NM lawmakers wrap ‘consequential’ 30-day session

CONDITIONS IN YOUR AREA WITH THE FREE KOAT APP, AND REMEMBER TO TURN ON ALERTS. NEW MEXICO’S 30 DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION NOW OVER. THE PRIORITY FOR THESE IS TYPICALLY JUST PASSING A BUDGET. BUT THIS YEAR, LAWMAKERS DID A LOT MORE THAN THAT. ALIYAH CHAVEZ IS LIVE TONIGHT WITH THE OUTCOME OF SOME OF THE BILLS. YOU TOLD US YOU WATCHING CLOSEST. YEAH. DOUG. SHELLY I’M OUTSIDE OF UNIVERSITY STADIUM AND YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHY, AS PART OF THIS YEAR’S BUDGET, THIS STADIUM IS SET TO INCLUDE FUNDING FOR A MAJOR RENOVATION. AND IT’S JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THE CHANGES ACROSS NEW MEXICO AFTER THIS YEAR’S SESSION. THIS HAS GOT TO BE ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL SESSIONS WE’VE HAD, AND IT’S A 30 DAY SESSION, WHICH IS IRONIC. NEW MEXICO LAWMAKERS, FRESH OFF THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, SAYING EVEN THEY ARE SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE ROUNDHOUSE AND HOW OFTEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS FOUND COMMON GROUND. THEY’RE DELIVERING FOR THE PEOPLE OF NEW MEXICO IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION, AND I AM GRATEFUL TO THEM. ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOVES FUNDING FOR UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE, YEARS IN THE MAKING. BACK THEN, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE LAUGHED AT US HAD WE TALKED ABOUT UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE. THE STATE BUDGET TOTALS $11.1 BILLION, WITH MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH CARE, INFRASTRUCTURE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME HIGH PROFILE PROJECTS LIKE PLANS TO RENOVATE BOTH UNM AND NMSU FOOTBALL STADIUMS. THEY ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A FEW THINGS, MORE THAN SOME PEOPLE EXPECTED. CHECK YOUR BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, YOU’LL SEE A NEW QUESTION SHOULD LEGISLATORS RECEIVE A SALARY? I REALLY BELIEVE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT’S LONG OVERDUE. NOT EVERYONE AGREES. WE HAVE CITIES THAT LOOK LIKE WAR ZONES, AND ABSOLUTELY THE LAST THING WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON IS PAYING OURSELVES. IF APPROVED, THE SALARY WILL BE AROUND $67,000 PER YEAR. NEW MEXICO IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES NOT PAY ITS LAWMAKERS. OTHER MEASURES ALSO MOVED FORWARD, INCLUDING A SENATE BILL THAT WOULD REMOVE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS FOR CERTAIN CHILD SEX CRIMES, ALLOWING VICTIMS TO SEEK JUSTICE. YEARS LATER. WHEN YOU COME FORWARD AND SEEK CARE, WE’RE READY FOR YOU. HOUSE BILL 200 WOULD HELP WORKING FAMILIES BUY THEIR FIRST HOME, OFFERING ZERO INTEREST LOANS UP TO $75,000. A PROPOSAL THAT BARELY MADE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE. WITH ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO SPARE. AND THE MONEY’S IN THE BUDGET 15. BUT SOME HIGH PROFILE CRIME BILL DID NOT PASS, INCLUDING THE STOP ILLEGAL GUN TRADE ACT. LAWMAKERS SAY CRIME WILL REMAIN A TOP PRIORITY MOVING FORWARD. HOPEFULLY NO SPECIAL SESSION. AND UNM IS SET TO RECEIVE $28 MILLION TO GET STARTED HERE. AND THEY ALREADY HAVE PLANS TO WORK ON ENTRANCES, CONCESSIONS AND RESTROOMS. LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, ALIYAH CHAVEZ. KOAT. ACTION 7 NEWS. THIS WAS BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THEIR CURRENT ROLES. WELL, SOME OTHER BILLS THAT PASSED INCLUDE REFORMING THE STATE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAW, THE IMMIGRANT SAFETY ACT, FORCING DETENTION CENTERS TO GET RID OF CONTRACTS WITH ICE, AND 92 MILLION IN BONDS FOR THE NEXT PHASE OF THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS REDEVELOPMENT. ANOTHER BILL WE’VE TOLD YOU ABOUT DEALS WITH THE SHARING OF LICENSE PLATE DATA FROM AUTOMATED READERS. IT’S ALSO HEADING TO THE GOVERNOR. THIS IS MEANT TO PREVENT USERS FROM GIVING OR SELLING PRIVATE INFORMATION TO THIRD PARTIES, SPECIFICALLY, INCLUDING IMMIGRATION STATUS AND WHETHER SOMEONE IS RECEIVING REPRODUCTIVE CARE IN NEW MEXICO. THE STAFF ATTORNEY FOR SOMOS IN PUEBLO UNIDO, AN ORGANIZATION THAT WORKED WITH THE ACLU ON THE BILL, TOLD US LAST WEEK. THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED IN NEW MEXICO. THERE WAS A JURISDICTION FROM POLICE, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT FROM TEXAS WHO WAS SEEKING INFORMATION ON ONE OF THEIR RESIDENTS WHO CAME TO NEW MEXICO TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO OBTAIN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. SHERIFF JOHN ALLEN SAYS LICENSE PLATE READERS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL TO HIS OFFICE, BUT TOLD US LAST WEEK HE ALSO SUPPORTS THE BILL BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO SEE THE INFORMATION THAT’S GATHERED BEING USED INCORRECTLY. I DON’T CARE WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN YOUR BACKYARD, IN YOUR FRONT YARD TO ACTUALLY GO AFTER CRIMES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GUIDELINES ARE THERE TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT IS USING IT CORRECTLY. WE KNOW THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING, WHICH THEY SHOULD BE, BUT THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT WE’RE DOING. THE BILL DID SEE PUSHBACK FROM SOME REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BLALOCK. HE CALLED IT A MESSAGING BILL TO CHALLENGE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON IMMIGRATION LAW. IT PASSED 42 TO 22. EVEN THOUGH THE SESSION HAS ENDED, THE GOVERNOR HAS UNTIL MARCH 11TH TO SIGN OR VETO BILLS. AND IF SHE ISSUES A VETO, SHE HAS TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION. RIGHT NOW, THE GOVERNOR ALSO HAS THE POWER TO POCKET VETO ANY BILL SHE DOESN’T ACT ON IS AUTOMATICALLY VETOED WITHOUT EXPLANATION. LAWMAKERS CAN OVERRIDE THAT WITH A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY. NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF 11 STATES THAT ALLOWS POCKET VETOES, BUT VOTERS WILL DECIDE THIS NOVEMBER WHETHER THAT SHOULD CONTINUE. A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD END THE PRACTICE, MAKING BILLS AUTOMATICALLY IF THE MAKING BILLS LAW AUTOMATICALLY. IF THE GOVERNOR TAKES NO ACTION. AND STAY WITH KOAT FOR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF WHICH BILLS THE GOVERNOR SIGNS. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE ARREST THE THIRD AND FINAL TEENAGER ACCUSED IN THE MURDER NEAR OLD TOWN. 317 YEAR OLDS CHARGED WITH THE KILLING OF LUIS ORTIZ LAST YEAR. AUTHORITIES SAY THE SUSPECTS ARRANGED TO BUY ALCOHOL FROM ORTIZ AND MET HIM IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE BURGER KING AND STARBUCKS ON RIO GRANDE, BUT THERE WAS A CONFRONTATION AND SHOTS WERE FIRED. VICTIM’S CAR FOUND CRASHED INTO A WALL ACROSS THE STREET, POLICE SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED THE SUSPECTS LEAVING THE SCENE IN A TRUCK, THEN COMING BACK TO TAKE A GUN AND ALCOHOL FROM ORTIZ’S CAR. ALL THREE ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER. AN UPDATE TO THE POLICE PRESENCE LAST NIGHT AT THE TAOS PLAZA. WE HAD THIS AS BREAKING NEWS FOR YOU. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY GOT A CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO CLAIMED THEY STABBED A VICTIM AND PLANTED TWO PIPE BOMBS IN THE PLAZA. THAT AREA AND SURROUNDING BUSINESSES WERE LOCKED DOWN AND SOME EVACUATED AS MULTIPLE AGENCIES WENT DOOR TO DOOR SEARCHING FOR ANY THREAT. AUTHORITIES SAY NO VICTIM OR EXPLOSIVES WERE FOUND IN THE AREA CLEARED JUST BEFORE 9 P.M. INVESTIGATORS SAY ONE PERSON WAS DETAINED BUT RELEASED. THEY ARE STILL WORKING TO CONFIRM THE IDENTITY OF THE CALLER AND POLICE ACTIVITY AT THE SOCIAL SECURITY BUILDING IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE, AFTER WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE A HAND GRENADE FOUND DURING SECURITY SCREENING. THE BUILDING WAS EVACUATED AND THE MAN DETAINED. INVESTIGATORS LATER DETERMINED THE ITEM WAS A TORCH LIGHTER. THE BUILDING REOPENED, BUT THE SUSPECT REMAINS IN FEDERAL CUSTODY. A 17 YEAR-OLD CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER A GUN SALE GONE WRONG. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SAY THE SUSPECT, ALSO 17 YEARS OLD, PLANNED TO SELL A FIREARM AT AN AWESOME PARKING LOT ON GIBSON LAST MONTH AFTER THE TWO COMMUNICATED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA. POLICE SAY SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS THE TWO INTERACTING. THEN TWO CARS LEAVING A SHORT TIME LATER. APD’S SHOTSPOTTER RECORDED 23 SHOTS FIRED. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THE VICTIM AND ANOTHER TEEN SHOT IN THE LEGS. IN GRANT COUNTY, A ROUTINE AMBULANCE RIDE TURNED VIOLENT WHEN A PATIENT STABBED A FIRST RESPONDER IN THE NECK. THE GRANT COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS EMS CREWS WERE RESPONDING TO THE MIMBRES AREA YESTERDAY FOR A MEDICAL COMPLAINT INVOLVING CAL AVINA. DURING THE RIDE TO GILA MEDICAL CENTER, THE SHERIFF SAYS AVINA GOT INTO A FIGHT WITH THE EMT PROVIDING CARE IN THE BACK OF THE AMBULANCE. STABBING HIM, CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING INJURY. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER, GETTING THE INJURED EMT OUT AND TRAPPING AVINA INSIDE UNTIL DEPUTIES ARRIVED. HE WAS ARRESTED AND NOW FACING FELONY CHARGES. WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN UPDATE ON THE CONDITION OF THE EMT WORKER. A JURY CONVICTED A MAN IN THE CARJACKING OF A HOT AIR BALLOON. PILOT NOW FACES UP TO 15 YEARS IN JAIL FOR THREATENING THE PILOT WITH A GUN, THEN STEALING THEIR CAR ON THE WAY TO A PILOT BRIEFING IN ALBUQUERQUE. ANOTHER ONE OF THE FOUR SUSPECTS IN THE DEADLY SHOOTING IN LAS CRUCES ON TRIAL TODAY. SHOTS WERE FIRED DURING AN ILLEGAL CAR SHOW AT THE PARK LAST MARCH. THREE DIED, 15 WERE HURT. NANCY RIVAS IS FACING FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER CHARGES. JUST DAYS AGO, HIS BROTHER TOMAS WAS CONVICTED ON THREE COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER. IN NATIONAL HEADLINES, RECOVERY EFFORTS CONTINUE AFTER A DEADLY AVALANCHE IN CALIFORNIA AND THE U.S. CONTINUES ITS MILITARY BUILDUP IN THE MIDDLE EAST. PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS IRAN TO AGREE TO A NUCLEAR WEAPONS PACT. JACQUELINE LEE HAS DETAILS. PRESIDENT TRUMP ISSUING AN ULTIMATUM TO IRAN. THEY CAN’T HAVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS. VERY SIMPLE. THEY CAN’T HAVE YOU CAN’T HAVE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST IF THEY HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON. WARNING IT HAS AT MOST 15 DAYS TO MAKE A DEAL ON THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PACT OR, QUOTE, BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN. WE’RE GOING TO GET A DEAL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. WE’RE GOING TO GET A DEAL, OR IT’S GOING TO BE UNFORTUNATE FOR THEM. THIS AS THE PRESIDENT ORDERS A MASSIVE BUILDUP OF FIREPOWER IN THE MIDDLE EAST WITH MORE THAN 100 CARGO PLANES, REFUELING TANKERS AND FIGHTER JETS HEADED TO THE REGION. SOURCES FAMILIAR WITH THE PLANNING TELL ABC NEWS THE PRESIDENT IS CONSIDERING OPTIONS FOR A LIMITED STRIKE THAT WOULD ENHANCE THE U.S. NEGOTIATING POSITION. TO LARGER STRIKES ON MILITARY, GOVERNMENT OR NUCLEAR TARGETS. THE WORLD’S LARGEST AIRCRAFT CARRIER, THE USS GERALD FORD, AND FOUR DESTROYERS ALSO HEADED TO THE REGION. THE DESTROYERS HAVE ANTI-MISSILE SYSTEMS AND TOMAHAWKS CAPABLE OF STRIKING TARGETS MORE THAN 1000 MILES AWAY. THIS FIREPOWER JOINS THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN STRIKE GROUP ALREADY IN THE REGION, WITH AROUND 35,000 TROOPS. JACQUELINE LEE, ABC NEWS, LOS ANGELES. THE SIX WOMEN KILLED IN AN AVALANCHE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WERE AMONG A GROUP OF EIGHT CLOSE FRIENDS AND EXPERIENCED BACKCOUNTRY SKIERS ON A TRIP TOGETHER. THEIR FAMILIES RELEASING A STATEMENT TODAY. TUESDAY’S AVALANCHE KILLED EIGHT PEOPLE. SIX SURVIVED. AUTHORITIES SAY IT WILL BE AT LEAST ANOTHER DAY BEFORE CREWS CAN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE BODIES AND CONTINUE THE SEARCH FOR A NINTH PERSON, STILL MISSING AND PRESUMED DEAD. A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL TO CREATE WHAT SOME SAY IS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN ALBUQUERQUE. ALBUQUERQUE HAS VERY STRICT ZONING LAWS. THE REGULATIONS ARE VERY TIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU CAN USE YOUR PROPERTY. WHY CITY COUNCILORS ENDED UP STRIKING IT DOWN. THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT WENT ON AT EPSTEIN’S FORMER ZORRO RANCH REOPENED. WHAT NEW MEXICO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SAYING HOME AND BUSINESS SAFETY STARTS WITH WINDSOR DOOR SALES AND SECURITY. PROTECT YOUR HOME WITH STEEL MESH SCREENS AND ROLLING SECURITY SHUTTERS. CALL WINDSOR TODAY. YOU’RE WATCHING KOAT ACTION SEVEN NEWS. A PLAN SOME SAY WOULD HELP THE CITY’S HOUSING CRISIS FAILED LAST NIGHT. IT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR TO TURN THEIR HOME INTO A DUPLEX, A TRIPLEX, OR EVEN A QUADPLEX. AND YOU WOULDN’T EVEN KNOW IT UNTIL IT HAPPENED TONIGHT IN A TARGET 7 INVESTIGATION, JASON MCNABB SHOWS US WHY IT DIDN’T MAKE IT. THESE HOMES ARE ALL CONSIDERED SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AS DESIGNATED BY THE CITY. SO WHAT IS RIGHT NOW? ZONED RESIDENTIAL OR R-1, ALLOWS FOR A SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING. THAT MEANS ONLY ONE FAMILY CAN LIVE IN THEM. SO RIGHT NOW, IF IF SO, SAY, IF WE’RE NEIGHBORS. AND I WANTE