Democratic Values Make Historic Leaps Forward in Legislative Session

Gun Safety, Housing, Environmental Protections, & More-Democrats Make Historic Progress Across the Board

In the 2024 30-day Legislative Session, Democrats made huge leaps forward for the well-being of our communities and environment that advance our core party values. DPNM could not be more proud of all the hard work of the Democrats in the New Mexico House and Senate and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Some of the key Democratic highlights from the legislative session include: 

Budget: As the top priority of the 30-day session, the fiscal year 2025 budget makes immediate and long-term investments in education, workforce development, public safety, infrastructure, the environment, and working families of New Mexico.

Safer communities: Legislators passed a practical gun safety bill that implements a 7-day waiting period between the time of purchasing and acquiring a firearm to allow law enforcement time to run background checks and prevent impulsive acts of gun violence.

Bills banning guns at polling places to prevent voter intimidation and politically motivated violence and bolstering incentives for retired public safety professionals returning to the job also passed.

Housing: Legislators made the largest investments in housing in state history with support and funding in the budget for temporary, transitional, and affordable housing in communities across the state. This includes a loan fund that will finance housing development infrastructure and workforce housing so workers can live near where they work.

Tax equity: This tax package reduces state income taxes for all taxpayers with larger cuts for lower earners, allowing working New Mexicans to keep more of what they earn. It also expands tax credits to rural healthcare practitioners, flattens the corporate income tax, and provides a tax credit to assist New Mexicans whose homes were destroyed by wildfires.

Environment: The Clean Transportation Fuel Standard will reduce carbon emissions by incentivizing the use of cleaner transportation fuels. The tax package includes credits for the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles.

The budget increases funding for state agencies that oversee environmental regulation and establishes the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund which will be a long-term funding source for conservation and enable New Mexico to access previously untapped federal grants.

Workforce development: The budget strengthens the Opportunity Scholarship and occupational training at community colleges. Other legislation supports training and apprenticeship programs to help fill needed, in-demand jobs.

Although Senate Bill 3, the Paid Family Medical Leave Act did not make it out of the legislature this session, DPNM applauds all the work that made this proposal advance further than it has before. For the health and prosperity of the families, workers, and businesses of our state, we encourage legislators to continue working toward a good paid family medical leave policy until it is implemented in New Mexico.

Taken from the DPNM webpage.