Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered her eighth and last State of the State address Jan. 20 in Santa Fe, opening the 30-day legislative session.
The governor, who is term limited at the end of 2026, urged lawmakers to act on an agenda led by child care, healthcare, public safety and infrastructure.
The address marked the start of the 30-day, budget-focused lawmaking session and is likely the final chance for Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, to see multiple longstanding priorities enacted into law. The session ends Feb. 19.
During her hour-long address, Lujan Grisham reflected on her administration’s achievements.
“We’ve taken real action and delivered real results,” she said. “And we’ve done it by moving together, all at once, on the biggest issues and opportunities facing our state. With one year left, there’s still work to do, and progress to make. Let’s double down and do it all.”
‘Better Prepared’
Chief among Lujan Grisham’s proposals was an initiative she announced last November to provide no-cost child care to all New Mexico households regardless of income.
“Our investment in child care means our kids will be better prepared when they start school,” she said.
In her address, the governor called for the Legislature to authorize a $160 million recurring funding increase to the Early Childhood Education and Care Department’s budget to pay for the universal child care measure. That amount is significantly larger than the $13.7 million funding boost the Legislative Finance Committee recommended.
The Legislative Finance Committee warned in its budget proposal last December that the program could “create additional demand” for child care assistance without the revenue necessary to implement it.
On education, the governor touted state investments in structured literacy and the construction of a new literacy center but said more needs to be done to improve student outcomes.
“I’m calling for proven best practices in classrooms, a ban on cell phones that distract from learning, accountability that supports progress in our public schools, and an Office of Special Education so families don’t have to fight the system,” Lujan Grisham said.
Improving the state’s health care system was also top of mind for the governor, as she discussed her administration’s work to improve access to Medicaid, invest $130 million in the state’s rural health delivery fund and fill gaps created by the expiration of federal tax credits for those who purchase health insurance on the state’s exchange.
The governor stated that in this legislative session she wants to see lawmakers take up bills on interstate medical licensure compacts, medical malpractice reform and eliminating the state’s Gross Receipts Tax on medical services.
The medical compacts as proposed would allow physicians licensed in other states within the compact to practice in New Mexico, intending to cut down on doctor shortages throughout the state. Similar agreements are currently in place for nurses.
“We’ve done as much as possible to protect healthcare coverage; now we need to do more to expand healthcare access,” Lujan Grisham said.
Crime and Public Safety
Lujan Grisham, who has supported increased law enforcement funding while in office, also called for stiffer penalties to certain crimes, and other public safety reforms.
That could mean a rewrite of the state’s juvenile code to address youth crime, an assault weapons ban and enhanced penalties for felons found in possession of firearms, she said. She also called for “gun dealer accountability measures” to reduce the risk of firearms falling into the hands of criminals.
District 51 State Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, an ardent critic of Lujan Grisham, slammed proposals for an assault weapons ban and more regulation on gun dealers, calling them “back door gun control.”
Aside from gun regulations, Lujan Grisham also revived her call for the Legislature to make changes to New Mexico’s pretrial detention law, so that suspects charged with a dangerous or violent felony can remain incarcerated pending trial, unless they can prove they are not a danger to the public.
“Any serious approach to public safety starts here: people who are committing dangerous, violent crimes must be held accountable — without hesitation, and without exception,” Lujan Grisham said.
Environment
and Pollution
The governor also wants the Legislature to codify her executive orders curbing air pollution emissions. Lujan Grisham issued an executive order in 2019, directing the state to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030, and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The administration released, in December, a 45-point climate action plan to achieve those objectives by reducing emissions generated by industry, making buildings more energy efficient, decarbonizing the electricity grid and improving management of natural resources to curtail wildfire risks.
Lujan Grisham said such efforts must not come at the expense of affordable energy.
“That’s why I’m calling for a blue ribbon commission to develop a strategy to leverage and utilize private and public investments, grow our economy and protect consumers and businesses, while meeting exploding energy demands with more clean power,” she said.
District 49 House Minority Floor Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena, argued that the governor’s proposal will drive up utility bills and burden industry.
“House Republicans will not support reckless energy mandates that drive up costs, chase jobs out of the state and leave working families paying the price,” Armstrong said in a press release issued after the governor’s address.
Other proposals mentioned in the address included a $1.5 billion bonding bill to upgrade state roads and $110 million for new housing units and to address homelessness.
Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.