Rio Rancho lawmakers recap legislative session during roundtable

RIO RANCHO — Recent legislative hits and misses, building industry in Sandoval County, and even a jab at local vandalism to Tesla vehicles were discussed Thursday during a roundtable discussion hosted by the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks-New Mexico Chapter.

NIAOP-NM lobbyist Marla Shoats moderated the roundtable between Rio Rancho Republican Sen. Jay Block, Democratic Rep. Kathleen Cates, and Republican Rep. Joshua Hernandez at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center.

Shoats asked the panel what they thought the “biggest missed opportunity” of the 2025 legislative session was for the business community and how they could move forward to advance it in the future.

Block said tax reform and industrial revenue bonds were some big misses of the session.

Cates touted House Bill 8, legislation Cates co-sponsored and signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that increased penalties for certain crimes and provided competency restoration to non-violent offenders with a mental illness. Despite that victory, Cates said other crime bills were not passed during the session, including hers, and she hoped the bills would return and be signed by the governor in 2026.

Hernandez agreed with Cates that the crime bill was good legislation, but it “didn’t touch juvenile crime at all.”

“These juveniles realize ... they’re going to get a slap on the wrist,” Hernandez said. “They’re the ones committing crimes because they can.”

The lawmakers all agreed that Senate Bill 176, aimed at lowering the cap for medical malpractice, was one of the biggest missed opportunities of the session. The bill failed in a 5-4 committee vote.

Cates suggested that going forward, lawmakers should take a practical approach to the issue.

“What do we do to reduce medical malpractice? Why have (doctors) been sued 36 times before? What is the medical board doing to hold them accountable?” she said.

Block, a co-sponsor of the legislation, sounded a note of optimism about what can be done at the Roundhouse when opposing parties agree on an issue.

“When you get Martin Hickey, (D-Albuquerque), a progressive, and Jay Block, a conservative, with about 20 other conservatives and progressives, to try to fix medical malpractice in New Mexico, that should tell you something.”

Shoats asked the panel about diversifying the economy and what industries they think could be drawn into the state.

Hernandez named technology, particularly quantum computing, medical research and oil and gas as some examples.

Cates echoed Hernandez by naming oil and gas, but also water — a resource that the state lacks.

“Water is so important,” she said. “We don’t want a water slide park here; maybe we do.”

Cates also named energy as one sector she is examining. Block did not mince words in some of his comments about the issue.

“When it comes to quantum computing and everything, they’re exactly right, but we need a hell of a lot more energy to do this in New Mexico,” Block said. “Quite frankly, we know renewables isn’t going to get us there. The Permian Basin is going to get us there.”

He was referring to the highest-producing oil field in the U.S., shared by the state and Texas.

“That’s where it’s at,” Block said, before adding he bought a Tesla.

“I love it; just don’t vandalize the damn car,” said Block, sparking laughter in the audience.

He was referring to the brand of cars started by Elon Musk’s company that have sparked controversy since he became an advisor to President Donald Trump. Scores of locals gathered last month at a Tesla dealership in Bernalillo to protest Musk and a cybertruck was vandalized at the same location.

On Thursday, the trio of lawmakers participating in the roundtable found reason to be proud of the work they had done this session.

“We did do some good stuff; there was lots of infrastructure,” Hernandez said.

Block echoed his colleague’s remarks, while adding, “You win some, you lose some.”