Governor Celebrates Session End as Legislature Finalizes Budget, Los Alamos Delegation Praised

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham celebrated passage of landmark bills as the Legislature wrapped a 30-day regular session she called her final one, saying “This was a remarkably productive 30-day session, my last as governor, with our state lawmakers demonstrating that New Mexico is serious about building a state where families can thrive, health care is accessible and every child has a chance to succeed.”

Lawmakers approved a balanced $11 billion budget that will now go to the governor’s desk, and lawmakers cleared high-priority policy items the governor highlighted, including medical malpractice reform and universal child care. The child-care measure cleared its final Senate hurdle with “governor’s signature imminent,” and at a Thursday afternoon news conference Lujan Grisham added, “We’re going to keep working on all those issues.”

In Santa Fe the Legislature sent Senate Bill 48 to the governor late Tuesday after the House voted to authorize $92 million in bonds to fund the next phase of redevelopment at the New Mexico State Fairgrounds. The $92 million package finalizes funding already approved by the State Fair District Board and the State Board of Finance and is aimed at land acquisition and infrastructure improvements, including a 10-acre public park with trails, play areas and pedestrian safety upgrades along the Fairgrounds boundary, and is billed as a step to revitalize the Albuquerque International District.

The session’s tone was described in statewide coverage as largely cordial through a busy final week, but reporters also noted last-hour changes that cut funding for two counties and sparked disagreement and accusations of partisanship in the final hours. Separately, a public comment in session coverage praised legislative leadership for restoring pay increases, with Martínez saying, “Props, Chairman [Derrick] Lente, Chairman [Nathan] Small for their quick and thoughtful work to reinstate those well-vetted and much-needed raises.”

Local coverage published Feb. 20, 2026, flagged the Los Alamos County legislative delegation among those the governor praised at session close; that local report noted the delegation received recognition but did not list individual delegation members or include their statements. The governor also signaled no immediate push for extra business, saying, “I don’t have to twist their arms, any of them, to do special sessions that protect and lift up New Mexico.”

A separate item that appeared in the session news feed is unrelated to the Legislature: “Jones was convicted of first-degree murder; however, his conviction was overturned in 2025 when the state Supreme Court found that entering the portal did not constitute aggravated burglary, an element of Jones’ first-degree murder charge.” For Los Alamos readers, next steps to watch include whether the governor signs SB48 and the universal child-care statute and which counties were affected by the late-session funding cuts.