Five New Mexico legislators are sponsoring HB 635, a bill introducing transparency into the budget making process and holding lawmakers accountable for how taxpayer dollars are allocated and spent. “The current budget will be in excess of $7 billion and it is more important than ever that lawmakers be more transparent about how taxpayer dollars Read More …

Senate Bill 619, creating a State Ethics Commission, is far too secretive and non-transparent.  Any commission created to hold our elected officials to high ethical standards can only be effective if its proceedings are as open as possible.  This bill is deficient in several areas:  It starts from the presumption that all Commission meetings and Read More …

Attorney General Hector Balderas and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Feb. 13 announced new legislation aimed at increasing transparency in government and reducing access barriers to New Mexico’s citizens and members of the press in their pursuit of public information. HB 26 would limit the amount that public agencies can charge the public Read More …

The Senate Public Affairs Committee today gave a do pass recommendation to a bill which clarifies language in the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and makes it clear that noncompliance with IPRA carries damages. Sen. Jacob Candelaria District 26 (Bernalillo County) introduced SB 285 which adds language to the current law spelling Read More …

Sen. John A. Sapien, District 9, (Bernalillo and Sandoval) has introduced a bill in the New Mexico Senate that would significantly change the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) – requiring New Mexicans to pay substantially more for electronic copies of public records. Under SB 442, New Mexicans would be required to pay Read More …