Farmington Redcoats Head to Santa Fe for 30-Day Legislative Advocacy

Farmington’s civic ambassadors packed their signature red jackets and headed to Santa Fe on Jan 19 to press the business community’s concerns as lawmakers opened the 30-day session. About 20 Redcoats and chamber board members staffed a vendor booth at the Santa Fe Convention Center and attended the Legislative Reception to share materials, network with other chambers and monitor bills that could affect San Juan County businesses.

The Redcoats trace their goodwill work for the Farmington Chamber of Commerce back to the 1970s. The chamber reports roughly 40 Redcoats are active, though participation varies year to year. This trip included members from the Aztec and Bloomfield Chambers, reflecting a regional push to present a coordinated front on key issues. Gloriemae Quintana of RAM Signs began her term as Redcoat president in January 2026.

Farmington’s delegation is watching legislation on paid family medical leave, minimum wage increases and medical malpractice reform. These topics affect payroll costs, hiring decisions and health care access for local employers and workers. Paid leave and higher minimum wages can raise operating costs for small firms, squeeze margins and prompt adjustments to staffing or prices. Medical malpractice rules influence malpractice insurance premiums and the liability climate for health care providers, with potential knock-on effects on local health services and employer-sponsored coverage.

The chamber emphasizes advocacy alongside practical support. Jamie Church, chamber president and chief executive officer, said the Redcoats’ presence in Santa Fe is part of broader efforts to help local businesses access resources. The chamber partners with the Small Business Development Center at San Juan College to offer free workshops, and operates monthly Focus on Farmington Coffee sessions to welcome newcomers and connect entrepreneurs with community resources. Redcoats also continue traditional duties such as ribbon-cutting ceremonies, posting certificates and photos on the chamber website, and attending groundbreakings like the recent Pinon Hills Boulevard extension ribbon-cutting.

Members fund their own travel and lodging to participate in the Santa Fe events, reflecting a grassroots commitment to representation at the Capitol. The vendor booth and reception appearances are intended to amplify Farmington’s priorities to lawmakers and to learn how other communities are responding to the same policy debates.

For local businesses and residents, the trip signals active engagement at the state level during a compact legislative session where a handful of bills can have outsized effects. Expect the chamber to track developments, summarize outcomes for members and continue local programming aimed at helping businesses adapt if new labor or health care rules are enacted.