In the final hours of a legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers approved several significant bills, including a $10.8 billion state budget and a new turquoise alert system for missing Indigenous peoples, modeled after Amber Alerts. The budget aims to ensure financial stability amid potential economic downturns. Lawmakers also established a $210 million community benefit fund to support climate change initiatives and voted to create the Slot Canyon Riverland State Park, which would be the state’s 36th park.
However, the governor indicated plans to reject some proposed reforms related to restructuring the Department of Games and Fishing into the new Mexican Wildlife Service. She expressed concerns about the political nature of the process and emphasized the need for accountability in wildlife management. This stance has raised questions among supporters regarding her authority to veto the bill, especially if it is challenged in court. Overall, while lawmakers passed various impactful measures, tensions remain between the legislature and the governor on specific issues.
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