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NMSU regents, chancellor announce mutual separation; Gogue named interim chancellor

4/7/2023

NMSU interim chancellor Jay Gogue

LAS CRUCES (KRWG - New Mexico News Network) At a special meeting Friday, April 7, of the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, the board agreed to a mutual separation with Chancellor Dan Arvizu. The board also announced the selection of former NMSU President Jay Gogue to serve as the university’s interim chancellor, starting Friday. Gogue will lead the NMSU system while the search for the university’s next permanent chancellor takes place.

During the meeting, Arvizu said he believed accelerating this transition will allow the university to put its full focus on finding the NMSU system’s next permanent chancellor.

“This separation is truly mutual,” Arvizu said. “For the past five years, my only motivation has been to do what I believe is in the best interest of NMSU, and transitioning now will allow the university to devote the time and effort needed over the next several months for a successful search.”

“The Board of Regents appreciates all Chancellor Arvizu has done for our university,” said Ammu Devasthali, chair of the NMSU Board of Regents. “As we thank him and wish him well, we, at the same time, welcome Jay and Susie Gogue back to Las Cruces.”

Gogue has a long and distinguished career in higher education. He served as NMSU president from 2000-2003 and later served as president and chancellor of the University of Houston system from 2003-2007 and as president of Auburn University from 2007-2017 and again from 2019-2022.

“Susie and I are pleased to be back at NMSU,” Gogue said. “My plan is to hit the ground listening. No two institutions of higher education are the same. Just because something worked at Auburn doesn’t mean it will work at NMSU. In the coming days, I intend to meet with as many people as I can to get a better understanding of our overall landscape.”

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Governor Lujan Grisham approves $500 rebates

4/7/2023

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NM Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham

Governor also approves multiple tax cuts, credits targeting working families, health care, economy

SANTA FE – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday signed into law key tax priorities that she proposed earlier this year. With her signature, $500 rebates will be delivered to more than 900,000 taxpayers this spring.

The governor also signed provisions supporting tens of thousands of New Mexico families who will save money through an expanded child tax credit, as well as expansions of the gross receipts tax deduction for health care practitioners and the film tax credit program. “Every one of these provisions directly helps New Mexicans through supporting working families, bolstering the health care workforce and fostering continued economic growth,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Expanding the Child Tax Credit will help over 200,000 New Mexico families and broaden our successful effort to reduce child poverty rates, which dropped by a full percentage point between 2019 and 2021. Cutting the gross receipts tax for health care practitioners will lower costs for patients and keep more doctors in New Mexico, and increasing our support for film and television will leverage more private investment in our state and mean more jobs for New Mexicans.” Rebates of $500 for single filers and $1,000 for married couples, heads of household and surviving spouses will be distributed in June.

More than 900,000 tax filers will receive this rebate. A separate appropriation of $15 million to the Human Services Department was included in House Bill 2 to provide relief payments to low-income New Mexicans not eligible for the rebates. The expanded child tax credit provides for more than $100 million in tax relief for an estimated 214,000 families who will be able to claim a larger credit of up to $600 per child, depending on family income. The bill as signed will also help make health care more affordable by allowing health care providers to deduct copays and deductible payments from gross receipts tax on many health care practitioner services covered by insurance or managed health care plans. The change could save taxpayers up to $52 million.

New Mexico was one of just two states that lacked such a deduction. “I am so pleased that Governor Lujan Grisham continues to support health care providers and ensuring access to care by expanding the gross receipts tax deduction for health care,” said Dr. Barbara McEneny, CEO of the New Mexico Cancer Center. “With this step, New Mexico just became more competitive in recruiting and retaining doctors.” The Governor also approved the portion of the bill that supports expansion of the highly successful film and television production industry, one of the state’s nine target sectors to diversify the economy. The industry is coming off record years of direct spending into New Mexico’s economy - $1.5 billion over the last two years and now supports 8,000 jobs from film and technical crews to small businesses such as hardware and lumber stores, carpenters, electricians, security crews, transportation businesses, hotels, restaurants, and salons.

The hourly median wage of a film worker in New Mexico is now $32. “We have delivered a strong industry that is creating higher-paying jobs for New Mexico’s families and business owners. This bill builds on that momentum so New Mexico can remain a leader in this innovative jobs-rich industry well into the next decade,” said Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. “We have been in the travel business for 28 years and now are seeing consistent bookings from film and television production companies,” said Sandy Levinson, president of Aquila Travel, which has eight employees in Albuquerque. “In fact, it was the first industry to come back after pandemic-era travel restrictions and today accounts for 75% of our bookings.

The travel industry has faced many challenges and without Film and Television as a steady, reliable customer, we would not be as successful helping build New Mexico’s economy.” The governor vetoed other provisions in House Bill 547, which would have reduced the State’s annual revenue by $1.1 billion. These large reductions would risk significant funding cuts in future years for critical services, including education, health care, and public safety, which make up 83% of the state budget.

As signed, the bill will reduce recurring state revenues by about $150 million in Fiscal Year 2024, growing to $246 million in Fiscal Year 2027. The governor is also ensuring fiscal responsibility by maintaining 35.6% in reserves in the budget. “We can and should consider permanent and meaningful tax reform, but it must be accomplished in a fiscally responsible manner that will not jeopardize the state’s future,”

Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are fortunate to have record revenues right now, but we know from past experience that this won’t last forever. While I am proud of our efforts to diversify our economy, our state budgets are still heavily reliant on the oil and gas industry and its boom-and-bust cycles.

We must prudently manage our finances now to prepare for inevitable economic downturns. Our kids shouldn’t have to bear the burden of future budget cuts.” The governor’s original proposal to the Legislature included about $500 million in recurring tax relief. A second, 1/8 cent Gross Receipts Tax rate cut approved by the governor last year—the first rate cut in 40 years – will take effect on July 1, 2023. Combined with the 1/8 cent cut that took effect last July, New Mexico consumers and businesses will save approximately $215 million in taxes every year.

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Governor signs bills to significantly improve health care access, affordability for New Mexicans

4/7/2023

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NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law today five healthcare-related bills that will support and strengthen the state’s healthcare workforce and make healthcare more affordable and accessible across the state.

“Today is a great day for New Mexico families, patients and providers, and this was some of the greatest progress I have seen on health care during my career,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “It’s worth noting that many of these bills passed with bipartisan and often unanimous support for legislation that fixes significant issues with the health care system and strengthens the pieces we know are working.”

Senate Bill 7, Rural Health Care Delivery, provides support for rural health care delivery in parts of New Mexico often underserved by available health care options. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics, Rep. Gail Armstrong, and Rep. Marian Matthews.

Senate Bill 16, Create Health Care Authority Department, establishes a single unified department responsible for health care purchasing, regulation and policy that provides a foundation for effective management and oversight of heath care. It aligns licensing and oversight with the purchasing of health care services and improves transparency. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Liz Thomson.

Senate Bill 51, Cost Sharing Contributions for Prescriptions, is a consumer protection bill and is the result of the Prescription Drug Taskforce who studied the increasing cost of prescription drugs. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics and Rep. Liz Thomson.

Senate Bill 245, Rural Emergency Hospital Licensure, amends the Public Health Act to allow for certain rural health facilities to apply for rural emergency hospital licensure to meet federal health care reimbursement. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Liz Stefanics and Sen. Stuart Ingle.

Senate Bill 521, Medical Malpractice Changes, amends the Medical Malpractice Act to cap claims for independent healthcare facilities, such as urgent care, ambulatory surgical centers, and free-standing emergency rooms that are not hospital controlled. The bill is sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth, Senate Minority Floor Leader Greg Baca, House Speaker Javier Martinez and House Minority Floor Leader Ryan Lane.

These bills passed with the support of their sponsors.

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New Mexico cannabis industry marks one year, more than $300 million in sales

4/3/2023

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SANTA FE - New Mexico cannabis industry marks one year, more than $300 million in adult-use sales Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced that the state saw $300 million in adult[1]use cannabis sales in its first year, which began in April 2022.

In one year, the state has issued around 2,000 cannabis licenses across New Mexico, including 633 cannabis retailers, 351 producers, 415 micro producers, and 507 manufacturers. “In just one year, hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity has been generated in communities across the state, the number of businesses continues to increase, and thousands of New Mexicans are employed by this new industry,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “I’m excited to see what the future holds as we continue to develop an innovative and safe adult-use cannabis industry.”

Monthly sales have remained consistent throughout the last year, with March 2023 marking the highest adult-use sales at $32.3 million. As of March 2023, more than $27 million in cannabis excise taxes has gone to the state general fund and to local communities. To date, the state has recorded more than 10 million transactions. More data on sales and licenses can be found here.

Albuquerque, Las Cruces, and Santa Fe saw the largest number of sales in the first year. Smaller communities, including Clovis, Farmington, and Ruidoso, each saw more than $7 million in adult-use sales. Towns near the Texas border were also positively impacted by the cannabis industry. Sunland Park recorded $19.4 million in adult-use sales.

“From the governor’s signing of the legislation, to standing up the Cannabis Control Division and rolling out this new industry, the New Mexico cannabis industry has shown great promise,” said Regulation and Licensing Department Superintendent Linda Trujillo. “We’re looking forward to even more growth in year two.”

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Large group of migrants encountered were misinformed

4/1/2023

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EL PASO, Texas – More than 1,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, surrendered themselves to Border Patrol Agents in the El Paso Sector, on Wednesday, after reports indicated that migrants may have been misinformed regarding current immigration policies and initiatives.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso Sector received reports of a large group of migrants walking eastbound, in Mexico, paralleling the international border from the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry. At approximately 4:00 p.m., agents from the El Paso Station began to encounter groups of migrants, 20-30 at a time, with more than 1,000 entering the U.S. illegally and surrendering to Border Patrol Agents at the border gate, near Barker Street and Cesar E. Chavez Border Highway.

The migrants encountered were primarily citizens from Venezuela, but were also from other various countries including Nicaragua, Colombia, and Ecuador. Throughout the night and into the early morning hours, agents continued to encounter groups attempting to make illegal entry into the United States.

All migrants were processed safely, efficiently, and effectively at the El Paso Sector’s processing centers. All migrants were expelled under Title 42 authority or processed for removal proceedings under Title 8.

Many of the migrants claimed that they received information regarding CBP immigration policies via various social media platforms. Migrants indicated social media posts stated that if they surrendered to agents in El Paso at a certain location, they would be allowed to remain in the United States. That information was not correct. The U.S. Border Patrol continues to expel migrants under CDC’s Title 42 authority. Nationalities amenable to Title 42 include: México, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba and Haití. Those migrants that cannot be expelled under Title 42 and do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States, will be placed in removal proceedings under Title 8.

“U.S. Border Patrol in El Paso Sector will continue to fully enforce immigration laws at our border,” said El Paso Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Scott Good. “People should not listen to the lies of smugglers, who often take advantage of vulnerable migrants by providing false information in order to profit from charging migrants to cross the border illegally.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635- 2509.

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NMSU regents, chancellor announce mutual separation; Gogue named interim chancellor

Governor Lujan Grisham approves $500 rebates

Governor signs bills to significantly improve health care access, affordability for New Mexicans

New Mexico cannabis industry marks one year, more than $300 million in sales

Large group of migrants encountered were misinformed

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