b"2024 State ReportNews Around New MexicoGovernor Michelle Lujan Grishams Bernalillo County approval rating drops to 45%: CommissionGovernor Lujan Grishams approval rating is descending as sheset to fillapproaches the halfway point of her second term. About 45% ofAir Quality Board registered, likely voters surveyed in a new poll said they ap- Vacancy:proved of the job Lujan Grisham was doing as governor-downThe Bernalillo from 59% in September 2020. The new poll also found thatCounty Commis-roughly 44% of voters said they disapproved of the Democraticsion could fill a governors job performance, with the remaining voters unsure,vacancy on the Air or declining to state their opinion. A former three-term congress- Quality Board very woman, Lujan Grisham was elected governor in 2018 and wonsoon. The Air Qual- New Mexico Land of Enchantmentreelection in 2022.ity Control Board is a joint county Governor Rescinds and city body that Emergency Health Order: enforces air pollution regulations. The board was the subject Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she has endedof some controversy last year when Albuquerque's city council an emergency public heath order that suspended the right to carrypassed legislation that would halt the boards operations. A subse-guns at public parks and playgrounds in the Albuquerque area.quent lawsuit allowed the board to continue operating.The original public health order in September 2023 ignited a furor of public protests, prompted Republican calls for the gover- Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham Orders State Agencies tonors impeachment and widened division among top DemocraticSupport Climate-Related Workforce Pipeline.officials. It also sought to strengthen oversight of firearms salesIn the last few years, New Mexico has received billions of and monitor illicit drug use at public schools through the testingfederal dollars supporting a clean energy transition, and through of wastewater-before it expired without renewal.multiple announcements of major renewable energy companies setting up or expanding in the state. But does New Mexico have State Officials Discriminated the workforce to handle the transition? New Mexico's Governor in Withholding Voter Information, signed an executive order focused on ensuring New Mexico has Judge Finds: enough workers to fulfill a massive demand for climate-related A national conservative nonprofit group that sued in federal courtjobs. She is requiring 11 different state agencies and offices to to be able to put New Mexico voters names, addresses and otherwork together to support educational, transitional and supportive election data on its free website has won another legal battle toservices that make it possible for people to start or transfer to ensure the practice can continue. U.S. District Judge James O.what she dubbed climate-ready careers. With the new executive Browning of Albuquerque ruled that the New Mexico Secretaryorder, New Mexico departments and offices must facilitate and of States office unconstitutionally discriminated against Votersupport the training of a least 2000 workers in infrastructure and Reference Foundation by withholding publicly available voterclimate-ready professions by December 31, 2026.data requested by the company.SWPMA News / Winter 202443"