New Mexico Legislators Highlight Session's Successes

Lt. Gov. Morales and Rep. Terrazas reflect on legislative wins for roads, health care, and more

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales and District 39 state Rep. Luis Terrazas discussed the highlights of the state's recent 30-day legislative session, including funding for road improvements, medical malpractice reform to attract more doctors, and capital investments in local health care facilities. The lawmakers from different parties found common ground on several key priorities for their constituents.

Why it matters

The legislative session outcomes demonstrate bipartisan cooperation on critical issues facing New Mexico communities, from infrastructure to health care access. The successes highlighted by Morales and Terrazas show the potential for progress when lawmakers work across the aisle to address the state's most pressing needs.

The details

Lt. Gov. Morales, a Democrat, and Rep. Terrazas, a Republican, both cited the passage of a transportation bonding package that will fund the next phase of the U.S. 180 four-lane widening project to Deming as a key achievement. Terrazas also noted a "substantial road funding bill" that will bring critical road dollars to Grant County. On health care, Morales highlighted a bill that will reduce the cost of malpractice insurance and attract more doctors to the state, while Terrazas and Morales both celebrated $6 million in funding for capital improvements at the Gila Regional Medical Center Cancer Center.

  • The 30-day legislative session concluded on February 24, 2026.
  • The transportation bonding package was passed in the first half of the legislative session.

The players

Howie Morales

The Democratic Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico, who is term-limited and will conclude eight years in the role this year.

Luis Terrazas

A Republican state Representative for District 39 in New Mexico.

Gila Regional Medical Center Cancer Center

A cancer treatment facility that received $6 million in capital improvement funding from the state.

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What they’re saying

“Roads continue to be a priority for me, and it looks like Phase 2 of the Highway 180 project is currently listed as a priority in the new state bonding program for $155 million that the governor just signed.”

— Luis Terrazas, State Representative (scdailypress.com)

“I was really pleased that we were able to get that in the first half of the legislative session. It set the tone of the pace that we were working on in our last legislative session.”

— Howie Morales, Lieutenant Governor (scdailypress.com)

What’s next

Lt. Gov. Morales said he will be working on moving up the timeline for the sale of bonds in the transportation bonding package now that the session is over.

The takeaway

The bipartisan cooperation and legislative successes highlighted by Morales and Terrazas demonstrate the potential for progress in New Mexico when lawmakers put aside partisan differences to address critical infrastructure, health care, and other key issues facing their constituents.