NewMexico in Focus looks at the opening of the 2026 Legislative Session

This week, New Mexico in Focus heads to Santa Fe for the start of this year's 30-day legislative session.

In her final State of the State address, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham acknowledged the work done by Sen. Peter Wirth. The Senate Majority Leader is working to quickly pass several measures during the first week of the session, including several medical compact bills and a change to the state's civil commitment law.

Host Nash Jones spoke with Wirth in his Roundhouse office about the so-called "rocket docket." Also, Jones asks where Wirth stands on a few high-profile proposals, including Senate Democrats' shift to supporting a ban on ICE contracts for immigrant prisons in our state.

Republican Sen. Nicole Tobiassen sat on a bipartisan working group that prepared medical compact legislation for the session and is a co-sponsor of a Senate proposal to join the compacts. Tobiassen spoke with Nash about that push, New Mexico's doctor shortage and her first-hand experience failing to find medical treatment for her husband.

Capital and Main reporter Jerry Redfern speaks with Missi Currier, president and CEO of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. Currier tells Jerry which bills she's keeping an eye on this year. Also, following years of ill-fated bills that sought tougher regulations on her industry, Jerry asks why during last year's session she said the oil and gas industry was "out of favor" in New Mexico.

NMiF airs on NMPBS 5.1 (KNME HD) on Friday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 25 at 7 a.m. and streaming on the PBS video app. Involved, informed, in-depth media: watch New Mexico in Focus again online shortly thereafter.

Host
Nash Jones

Segments
NM Sen. Wirth on the Legislative 'Rocket Docket'
and
Sen. Wirth on Bill Banning State Contracts with ICE
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guest
Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe; Senate Majority Leader

NM Sen. Tobiassen on Addressing the State's Doctor Shortage
Correspondent
Nash Jones

Guest
Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, R-Albuquerque

Oil and Gas Bills the Industry is Watching Out For
Correspondent
Jerry Redfern

Guest
Missi Currier, president and CEO, New Mexico Oil and Gas Association

New Mexico in Focus is the New Mexico PBS prime-time news magazine show covering the events, issues, and people shaping life in New Mexico and the Southwest. NMiF takes a multi-layered look at social, political, economic health, education, and art issues and explores them in-depth with a critical eye to give them context beyond the "news of the moment."

NMPBS Executive Producer, Public Affairs is Jeff Proctor. New Mexico in Focus's senior producer for public affairs is Lou DiVizio. Host and producer of New Mexico in Focus is Nash Jones. Producer is Antonio Sanchez. Multimedia journalist is Cailley Chella.

Funding for New Mexico in Focus is provided by the McCune Charitable Foundation and Viewers Like You. Funding for the Your New Mexico Government Project comes from the Thornburg Foundation and New Mexico Local News Fund. Funding for Our Land: New Mexico's Environmental Past, Present & Future is provided in part by the Neeper Natural History Programming.