New Mexico Ends Special Session, Sends $100M Aid

The New Mexico Legislature concluded a special session called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to blunt federal funding cuts that state officials say could reduce revenues by as much as $305 million and threaten rural hospitals. Over the two-day session lawmakers passed several bills and sent five measures to the governor, providing roughly $100 million in aid (with leadership proposals ranging up to about $180 million) to shore up food assistance, public broadcasting, SNAP, and other priorities. Key measures include a $50 million transfer to the rural health care delivery fund to stabilize hospitals, authorization for the Health Care Authority to cover expiring premium tax credits, and a fix restoring Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court's authority over competency determinations. Democratic leaders pushed to finish work before Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta, and the bills now await the governor's signature.