Lawmakers seek legal update on online sports betting, urge panels on energy, uranium and bilingual education

Lawmakers on the Indian Affairs Committee asked staff to provide a legal update on ongoing litigation tied to online sports betting and pressed for panels addressing energy, mining contamination and bilingual education reforms.

Representative John Block told the committee he wanted a legal briefing on litigation involving Kalshi and multiple Pueblos and said tribes should discuss options for capturing online betting revenue. "I would like to see how that maybe get an a legal update on that," Block said, noting that tribal servers on tribal land have been used in other states to retain gaming revenue.

Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero asked the committee to convene panels that include tribal utility authorities, economic development offices, environmental-justice experts and consumer advocates to examine private-equity takeovers such as the Blackstone transaction involving PNM. "Tribal ratepayers, as well as regular ratepayers all around the state... are going to suffer the long term consequences," Caballero said, urging frank discussion.

Caballero also raised health and environmental concerns tied to uranium mining near Mount Taylor and called for inclusion of affected tribes, the state environment department, the EPA and the Department of the Interior in discussions about contamination and sacred sites. She flagged the upcoming bilingual rule and questions about how YAZZIE-MARTINEZ-related reforms are being implemented with tribal input.

Committee members did not vote on any of the proposals. Staff said they will take members' requests under advisement and incorporate topic updates and potential panelists into the work plan for future meetings.