SANTA FE – With the 60-day New Mexico legislative session having passed its midpoint, hundreds of bills dealing with everything from the state’s economy and public schools to baby-changing stations and zoo animals are in play at the Roundhouse.

Whether a divided Legislature can find consensus on the measures – or at least enough votes to pass them – will be determined over the next four weeks.

“We’re sent up here to make tough decisions and make sure we don’t come home empty-handed,” House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, said Monday.

Although Gentry said he hopes the Democratic-controlled Senate will soon take up dozens of House-passed bills, including a proposed repeal of a 2003 law that allows immigrants who are in the country illegally to obtain driver’s licenses, his counterpart in the Senate said considering bills from the other chamber must be a two-way street.

“I’m the eternal optimist that we can get things done if we want to,” said Senate Democratic floor leader Michael Sanchez of Belen. “But I’m also not going to be told what to do.”

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