When it comes to crime, I hear your concerns. That’s why I voted for crime reducing measures (SB 2, HB 9, HB 234, HB 357) to make Albuquerque safer whenever I could. I believe tough penalties and crime prevention are the best medicine to make sure everyone in our city is safe. Here are ten ways I voted to make Albuquerque safer:

— Voted for stricter sentencing for murder convictions.

— Strengthened penalties for gun crimes.

— Increased penalties for violent felons.

— Created the Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council.

— Established a 7-day waiting period for gun purchases.

— Funded programs to reduce homelessness.

— Passed the Red Flag Law to take guns from people who are a risk to others.

— Provided de-escalation training for law enforcement.

— Funded recruitment, retraining, and equipping of law enforcement.

— Helped people access addiction treatment and mental health care.

Additionally I voted for SB 2, which provides for substantial judicial salary increases to enhance judicial capacity and workflow. HB 234, which I also supported, closes a loophole and cracks down on organized robbery crews. I voted for HB 9, drafted by our new Representative Pamelya Herndon, who’s district is within our Senate District 20, and provides for common sense safe storage of firearms in homes to protect children from tragic accidents. The bills I championed add an additional $137 million in appropriations for local and state crime enforcement activities, and for the recruitment and retention of law officers.

These two bills appropriated an additional $40 million for venture capital start-ups, and for private-public partnerships that fund local bioscience technology and entrepreneurship. These are also job bills as the new companies will create multilevel higher paying jobs and will require these new businesses to stay in New Mexico during development and growth. These and similar programs will also enhance the diversification of our economy as energy creation begins to shift from gas and oil in 5 to 10 years.

Based on extensive research funded from the 2022 session, SB 317 substantially addresses key issues that impact New Mexico’s overwhelming epidemic of mental health and substance use disorders. For commercially insured patients with these afflictions they now have unfiltered access to behavioral health services, providers, and medication. Also, as there is a major shortage of behavioral health professionals in the state, this legislation also significantly raises payments to these providers to retain them and attract additional professionals at all levels.

These are the Reproductive and Gender Affirming Health Care Freedom and Protection Acts which protects women’s reproductive rights, an individual’s rights to gender affirming care, local and interstate confidentiality, and protection from abusive litigation. I was honored to help shape these bills as a member of the Health and Public Affairs Committee and on the senate floor.

Changes in the medical malpractice law from the 2021 session put reasonable malpractice coverage for physicians and patients at serious risk. This has led many physicians to question remaining in the state. After engaging in long and arduous negotiations, including with Governor Lujan Grisham, a much better bill was developed that is fair to all parties and is sustainable. During the interim, I have developed additional legislation to attract and retain physicians that I will bring forward when re-elected.