Southeast New Mexico lawmakers assigned to committees
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El Rito Media News Services
ROSWELL — Southern New Mexico lawmakers have been assigned to legislative committees as activity at the Roundhouse kicks into high gear.
On Jan. 21, opening day of the session, the 42 members of the New Mexico Senate and 69 members of the New Mexico House of Representatives learned which committees they would be on. There are nine standing committees in the Senate and 14 in the House, each tasked with screening and considering legislation before it goes to the floor for a vote by all representatives and senators.
Committee assignments in the New Mexico Senate are determined by the Senate Committees’ Committee, which is chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque), according to Chris Nordstrum, spokesperson for the New Mexico Senate Democrats.
As the committee chair, Stewart appointed a bipartisan slate of members to mete out the assignments.
Brittany Dickerson, spokesperson for the New Mexico House Republican Caucus, said the speaker provides the assignments in the House with recommendations from the minority party.
State Rep. Mark Murphy (R-Roswell) of House District 59 will be on the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.
Murphy, the president of an oil production company, said his position on the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee will allow him to analyze bills related to the oil and gas industry.
Murphy also expressed enthusiasm for the role he will play as a member of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, which he claimed could help him with efforts to secure additional state funding for the National Championship Air Races scheduled to happen in Roswell later this year.
State Rep. Angelita Mejia (R-Dexter) of House District 58 was tapped for the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee and for the House, Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.
House District 54 state Rep. Jonathan Henry (R-Artesia) was placed on the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the House Tax and Revenue Committee.
The top Republican on the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee will be state Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-Artesia) of House District 66, which includes parts of Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties.
Mason also holds a spot on the House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee.
Sen. Candy Ezzell (R-Roswell) of Senate District 32 is now the ranking member, also known as the top Republican, on the Senate Conservation Committee. That panel of lawmakers will consider legislation related to water resources, the environment, natural resources and some issues that could impact the energy industry.
Ezzell will also be on the Senate Education Committee. Democrats hold a majority on all committees, but Ezzell said the Education Committee consists of five Democrats and four Republicans.
Sen. Larry Scott (R-Hobbs) of Senate District 42 will be on the Conservation Committee and be a ranking member of the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee.
Senate District 42 encompasses parts of Eddy, Lea and Chaves County.