County lobbyists report $10.4 million in capital outlay secured for Doña Ana County; behavioral health and tax changes debated at session

Doña Ana County’s lobbyists briefed commissioners on outcomes from the 2025 New Mexico legislative session, including capital outlay and passage of several public-safety and behavioral-health bills.

Randy (last name not provided during the remote briefing), representing the county’s lobbying team, told the commissioners the legislature adopted a record General Appropriations Act and about $1.2 billion in capital outlay; he said the county worked with its delegation to secure roughly $10.4 million in capital outlay funding for Doña Ana County projects. "We worked with your delegation in Dona Ana County to secure 10,400,000.0 for the county in infrastructure improvement," Randy said in the briefing.

Nut graf: The lobbyists summarized major package outcomes: a crime-and-behavioral-health package acted on early in the session; a tax package that included an earned-income tax credit passed the legislature in modified form and awaited the governor’s decision; the legislature also passed a behavioral-health trust fund and regional planning reforms. Lobbyists and county staff flagged an ongoing concern about capital outlay reauthorization and the need to spend or encumber projects promptly, and noted the governor may call a special session tied to recent public-safety events.

Ending: Lobbyists and county staff asked the commission to prioritize strategic ICIP (Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan) project lists so the county can present coordinated, shovel-ready projects in future sessions and to meet with legislators during the interim on transmission and energy policy for long-term economic development.