SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – The special session is officially over with the House adjourning this evening. As of Thursday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed House Bill 1, which gives hundreds of millions of dollars to food assistance programs, rural hospitals, and other healthcare expenses in New Mexico. The Senate passed its last bill and concluded its chamber’s work.
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“I want to thank all the members in this chamber for the 25 hours of work that we have done, we’ve worked hard, we’ve worked together, and again as a result of that we have finished the work of the senate,” said Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), Majority Leader.
The second day of the special session saw most of the bills on the governor’s agenda pass both chambers and head to the governor’s desk, including House Bill 2. The goal of that bill is to make sure health insurance premiums remain low, even if tax credits on the federal level expire. It uses subsidies from its health care affordability fund to cover those costs. According to the Health Care Authority, up to 27,000 New Mexicans are at risk of losing health insurance if these tax credits expire. Meanwhile, Senate Bill 3, which deals with rules and recommendations for child immunizations, has sparked debate, with Republicans arguing it takes choice away from families. But Democrats disagree.
“This is not about taking away your choice not to get the vaccine. This is about ensuring that those who make the choice to get the vaccine have access to the vaccine, and if they make that choice, that’s all this is about,” said Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D), Majority Whip.
Another Senate bill passed the House expanding the Rural Health Care Development fund to be able to help hospitals in rural areas that get federal cuts. Republican leaders also held a conference following the conclusion of the Senate chamber, expressing disappointment over the lack of crime and New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department bills on the special session agenda. Another bill was passed, not related to federal funding, making changes aimed at streamlining court cases when a defendant’s competency is in question.
