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Representative Pettigrew warns of fall special sessions, questions state behavioral-health plan
Summary
Representative Pettigrew told the Lea County Commission the state budget is $10.8 billion, reserves are around 30%, and he opposed recent behavioral-health bills he says lack enforceable implementation; he also reviewed capital outlay, energy and firearms legislation and warned of possible special sessions tied to federal funding.
Representative Randy Pettigrew delivered a detailed update on the recent New Mexico legislative session to the Lea County Commission, warning that lawmakers may call additional sessions this year to address federal funding shortfalls and public safety issues.
Pettigrew said the state’s current budget totals $10,800,000,000 and that reserves sit at roughly 30 percent. He said 22 bills had been chaptered by the governor and that lawmakers voted on dozens of measures in rapid succession late in the session, sometimes without full committee analysis.
Why it matters: Pettigrew argued that the way some bills moved through the session—voted late with limited reviews—reduced lawmakers’ ability to assess fiscal and implementation impacts. He said that approach increases the likelihood of follow-up sessions to fix unintended consequences or respond to federal funding changes.
Pettigrew criticized the proposed behavioral‑health implementation as poorly written and not yet enforceable at the local level, saying the state plan would create regional behavioral‑health boards that still operate through existing state agencies. “Letting them do some work and figure out exactly how they’re going to implement this before we invest Lea County into the state plan would be my suggestion because it’s scary what could potentially happen,” he said.
He also reviewed bills affecting Lea County’s economy and services: increases in nonrecurring spending and state employee raises, legislation on water funding (including House Bills 41 and 240), and bills on energy policy. Pettigrew said he opposed measures he viewed as increasing state control or costs for local industries, citing attempts to raise state royalty rates in the Permian Delaware area and a Senate bill that would allow stormwater-related taxes on private landowners and manufacturers.
On public safety, Pettigrew noted the passage of an expanded “extreme risk” law and a caregiver background‑check bill, and he questioned whether juvenile‑justice changes that seal records would undercut background‑check goals. He predicted at least one or two special sessions could be necessary this year to respond to federal funding changes or unfinished crime legislation.
Pettigrew closed by offering to brief commissioners individually on bills that may affect county priorities and said he would continue to provide weekly updates until the governor signs or vetoes remaining measures.
