By Jo Mixon
The 2020 Legislative Session is over. This year’s approved budget stands at $7.6 billion, $500 million more than last year. Multiple bills were passed and sent to Governor Lujan Grisham’s desk, including several controversial ones. But the main focus in this 30 day session was the budget.
“From public safety, to the environment, to education, including early childhood education from cradle to career and healthcare. There isn’t a single area where this state requires attention in, that they didn’t pay attention to in this legislative session,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Almost half of the budget is going towards public education, which includes a 4% raise for teachers. Added into the budget, is a very trimmed-down version of the governor’s plan for free college with $10 million will go towards that.
In the final version of the budget, $75 million for road infrastructure was cut. They instead put the money into the Rainy Day Fund.
The very controversial “Red-Flag” gun control law that still has many New Mexicans uneasy, was passed as a victory for the governor.
But the session was not a total success for the governor as the legalization of recreational marijuana stalled in the Senate. She says she will now push for the legalization of marijuana to pass in the next session.
The legislators also passed bills for:
- $300 million towards the creation of an Early Childhood Education and Care Fund,
- Changes to long term Lodger’s Tax exemptions,
- The creation of a state wide retirement fund for anyone who does not currently have a retirement fund,
- Expediting licensing for military families who have moved to New Mexico and would like to continue to practice in the field of their chosen careers,
- Capping insulin’s co-payment to $25 dollars, which would be the lowest in the country, and many many more. For a complete list of bills that were passed and sent to the governor to sign visit:
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