Here’s a look at some local news brought to you by Silver City Radio.

Yesterday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 95, titled “The Easy Enrollment Act.” This legislation will allow New Mexicans to find and enroll in quality affordable health coverage easier by checking a box on their state income tax return. Beginning next year, taxpayers will have the option to give the state tax agency permission to share information  used to assess eligibility for low-cost or no-cost health coverage with agencies that oversee health coverage programs, like Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace, beWell.com.

I other Legislative news, the Governor signed Senate Bill 134, titled the “New Mexico Housing Trust Fund”, enacted to provide a dedicated funding steam for construction and maintenance of affordable housing for low-income and moderate-income residents. According to a news release, the new recurring funding will dedicate 2.5% of the annual severance tax bond capacity for the New Mexico Housing Trust Fund, administered by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. In addition, the fund is anticipated to generate an estimated $20-25 million annually in dedicated funding to the trust fund.

The 2022 Primary Election is soon approaching and county residents who are seeking to run for office need to file their candidacy papers by next Tuesday, March 8th. Other important dates to consider include the following:

  • March 15th – Write-in Candidate Filing Day
  • April 5th– Last day a candidate may withdraw from the Primary Election
  • May 10th – Voter registration deadline for paper and online registrations; absentee and early voting begins
  • June 4th – Early voting ends
  • June 7th – Primary Election Day

The General Election this year is scheduled for November 8th.

This has been a look at some local news. Thank you for listening to Silver City Radio.