Nash Jones

The online application for absentee ballots for the June 4 New Mexico primary election opened Wednesday. For the first time, the application offers voters the option to receive an absentee ballot for all future elections, as well.

People who interact with courts in New Mexico will now be able to note which pronouns and salutations they use, including some gender-neutral terms. Additionally, the New Mexico Supreme Court Tuesday ordered courts in the state to use what is listed to ensure all parties and attorneys are “treated with dignity, respect, and equality under the law.”

This is the first year that New Mexicans can choose to receive an absentee ballot for every election. Previously, they had to submit a new request each time. However, the online application is not yet available.

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday ruled the Workers’ Compensation Act violates the state Constitution by treating benefits for physical and mental injuries differently.

New Mexico has seen some of the highest turnover among local election administrators in the country in recent years, according to a new study. But new funding approved in this year’s legislative session could help stem the tide.

The office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has released an online tool the public can use to track how Biden administration dollars are being spent across the state. Its launch coincides with President Joe Biden securing his party’s nomination as the governor campaigns for his reelection.

Starting in the 2025 tax year, New Mexicans will see the impact of the first major adjustment to the state’s income tax structure since 2005. All state taxpayers will owe less, but especially those who make the least.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill Monday that amends state law dealing with detaining defendants before they’re given a fair trial. It requires that courts jail people accused of committing a second felony while awaiting trial for a first until a hearing is held to review their conditions of release. The governor and bill sponsor Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (D-Bernalillo) touted the measure at its signing as a major win for public safety, but it may have little impact.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Monday signed four bills lawmakers passed as part of her public safety priority for this year’s legislative session. While she called the new laws a “giant leap” in the right direction, she said she’s still considering calling a special legislative session to urge lawmakers to send a few more to her desk.

Homemade signs expressing concern for the ecosystem of Albuquerque’s Bosque have popped up where a thinning project is underway. In addition to questioning the harm to native plants, shade and habitats, some call for the city to pause the work and hold a community meeting. The head of the city’s Open Space Division says her team doesn’t plan to stop the thinning and is confident in its benefits, but encourages those with worries to reach out directly.