Good Morning, New Mexico Activists:

Learning about the legislative process in New Mexico is an ongoing effort. We recently confirmed, in conversations with legislators, that by the time many legislators get to a hearing, very often they have already decided how to vote on a bill. It makes sense — they should be doing their homework before they get to a hearing, not making last-minute decisions. This is not to discount powerful public comment at hearings. Legislators confirm that moving, personal stories CAN change minds. But the better way to influence a legislator’s vote is to contact them before the session begins to tell them why they should support the issues you care about.

We urge you to email and call your House and Senate members this week, before the Session begins, to tell them about the issues that are important to you. We don’t have bill talking points on our website yet because most bills have not yet been introduced. But we do have lots of information about the issues we know we’re supporting so far. We encourage you to link to that information, read about the issues, and then email and/or call your House and Senate members this week to start a conversation.

Use this contact list to find contact info for your House member.

Use this contact list to find contact info for your Senate member.

If you’re unsure of your House or Senate member, use this link to find them.

At our NM Legislation page at this link you’ll find info about the following issues:

• Local Choice Energy/Public Power
• Modernizing the Legislature (paid legislators, paid staff, longer sessions)
• Opposing Hydrogen Production
• Health Security Plan
• Public Health & Climate Change
• Voting Rights
• Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Projects
• Strengthening Law Enforcement Professions
• The Green Amendment

We’ll have info coming soon on:

• Prohibiting Permits for Radioactive Waste Disposal
• Tax Reform
• Paid Family Leave
• Gun Violence Prevention
• Solar, EV, and Energy Storage Tax Credits
• Housing Reform
• Food, Water, and Agriculture
• Constitutional Amendment to Guarantee Reproductive Health Services

We’ve confirmed that all House hearings will be available via Zoom, that you can sign up for public comment just before the hearing begins (not 24 hours in advance as they’d previously required), and you will be given 1-2 minutes to speak. We’re told that the decision to make Senate committee hearings available via Zoom will be made by each committee chair, so we’ll have to wait and see.

All committee hearings will be open to the public for in-person participation and available to view via Webcast at nmlegis.gov. You cannot comment or otherwise interact with the Webcast, but it’s way to watch a hearing on your own schedule. All committee hearings are recorded and available at nmlegis.gov at the Webcast tab on the top menu bar.

We hope you’ll join our next Legislative Huddle on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6 p.m. Please register for the Huddle at this link. We’ll try to keep this Huddle short so that we can join the Middle Rio Grande Water Advocates Zoom Forum that begins at 6:30 p.m. If you’re interested in the Water Advocates event, you can register at this link.

Please don’t underestimate the value of contacting your legislator this week! Ideally, you’ve been developing a relationship with your legislators year-round, but it’s not too late to start, and your comments now will be fresh in their minds when the Session starts next week.

In Solidarity & Hope,
Roxanne and Paul