March 24, 2017: Listen to the story from our partner KUNM here. State lawmakers proposed 32 changes to the New Mexico Constitution during this year’s 60-day legislative session. Only two passed — they’ll likely be approved by voters in 2018. But the state constitution is already 4.5 times longer than…

March 22, 2017: Listen to the story here from our partner KUNM. Education Secretary Hanna Skandera has been a champion of charter schools, but some lawmakers aren’t so sure. …

From March 22, 2017 These are some of the major ethics and transparency measures that flew or floundered during this year’s 60-day legislative session. Public Accountability Act-HB10 Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto’s (D-Albuquerque) bill would have created an independent accountability board to oversee local and state lawmakers. The board would review ethics…

KUNM Call In Show from 3/23/17: This year’s 60-day legislative session wrapped up last weekend, but lawmakers may soon be called back by Governor Susana Martinez to continue debate on the state budget. …

March 21, 2017: Lobbyists reported spending nearly $292,000 during the 2017 legislative session, with more to be reported in May. Many of the final reports focused not on buying meals for lawmakers, but on campaigns to lobby them. Two groups, New Mexicans for Comprehensive Energy Solutions and Americans for Comprehensive…

March 17, 2017 — The legislative session is reaching a crescendo of activity during its final week and the issue of corruption is back in the spotlight as Democrats cry foul over an unusual request from the governor — one that would seem to benefit a generous contributor to…

from March 17: A proposal that would prevent state and local police from detaining or arresting people who are in the U.S. illegally was scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor in Santa Fe this week. The measure, SB 270, would prevent local and state law enforcement agencies from…

Modest restrictions on the use of solitary confinement in New Mexico’s jails and prisons easily passed the state Senate Friday. The House concurred with Senate changes later in the day. House Bill 175 would forbid “restricted housing” — defined as 22 or more consecutive hours in a cell “without daily…

From March 15: With just three days left in the session, the Senate Rules committee effectively killed an effort to tap New Mexico’s permanent land grant fund to provide additional resources for early childhood education. A motion to table the measure was made by Democratic Senator Mary Kay Papen of…