The Senate Education Committee today stalled bipartisan legislation, SB-171,  which would allow local school boards to reopen classes. The legislation would have enabled the Boards to get students back in class where they belong during the current Public Heath Order. The bill failed to clear the Committee after four Democrats opposed a motion to advance the bill.

This bill needs to more forward. Our students are falling further behind academically, dealing with mental health issues and suffering from the inability to socialize and participate in sports and extracurricular activities. Students must get back to class!

Brayden Ford, a high school junior from Rio Rancho, testified virtually before the Committee today and made his case:

REDISTRICTING BILL CLEARS HOUSE COMMITTEE

A bill to create an independent commission for redistricting legislative boundaries sailed through the House State Government, Indian and Veterans Affairs Committe today. HB 211 passed unanimously. The Redistricting Act has steadily gained steam as the deadline to redistrict with the 2020 Census rapidly approaches. 

“Fair and independent redistricting is something we can all agree on, which is pretty rare in Santa Fe,” said Representative Rebecca Dow (TorC). “Hyper partisanship builds distrust in the work that we do, and if we can take a step forward in rebuilding public trust in the Roundhouse, with both sides of the aisle in agreement, then why wouldn’t we move forward with this bill?”

The bill now heads to the House Judiciary Committee.

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