The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County invited the community to raise a glass to Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval and Santa Fe, center, at a ‘Cheers to Chris’ happy hour event Sunday at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op in Central Park Square. They celebrated Chandler because after years of failed attempts, New Mexico finally has medical malpractice reform — and she led the charge with her HB 99, which passed the House 66-3, survived a bruising committee process, and then passed the Senate 40-2. The bill is now waiting for the governor’s signature. This legislation will help recruit Read More
Features
Luján Meets With Officials, Highlights Federal Funding Secured For Local Communities, Holds RECA Outreach
Sen. Ben Ray Luján on Tuesday visited the Amador Health Center in Las Cruces to meet with the center’s leadership and celebrate federal funding secured for the facility. Courtesy/BRL Office
STATE News:
LAS CRUCES — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) held a series of events this week where he met with local leaders, engaged with local community members, and highlighted federal funding he secured to support health care, strengthen broadband access, and bolster infrastructure in the Las Cruces region. Sen. Lujan also led a public outreach forum to raise awareness about expanded compensation available Read More
Legislation To Eliminate Surprise Facility Fees For Routine Medical Care Heads To Governor’s Desk
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate passed a bill today to eliminate facility fees—extra charges separate from doctors’ bills—for routine outpatient services, sending the measure to the governor’s desk for signature.
House Bill 306, sponsored by House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, and Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, both Santa Fe Democrats, cleared the Senate on a bipartisan 39-0 vote.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit hospitals and health systems from charging facility fees directly to patients for preventative outpatient care, outpatient vaccination Read More
Community Invited To Celebrate Rep. Christine Chandler On Her Successful Medical Malpractice Reform Bill This Sunday 3-4 At The Tub
Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval & Santa Fe, on the House floor during the opening of the 30-Day session Jan. 20 at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
From the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County:
Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, Sandoval and Santa Fe, deserves a celebration! After years of failed attempts, New Mexico finally has medical malpractice reform — and our own Los Alamos legislator led the charge.
HB 99 passed the House 66-3, survived a bruising committee process, and then passed the Senate 40-2. Read More
New Mexico Legislature Approves SB101 To Make Hospital Funding Program Permanent; Bill Heads To Governor
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature gave unanimous approval Tuesday to Senate Bill 101, legislation that would permanently extend a state program supporting hospitals that serve Medicaid patients across New Mexico.
SB 101 passed with unanimous bipartisan support, clearing the Senate 31–0 and the House 57–0.
The bill repeals the sunset clause in the Health Care Delivery and Access Act and ensures continued financial support for eligible hospitals that care for Medicaid members.
“Making this program permanent helps ensure hospitals across New Mexico have the stability Read More
Medigap Bill Passes House, Heads To Governor’s Desk
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — A bill giving more than 70,000 New Mexicans who rely on Medicare supplement insurance to cover out-of-pocket health costs the freedom to change their coverage each year—without risking denial over pre-existing conditions – passed the House late Tuesday and heads to the governor’s desk.
Senate Bill 21, sponsored by Senators Wilson, Woods, Campos, Hickey, Stefanics and Representative Szczepanski, establishes a “birthday rule” for Medicare supplement insurance (Medigap) policyholders. The measure allows eligible enrollees to switch to a plan with equal or lesser Read More
Robinson: One-sided Clear Horizons Act Failed In Senate
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2026 New Mexico News Services
The Clear Horizons Act was another of those bills we’ve seen so often in New Mexico that balances the environment against the economy. In a floor vote, the Senate chose the economy.
Senate Bill 18 was one of those marquee bills that got a lot of attention before and during the session. Senate President Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, revamped the bill she carried last year. It would help reduce natural disasters driven by climate change if legislators could cement greenhouse gas reductions in state law, supporters believed.
I’m not Read More
Doctors Thank Rep. Christine Chandler For Leadership In Sponsoring, Championing HB 99 Medical Malpractice Reform
By Robert McAtee, MD
Española
By Elena McAtee, MD
Los Alamos
We would like to express our gratitude to Representative Christine Chandler for her leadership in sponsoring and championing HB 99, a long-needed step toward meaningful medical malpractice reform in New Mexico.
Throughout this process, Representative Chandler listened carefully to her constituents, thoroughly researched this complex issue, and then worked diligently to advance thoughtful
solutions. Passing this legislation required navigating significant resistance and complex competing interests, making its success Read More
New Mexico Healthcare Just Got Closer To Your Home: Telehealth Booths Bring The Doctor To A Library Near You
STATE News:
SANTA FE – It’s no surprise that accessing healthcare in New Mexico’s sparsely populated and geographically isolated communities is difficult. There is a vast health and broadband “desert” in this state and New Mexico State Library, together with The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, is working hard to solve this issue through telehealth booths at public libraries.
Designed to fit within a public library space, these 7 x 7 x 10-foot standalone booths are soundproof, private, ADA compliant, and equipped with a computer connected to high-speed internet. Community Read More
New Mexico Senate Passes Universal Child Care
Bill Sponsor Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate voted Thursday to pass legislation establishing universal child care while protecting the program’s accessibility for working families across the state.
Senate Bill 241, sponsored by Sen. George Muñoz (D-Gallup) and approved on a 25-15 vote, would provide child care to New Mexico families without mandatory co-pays except under specific economic conditions such as inflation or declining oil revenues. If economic triggers are met, co-pays would begin only for families earning above 600% of the Read More