Contacting a legislator:  If a legislator has an email address listed on the Legislature's Web Site and on this web site (Legislative Contacts), she/he probably picks up their messages regularly.  If an email address is not listed, telephoning or writing their office is the best way to contact them.  Legislator's home addresses are listed on our Legislative Contacts page. During legislative sessions, letters to legislators should be addressed to the State Capitol, Santa Fe, NM 87501.  Also during sessions, you can reach any legislator by calling the Legislative Switchboard at 986-4300 or you can call their office using the telephone number that can also be found by clicking Legislative Contacts. You can reach the governor's office by calling 476-2200 or sending a message at Gov. Richardson.

Repeal of the Death Penalty:   HB285 (Rep. Gail Chasey) repealed the death penalty and replaced it with a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, effective July 1.  HB285 passed the House by a vote of 40-28, passed the Senate on a vote of 24-18 and was signed into law by Gov. Richardson on March 18.

HB284 ( Rep. Gail Chasey) would have provided funding for services and support for murder victims' families.  HB284 passed the House Judiciary Committee and because it included an appropriation was tabled in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee.

HB211 (Rep. Gail Chasey) would have allowed crime victims to attend judicial proceedings without losing their jobs.  HB211 passed the House by a vote of 64-2 and the Senate Public Affairs Committee but was not heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee.          
 
Affordable Housing & Homelessness:   SB244 (Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino) would have created a dedicated, permanent source of funding for the NM Housing Trust Fund. SB244 would have added an additional $30 flat fee for recording a document. Of that $30, $25 would have gone to the NM Housing Trust Fund (the other $5 would go to the County General Fund). SB244 passed the Senate Public Affairs Committee and stalled in the Senate Finance Committee.
 
Family-Sustaining Income:  SB137 (Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino) allows grandparents and other relatives who become legal guardians of children to receive assistance for those children through the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.  SB137 passed the Senate (38-0) and the House (64-0) and was signed into law.  
 
HB20 (Rep. Mimi Stewart) provides a temporary increase (from 53.5% to 60% of current average wages) in Unemployment Insurance benefits for the next 2 years.  HB20 passed the House and the Senate.  HB20 has been signed into law.    
 
Health Care:   HB130 (Rep. Mimi Stewart) would have required the Human Services Department to provide more information and reports about enrollment and other data in the Medicaid program so that better oversight of this important program is possible. HB130 passed the House and the Senate and was vetoed by the Governor.
 
HB544 (Rep. Danice Picraux) would also have required the Human Services Department to provide additional information about the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs.  HB544 passed the House and the Senate and was vetoed.  
 
HB62 (Rep. Antonio Lujan) passed by the House Labor Committee and would have mandated workers compensation coverage for agricultural workers. Currently farm, ranch, dairy and other agricultural workers are not covered by this important health care benefit. HB62 was tabled in the House Business & Industry Committee.
 
HB267 (Rep. Mimi Stewart) would have created an independent health care authority that would develop a comprehensive action plan for health coverage for all New Mexicans.  HB267 passed the House and the Senate Public Affairs Committee then stalled in the Senate Finance Committee.
 
Hunger:  HJM14 (Rep. Ben Lujan) asked the Human Services Department to take steps to make it easier for more low-income people to enroll in the Food Stamp program.  HJM14 passed House, the Senate Rules Committee and Senate Public Affairs Committee.  This memorial was not heard on the Senate Floor before the session ended.  
 
Tax Policy:  HB262 (Rep. Ed Sandoval) would have simplified the NM personal income tax form and adjusted the Low Income Comprehensive Tax Rebate for inflation which will benefit many low-income New Mexicans.  HB262 passed the House and stalled in the Senate Finance Committee.  
 
Domestic Partnerships:   SB 12 (Sen. Cisco McSorley) was heard in a joint hearing of the Senate Public Affairs and the Senate Judiciary Committees and was passed by the Senate Public Affairs Committee.  The Senate Judiciary Committee passed SB12 to the Senate Floor on a "no recommendation" motion by a vote of 6-5.  SB 12 would have provided civil rights to same sex couples, senior citizens, people with disabilities and other couples through domestic partnerships.  SB12 failed on the Senate Floor by a vote of 17-25.