The First Session of the 58th Legislature

January 4-15, 2027: Legislation may be prefiled
January 19: Opening day (noon)
February 18: Deadline for introduction
March 20: Session ends (noon)
April 9: Legislation not acted upon by governor is pocket vetoed*
June 18: Effective date of legislation not a general appropriation bill or a bill carrying an emergency clause or other specified date
*Dependent on 2026 Constitutional Amendment outcome

BlueSky Profile

Terms of state-negotiated gambling compacts raises concerns (SF New Mex)

Terms of state-negotiated gambling compacts raises concerns

Posted: Monday, January 26, 2015 9:00 pm | Updated: 12:18 am, Tue Jan 27, 2015.

Proposed Indian gambling compacts between the state and several New Mexico tribes might violate federal law because the terms would prohibit the Fort Sill Apache tribe in Southern New Mexico from opening a casino, a federal official who deals with Indian gambling says.

In a letter sent Friday to Sen. Bill Soules, D-Las Cruces, Paula Hart, director of the U.S. Interior Department’s Office of Indian Gaming, said she is concerned about a paragraph in the proposed 23-year compacts. The compacts require approval from the Legislature, which is expected to vote on them during the 60-day session that continues though March. Existing compacts with four of the tribes expire June 30.