Senate Rules Committee holds organizational meeting, sets procedures and schedule

The New Mexico Senate Rules Committee met for an organizational session in which members introduced themselves, staff were identified, and the committee outlined procedures and a tentative schedule for the 30-day legislative session.

Sen. Katie Duhigg, chair of the committee and a senator representing District 10 in Albuquerque, opened the meeting and said the committee would begin with member introductions and review administrative procedures. "If you want to give public comment, you need to sign up, at least an hour beforehand to do so," Duhigg said, directing members and the public to the Senate rules web page for details.

The session included self-introductions from members joining the committee this year. Sen. Crystal Brantley said she represents seven counties in New Mexico's southwest corner and that she previously served on the committee. Sen. Jim Townsend, identified during the meeting as the committee's ranking member, and senators Liz Stefanik, Heather Bergmans, Mimi Stewart and Leo Jaramillo also introduced themselves and offered brief greetings.

Pat Oliver Wright, a long-serving Senate staff member, said this is her ninth year with the Senate and noted prior work with the rules committee. "This is my ninth year with the senate, and I was with senate rules in 2023," Wright said.

Committee logistics were discussed. Duhigg told members the committee expects to meet every day during the 30-day session and that meetings will end a few minutes early each day (she noted an end time "about 10:25"); she also said the committee would keep a 9:00 a.m. start time unless workload requires otherwise. The chair added that procedures may change during the session and that the committee will announce any adjustments.

On agenda items, Duhigg said there were no bills yet for the committee and that, provisionally, the committee will hold a confirmation next Friday for the office of the child advocate. She asked whether the pre-confirmation briefing packets used last year were helpful; members indicated they wanted those briefs to continue.

The meeting concluded with the chair asking staff to circulate attendance and logistical details by email and confirming the committee will reconvene on Monday. No formal motions or votes were recorded during the organizational meeting.