The New Mexico House of Representatives has approved House Resolution 1 (HR 1), which changes committee structure, on a 37-30 party-line vote. Facing major restructuring, the now minority house democrats argued strenuously against name changes, new committees and new hybrids that subsumed Labor and Voter & Elections into other committees. Republicans say the changes will promote efficiency and expand consumer service.
Speaker Don Tripp (R-Socorro) has released his list of new committee chairs. Several of interest to UNM include Rep. Larry Larranaga (R-Albuquerque) for House Appropriations and Finance, Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell) for Education, Rep. Terry McMillan (R-Las Cruces) for the new stand-alone Health committee, and Rep. Jason Harper (R-Rio Rancho) for the newly renamed Ways and Means.