New Mexico is Made to Lead: Governor delivers second State of the State address, announces legislative agenda

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday issued her sixth State of the State address, the second of her second term as governor, laying out her legislative priorities for the 2024 legislative session. The full text of the governor’s address as prepared can be found below. The legislative priorities are supported through the governor’s FY25 Executive Budget Recommendation , and encompass initiatives in housing and homelessness, health care and behavioral health, education and child wellbeing, public safety, economic development, infrastructure, and tax reform. Gov. Lujan Grisham’s legislative agenda for the 2024 session of the New Mexico Legislature includes: Economic Development & Infrastructure Dedicate 2% (approx. $170 million) of the state’s Severance Tax Permanent Fund to invest in companies developing advanced energy technologies Establish an advanced manufacturing tax credit as a companion to the Inflation Reduction Act incentives Establish an infrastructure matching fund to enable communities to access federal grants that require a local match Housing & Homelessness Establish a state Office of Housing as a one-stop shop for housing developers and contractors, streamlining processes from start to finish Require local governments to implement zoning and permitting requirements that are best practice as a condition of receiving state funding for housing development Health Care, Behavioral Health & Child Well-Being Establish a hospital provider tax that will bring in an additional $1.5 to $2 billion in federal dollars into the state Fully launch the Health Care Authority Education Require 180 days of instruction at public schools Public Safety Require a 14-day waiting period for the purchase of firearms Ban assault weapons Raise the purchase age to 21 for all firearms Prohibit guns in public parks and on playgrounds Allow law enforcement to directly file Extreme Risk Protection Orders Increase penalties for felons in possession of a firearm Strengthen commercial burglary statute Establish a rebuttable presumption to keep violent criminals behind bars pending trial Require treatment for those repeatedly entering the criminal justice system as a result of substance misuse Prohibit panhandling on medians and roadways The governor also announced plans to dedicate $43 million for statewide clean-up and beautification efforts. A list of State of the State guests and biographies is attached for your reference. State of the State Guest Bios The full text of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s 2024 State of the State address as prepared is as follows: Good afternoon, Lieutenant Governor Morales, Speaker Martinez, Senate Pro Tem Stewart; Leader Chasey, and Leader Wirth; Minority Leaders Lane and Baca, thank you all for being here. I am grateful to all our lawmakers and tribal leaders here today for their tireless efforts to improve our state. I want to thank my family – including my daughter, Taylor, my brother, Gregory, and Gregory’s granddaughter Amaya Garcia, who is here today representing her father, Tony, who is a member of the New Mexico National Guard. And I especially want to recognize my husband, the First Manny, who, like all of you, knows that I run on caffeine. Most of all, I want to thank my fellow New Mexicans, who are building the tomorrow that we will share together. I am grateful for your participation; for your willingness to think big and act boldly to address the challenges we face. When I became governor in 2019, I promised to lay a strong foundation for economic prosperity. In the years since then, it has become second nature to associate New Mexico with the jobs of today and tomorrow. If you want a great career, New Mexico is the place to be. If you’re looking for new opportunities, New Mexico is the place to be. If you want to start an innovative, successful business, New Mexico is the place to be. I am proud to say that New Mexico has the highest number of jobs in its history. We are one of the best states for job growth in the country, and the best state for wage growth in the nation. We added 110,000 jobs in the past 3 and a half years, giving more people than ever the chance to earn a living, get ahead, and provide for their families for years to come. At the same time, we are ensuring that our young people inherit a state with the splendor and abundant resources we have been privileged to enjoy. Our Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund is enriching conservation programs in counties and tribal communities statewide – preserving the state’s natural beauty. Our tax credits and clean car rules are strengthening our position as a clean energy state. We have cut pollution from the oil and gas industry in half compared to our neighbors in Texas, and our methane rules were recently adopted by the federal government as the standard for smart regulation. We are demonstrating that a healthy environment and a strong economy are not in conflict, offering a new model – the New Mexico model – for states like ours across the country. And with record state revenues, we are growing our financial strength at a rate never before seen in our history. At the start of my administration, the state’s bond rating was at risk, and our reserves were just a third of what they are now. Today we rank among the top states for financial growth and stability and have grown our permanent fund more than 200 percent, offering the promise of a sustainable future for generations to come. This is no accident – it is the result of a forward-looking, comprehensive strategy to generate ongoing economic progress with new ideas that only a state like ours can pioneer. A nimble state. A determined state. Forged by our rugged landscapes and fueled by our diverse communities; built for innovation and made to lead. The question we need to ask is, “What’s next?” That’s the question that defines the character of New Mexico – strong-minded, pioneering, and creative. After all, this is the state that split the atom and won a…