Mexico

The Roundhouse Report: Bernie Sanders praises New Mexico

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6 hours ago

January 4, 2026

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The Roundhouse Report: Bernie Sanders praises New Mexico

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New Mexico

Blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings in effect for parts of New Mexico

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

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Blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings in effect for parts of New Mexico

Southeastern New Mexico will see some snow while other places will generally see cooler, more winter-like temperatures. See the latest conditions at KOB.com/Weather.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Some notable cities in New Mexico could see multiple inches of snow, along with possible wind and cooler temperatures Sunday into Monday.

There is going to be snow across the southeast. A winter storm advisory is in effect all throughout areas like Ruidoso and out toward the Texas state line. A winter storm warning for Carlsbad and even a blizzard warning for the Guadalupe Mountains. These advisories and warnings indicate it’s going to continue until Monday at 6 p.m.

How much snow might there be? Ruidoso could see a few inches, along with other higher-elevation areas. Carlsbad might even see as much as two inches and Roswell has a very good chance of snow.

Wind gusts ranged from 23 mph for Hobbs and Clovis, 25 in Santa Rosa and similar readings in other places. Temperatures could hit sub-freezing temperatures in places like Ruidoso, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs. Meanwhile, Gallup and Grants could get into the single-digits. Plus, places like Albuquerque and Santa Fe will be in the 20s but the big “winner” is Alamosa, Colorado, with 2 degrees.

Chief Meteorologist Eddie Garcia shares all the details in his full forecast in the video above.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 Day results for Dec. 27, 2025

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

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The New Mexico Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 27, 2025, results for each game:

Powerball

05-20-34-39-62, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Day: 4-1-4

Evening: 3-8-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Lotto America

08-10-20-47-50, Star Ball: 04, ASB: 05

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 6-9-5-0

Day: 4-9-4-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Roadrunner Cash

03-21-24-33-37

Check Roadrunner Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Powerball Double Play

13-22-33-61-62, Powerball: 20

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Las Cruces Sun-News editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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