Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - NM is called to advocate for justice in public policy with a particular emphasis on alleviating poverty and hunger and supporting ELCA members and congregations, as well as our ecumenical and interfaith partners in the ministry of advocacy.

Action Alert #1: January 27, 2025

Dear Partners in Advocacy,

Today marks the start of the first full week of this year's legislative session. This year also marks our 41st year in Santa Fe, working to impact our state's public policy in ways that ensure justice and improve the lives of New Mexicans, especially for those most vulnerable and those who have little or no voice in the process. In our Lutheran tradition, we believe a vital role of government, is to improve the lives of its citizens, to prioritize the public good.

Indeed, our Lutheran roots in this are deep. Martin Luther constantly encouraged and challenged the local authorities of his day, calling for healthcare for all, care for those homeless, and sustainable wages. Our tradition believes that all people, "are to collaborate publically to shape those ways of life in common. Public life, in service of the public good, is a reflection of our created-ness as beings in relationship who are called to God's love for this beautiful and broken world." Our role, your role, in Santa Fe is clear.

No different than previous years, this session will be fast-paced with the intensity and length of days increasing each week. By the mid-point of the session, the deadline for bill introduction, well over 1000 bills, memorials, and resolutions will be filed. Due to the time limitations of the session, many will never have life. Yet, significant legislation will be put forward and Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico (LAM-NM) will be advocating in favor of those that fit our 2025 Advocacy Agenda. Each year there are also proposals we will speak against.

The major task of each session is to pass a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Revenue projections for FY'26 are well over $13 billion. With 112 legislators there are at least that many ideas on what to do with that revenue. The Governor's budget request came in at almost $11 billion and the Legislative Finance Committee's total recommendation was at a similar level. We are in our 2025 budget year which amounts to a little over $10 billion in recurring spending.

In this first Action Alert, you will find information on several of our key legislative priorities and opportunities for you to engage in advocacy. An awareness of the issues addressed during this session and our LAM-NM priorities is important. Taking the next step, to engage in direct advocacy on an issue(s) of importance to you remains my challenge for you this session. I am grateful for your time and effort in the coming weeks.

As you read through each section, please note that anything in red font is a link to another web page. You can find additional information at each.

Legislators want to hear from you! They value your feedback on bills before them, particularly if you are from their district. Most importantly, legislators are moved by your individual story as it relates to bills especially important to you and LAM-NM. You can put your voice to work on any of our upcoming Advocacy Days at the Roundhouse. There are four in total, starting after our annual Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon. Of course, come up anytime you want beyond those days! Be in touch so we can connect and I'll put you to work!

Finally, please note that the online Issue Briefing originally scheduled for Sunday the 26th, was rescheduled to this evening, January 27th, at 7 p.m. Register below. And, register for the Issue Briefing and Bishop's Luncheon!

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need more information or have questions about our work during the 2025 session.

Peace be with you,

Kurt

Kurt Rager

Director, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry - New Mexico

Almighty God, bless the public servants in the government of this state of New Mexico, that they may do their work in a spirit of wisdom, charity, and justice. Help them use their authority to serve faithfully and to promote our common life. Amen. (LBW p. 77)

The Immigrant Safety Act replaced what was known as "Dignity Not Detention" last session. In short, the bill would prohibit New Mexico from entering into agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain people in civil immigration custody. In addition, it would cancel all existing contracts. The bill will be introduced soon and we will have more information on its route then.

LAM-NM would like a strong showing on February 3rd for the Immigrant & Workers' Day of Action, which will be a day of advocacy on the Immigrant Safety Act. If you plan to attend, please email Kurt Rager for parking information.

HB 2, the General Appropriation Act (the state's budget for FY'26) is in its' beginning stages of hearings before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC). The process of bringing together the Executive Budget Request and the Legislative Finance Committee's budget recommendation will be the task in the coming weeks before HB2 is moved out of the committee, through the House Floor, and then is sent to the Senate.

Both proposals include priorities for LAM-NM including a $10 million appropriation to NM Food Banks for food purchases, full funding of Healthy Universal School Meals for all K-12 students in NM, and $4 million for NM college students struggling to meet their basic needs. LAM-NM will also be supporting other components of the Governor's Food Initiative.

LAM-NM will also track and support legislation that will enhance funding for SNAP and TANF, and that will reduce barriers and increase participation.

LAM-NM is a member of the New Mexico Housing Alliance and together we are prioritizing several bills that will address excessive fees imposed on tenants, impact the sale of mobile home parks, prohibit excessive rental increases to owners within a mobile home park, and provide a $750,000 appropriation for attorney support for tenants facing eviction.

LAM-NM will also support legislation and appropriations that will assist people experiencing homelessness and homeless prevention programs. There is the potential for other impactful legislation is also likely.

As bills drop we will update you and offer options for your support, Please watch for more information in our next Action Alert.

LAM-NM is a partner with the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. We encourage you to attend the focus day. You may register HERE, or coordinate your participation with Kurt Rager.

HB 11 is the version of the Paid Medical Family Leave Act that LAM-NM is supporting. Primary sponsors are Rep. Chandler, Sen. Stewart, Rep. Serrato, and Rep. Roybal Caballero. HB 11 will have its first committee hearing on Monday, January 27th in House Health & Human Services, beginning at 9 a.m. You may watch a live broadcast of the committee meeting HERE!

As the bill progresses, we will update you on actions needed.

This early in the session, we are still waiting for some key legislative proposals to be introduced. However, several bills that LAM-NM will focus on have been. LAM-NM will support the listed legislation unless noted. More information on each bill can be found by clicking on the red bill number:

SB 16: would create what is known as a semi-open primary system in New Mexico. SB 16 will all registered voters that are not members of the major parties (thus, "Independents"), to pick a ballot of one of the major parties and vote in primary elections. SB 16 is in the Senate Rules Committee but has not been scheduled.

SJR 1: proposes to have a paid legislature with salaries being determined by an independent citizen's commission. New Mexico is the only true volunteer legislature in the U.S. A paid legislature would make it more possible for New Mexicans to serve and would lead to a legislature that more accurately reflects the diversity of our state. SJR 1 is in the Senate Rules Committee but has not been scheduled.

SB 90: would prohibit legislators from registering as lobbyists for two years following the end of their elected term. SB 90 has been assigned to Senate Rules and Senate Judiciary.

HJR 1: proposes to eliminate the governor's ability to veto legislation via what's known as a "pocket veto". LAM-NM believes that any legislation vetoed by the governor should come with an explanation as to why. HJR 1 is scheduled in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee on Monday, January 27th.

HJR 2: proposes to create two, 45-day, legislative sessions instead of the current 60-30 day format. HJR 2 is scheduled in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee on Monday, January 27th. LAM-NM opposes this joint resolution. 45-day sessions do not provide enough time to do the important work that's needed. LAM-NM will support a proposal that includes two, 60-day sessions.

LAM-NM anticipates that a constitutional amendment that would create an independent redistricting commission will be introduced and we will support it.

Each session there are numerous healthcare-related legislative proposals. As bills are introduced LAM-NM will mostly select those that relate to Medicaid (funding and expansion via Medicaid Forward legislation) as almost half of all New Mexicans are currently covered by the program, on protecting the Healthcare Affordability Fund, and those proposals that fund and expand behavioral health programs.

Already introduced is legislation that would create a Behavioral Health Trust Fund, a Medicaid Trust Fund, assistance for County Healthcare indigent funding, and proposals to raise Medicaid provider rates.

LAM-NM anticipates legislation will be introduced that will increase the age to purchase guns and ban the sale of automatic weapons. LAM-NM will support both.

Future Action Alerts will include bill numbers and action steps needed.

LAM-NM will be supporting a variety of legislative proposals that will enable the state to improve upon its care of our land, water, and air, and that will address and mitigate the impact of climate change. Legislation already introduced includes:

HB 108: Statewide Public Health and Climate Program

HB109: Extreme Weather Resilience Fund

HJR 3: Environmental Rights (The Green Amendment)

SB 4: Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions

SB22: Water Quality & Pollution

SB 23: Oil and Gas Royalty Rates

Future Action Alerts will include additional information and action steps that we ask of you.

LAM-NM will be supporting several key legislative proposals that fall under our emphasis areas of Family Sustaining Income, Tax Policy, and Criminal Justice Reform.

Future Action Alerts will include specific legislation, additional information, and action steps that we ask of you.

2025 Advocacy Agenda

The LAM-NM 2025 Advocacy Agenda was recently adopted by our Policy Committee. To download a copy of the agenda, please go HERE! Please join us for a complete review of the Advocacy Agenda that will take place this Monday, January 27th, beginning at 7 p.m.

Key Areas of Focus:

Hunger

Affordable Housing & Homelessness

Family-Sustaining Income

Health Care

Tax Policy

Criminal Justice

Care of Creation

Good Governance

2025 Legislative Advocacy Days

Returning this Year!

LAM-NM is planning a day each week for you to join Kurt and other volunteer LAM-NM advocates to work the Round House by lobbying legislators and potentially offering public comment during committee meetings on priority bills for our advocacy agenda. You are also invited to come and watch the process and activity of our state's legislature. There is much to keep you busy!

Please join us one (or more times) on the four consecutive Tuesdays of February 25th, March 4th, 11th, and 18th.

Please email or call Kurt before the day you plan to be there to add your name to the list and to receive instructions for parking and meeting.

Let your voice be heard!

How to Access the Legislature

Both House and Senate committee meetings will always be accessible via a webcast, as will all Floor Sessions. A broadcast link is included below. For those who want to provide public comment virtually, and not drive to Santa Fe, you will be able to participate via Zoom. You can provide public testimony by using a Zoom link that each committee will publish with their agendas. Rules will vary from committee to committee, as will the posting of agendas, so it's important to plan ahead. Some committees do require that you sign up the day before or before the start of the meeting if you want to speak.

As the session progresses, please continue to watch for and respond to ACTION ALERT emails that LAM-NM will send. Action Alerts will be targeted toward specific LAM-NM priority legislation, will provide information about the bill and why we support or oppose it, and will "ask" for action from you to contact your legislators. In addition, an updated summary email with additional news and events will also be sent each week of the session.

To find out what's happening each day, follow this link HERE.

To watch committee hearings and floor sessions live, follow this link HERE. Recordings of all committee meetings and floor sessions are also available.

To find and track legislation that has been introduced, follow this link HERE.

To find contact information about your representative or senator, follow this link HERE.

To access the Home Page of the NM Legislature, follow this link HERE.

Advocating Congregations

St. Paul Lutheran (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Santa Fe) * Bethlehem Lutheran (Los Alamos) * St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal (Alb.) * All Saints Lutheran (Alb.) *

St. Luke Lutheran (Alb.) * Peace Lutheran (Las Cruces) * Christ Lutheran (Santa Fe) * St. Timothy Lutheran (Alb.) * St. Andrew Presbyterian (Alb.) * Albuquerque Mennonite Church (Alb.) * First Presbyterian (Las Vegas) * Church of the Holy Cross Episcopal (Edgewood) * Monte Vista Christian (Abq.) * United Methodist Women of New Mexico

Learn more about joining the Advocating Congregation Program HERE!

Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM works in advocacy partnerships with the NM Conference of Churches and the Presbytery of Santa Fe.

Connecting faith and public life: We believe that we are freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor. God uses our hands, through our direct service work and our voices, through our advocacy efforts, to restore and reconcile our world. Through faithful advocacy, the ELCA lives out our Lutheran belief that governments can help advance the common good.