Staff reports

A hearing to set the schedule for court proceedings in a lawsuit challenging New Mexico’s recent electric vehicle requirements for newly-built buildings was planned for 2 p.m., Oct. 6 in Fifth Judicial District Court in Carlsbad.

The lawsuit, filed last year by the Artesia Recreation Center Foundation against the state’s Construction Industries Division called for the court to deem the new rules “illegal and unenforceable” and for a court to award the foundation damages to be determined at trial.

The case centers on the Artesia Recreation Center, a 49,000-square-foot facility that would be required, per the updated building codes in question, to have 36 electric vehicle charging stations installed in its parking lot.

The lawsuit contended this would add between $300,000 and $700,000 to building costs for the $35 million facility.

At Monday’s hearing, the parties and the court will set deadlines for the case, including discovery, pre-trial activities, and the scheduling of a trial date in Spring 2026.

The Artesia Recreation Center project is not being delayed amid the proceedings.

Construction planning and progress remain on track, according to a Friday news release from the Foundation. But the litigation is necessary because the CID is requiring the installation of “costly electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure” at the project, the release read, and in all new residential and commercial construction in the State of New Mexico.

“This EV mandate is diverting valuable resources away from the needs of Artesia families and communities across New Mexico,” read the release.

“Our community has made it clear what they want in a Recreation Center — spaces for families, opportunities for youth, and amenities that everyone can enjoy,” said Sandra Borges, Artesia Recreation Center Foundation, President. “These EV requirements are unnecessary, burdensome, and take funding away from projects that reflect our community’s priorities. We believe Artesia should decide how our resources are best used, not government mandates.”

Artesia Recreation Foundation Owner Representative Scott Taylor added: “This case is about standing up for Artesia. Every dollar we spend should go toward building the best Recreation Center possible, not toward unnecessary mandates. We are committed to protecting this investment for the people who live here and ensuring the facility reflects what our community has asked for. ”

Updates will continue to be shared by the Foundation as the case moves forward.

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Editor’s note: The Artesia Daily Press has submitted questionnaires to each candidate for Artesia Special Hospital District and school board running in this year’s general election on Nov. 4. The paper is publishing each of the responses in print in the order they are received.

Danny Parker, 56, is an Artesia native and is the assistant superintendent of secondary education in the Artesia Public Schools.

He is unopposed for a second term on the Artesia Special Hospital District (ASHD) Board of Directors District 4.

What made you decide to run for this office?

“I was asked to run four years ago by a friend who was on the Board. I have really enjoyed getting to understand the workings of our hospital and the very special relationship the Special Hospital District Board has with our hospital. I decided to seek re-election because, I believe, we have a real opportunity to expand on what our hospital can offer those in our region. Not every small town like Artesia has a hospital as complete as ours. I believe that in the future, we will be able to offer even more, which is great for Artesia, but also great for the citizens in our region.”

What is your day-one priority if elected to this office?

“I want to continue the work that many before me have accomplished. I was born in the Artesia General Hospital when it was located on Roselawn, and I grew up knowing many giants in Artesia’s healthcare history—Dr. Henry Wall, Dr. Owen Taylor, Dr. James Gaba, and Dr. Bernard Bordman are three that come to mind. They loved this town, had delivered many of us, patched up our hurts, casted our broken arms, but most importantly wanted the very best for our health care.

“I believe that the administration and staff at the hospital today have that same passion. Whether it be for the pre-born baby and the emergency care that mother may need, the baby who is born in a difficult situation where the mother may need to make the very difficult decision to use our new baby box, or the school-aged child that needs emergency health care, the Artesia General Hospital serves its citizens well. We always want to improve on that the best that we can.”

What do you see as the biggest needs for ASHD?

“Right now, the biggest need for our district is passing the mill levy. I know there are a lot of people who are concerned about the district taking on the burden of constructing a new hospital. This mill levy vote has nothing to do with those future plans. I know there are concerns about the hospital not securing the baby box sooner. That project required some important negotiations to ensure that your hospital was not put at risk for litigation or, more importantly, the loss of precious life.

“The mill levy is for the continuation of some real services that have positively affected our community: the new women’s clinic, the bus that provides transportation services to our community to their very important health appointments, the brand new state-of-the-art MRI machine that provides imaging better than anywhere else in our region, the continued recruitment of physicians, both general practitioners and specialists, and most importantly, a hospital that meets the new basic needs of the citizens and taxpayers of our town.”

Sarah Rubinstein and Adrian Hedden | Artesia Daily Press

Lawmakers moved quickly in the opening days of a special session convened in Santa Fe, passing a $162 million budget bill intended to overcome federal cuts backed by Republicans in Congress, and appropriating state funds to make up the difference should Congress allow the Affordable Care Act to expire at the end of the year.

The special session, the first of 2025, was called by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Oct. 1 to address a sweeping list of topics, namely the state’s efforts to account for federal funding cuts enacted by President Donald Trump when he signed a spending bill July 4, known by supporters as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

The session ended Thursday night, after lawmakers passed five of 11 bills introduced during the two days of committee meetings, debates and votes on the House and Senate floors.

First among Lujan Grisham and Democrat priorities, House Bill 1, the funding bill, passed the House on Oct. 1 after a 43-24 vote, and the Senate later that day, 25-13. It will next go to Lujan Grisham’s desk to be signed into law.

HB 1 entailed a $30 million food assistance program, making up for cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which came under fire in the federal spending bill, along with $17 million in healthcare subsidies and $50 million to the state’s Rural Health Delivery Fund used to supplement health care facilities in small towns and remote communities.

“Over the last several months in meetings across our state, our Legislative Finance Committee has been closely reviewing the massive federal funding cuts and changes coming out of Washington, D.C. to understand how they will impact New Mexicans,” said Rep. Nathan Small (D-36), who chairs the Legislative Finance Committee and was a lead sponsor of HB 1.

“The investments we are making today are about responding in a responsible way to protect the things families across our state need most: healthcare and food.”

The House and Senate also passed House Bill 2, which would allow the state’s Healthcare Affordability Fund to be used to maintain healthcare coverage for New Mexicans, should the federal government repeal or allow the Affordable Care Act to expire, meaning tax credits offered to U.S. policyholders would be eliminated.

Republicans in Congress signaled they intended to do so, with the ACA expected to expire at the end of 2025. That was a sticking point for Democrats in Congress who refused to agree to a federal budget by the Oct. 1 start of the 2026 fiscal year, leading to a government shut down that continued as the state’s special session began.

HB 2 passed the House 49-13 Oct. 1, and the Senate 34-3 on Oct. 2.

Other bills passed included Senate Bill 1, which appropriated $50 million to the state’s Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to aid hospitals in small towns and remote communities. Senate Bill 2 would allow local or metropolitan courts to preside over criminal competency hearings, reversing legislation enacted during the 2025 regular session requiring these matters be taken up by district courts.

Senate Bill 3 will allow the New Mexico Department of Health and Human Services to enact vaccine requirements for children enrolled in public schools, linking the regulations to recommendations set out by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“The legislation passed during the special session protects families from being priced out of health care when their premiums double or triple, and we’re supporting providers who are keeping the doors open in our smallest communities,” Lujan Grisham said at the outset of the session.

Session opens with plea for peace

The session opened with lawmakers in the State House and Senate opining on political violence about three weeks after the public murder of conservative social media influencer Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was fatally shot during a speaking event at Utah Valley University, and 22-year-old Taylor Robinson was subsequently arrested for the shooting and is being tried for first-degree murder.

Alluding to the shooting for about 10 minutes before the session began, members from both parties in the Senate took turns to share the need for open disagreement and discussion during speeches at their respective chambers at the opening of the session.

“Let’s rebuild a culture of dialogue where we listen as fiercely as we speak, where we argue with passion, but never lose sight of our shared humanity,” said Sen. William E. Sharer (R-1).

Lawmakers cited Kirk’s death and also that of former Democratic Speaker of the Minnesota House Melissa Hortman, who was shot to death on June 14 at her home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota along with husband Mark Hortman. Fifty-seven-year-old Luther Boelter was arrested and charged with two counts of second-degree murder.

Boelter was also charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder after police said he shot and injured Democratic State Sen. John Hoffman and wife Yvette Hoffman earlier that day at their home near Champlin, Minnesota.

Before the session began, New Mexico lawmakers held a moment of silence for the victims of the shootings, and their families.

“I know that it shouldn’t matter what party or ideology Melissa or Charlie had, we should feel the same pit in our stomachs about every act of political violence, no matter who was murdered,” said Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-17).

In the House, legislators from both sides also spoke of the need to be civil in policy disagreement.

“The people of this state are demanding that we change course, to tone down the dangerous rhetoric that has seeped into our discourse,” said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R-49).

Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@currentargus.com

Editor’s note: The Artesia Daily Press has submitted questionnaires to candidates for Artesia Special Hospital District and school board in this year’s general election. The paper is publishing the responses in print in the order they were received.

Perry Williams is an Artesia native and resident who is a retired Army veteran and emergency medical technician.

Now he is a project lead for Conoco Phillips’ in Carlsbad. He is running against Artesia Special Hospital District (ASHD) District 5 incumbent Karen Waldrip.

Also running is retired rancher David Romine.

What made you decide to run for this office?

“I’m running for the hospital board to continue a lifetime of service. With over 30 years as an Emergency Medical Technician and as a proud U.S. Army veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the critical importance of timely, quality healthcare. I believe the people of Eddy County deserve the very best care close to home, and I’m committed to working hard to make that a reality.”

What is your day-one priority if elected to this office?

“My day one priority would be to listen to our medical staff, patients, and community so that I clearly understand their most urgent needs. With that input, I will focus on strengthening the quality of care at Artesia General Hospital by supporting our healthcare workers, addressing staffing challenges, and ensuring that every citizen of Eddy County can access safe, reliable, and timely medical services close to home.”

What do you see as the biggest needs for ASHD?

“The biggest needs I see for Artesia General Hospital are improving access to specialized care, supporting and retaining quality medical staff, and keeping the hospital financially strong for the future. As a veteran, I know firsthand the challenge of traveling great distances—even out of state—for care through the VA Community Care Program. I don’t want our citizens, especially our veterans, to face those same struggles.”

“As a board member, I will work to bring more specialty doctors to Artesia, so patients can get the care they need closer to home. I will also focus on supporting our front-line healthcare workers with the resources they need and ensuring strong financial oversight so the hospital can continue to expand services responsibly. My goal is to make Artesia General Hospital a place where every citizen of Eddy County, including our veterans, can count on receiving high-quality care without having to leave the community.”