State Senator Jay Block of New Mexico's District 12 said he hopes to override Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's veto of the New Mexico Parole Board Modernization Act. This statement was made in a Facebook post on March 24.
"I hope we override this veto," said Block. "I voted for this in committee and on the floor."
According to Block, in a post on X, he directed followers to coverage by the New Mexico Sun regarding the governor's veto. The report from March 22 highlighted that while the bill had received unanimous approval from both legislative chambers, Governor Lujan Grisham opposed a provision that would limit her ability to remove parole board members unless malfeasance was involved. This provision was based on recommendations from national nonpartisan experts and drew inspiration from models used in other states.
Screenshot of State Senator Jay Block's March 24 post on X
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The bill previously allowed either the parole board or the governor to initiate proceedings for removing parole board members, with due notice and an opportunity for the member in question to be heard, as per the text of the bill with amendments.
In her letter addressed to Senate members and Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, Governor Lujan Grisham said her support for modernizing state parole board metrics but criticized the bill for creating what she described as unnecessary obstacles to removing board members. She questioned who would preside over hearings for removal under the new language and who would present cases for removal, pointing out that Senate Bill 17 does not address these issues. She argued that this lack of clarity would make it nearly impossible to remove a board member without further legislation.
Block is a retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former Sandoval County Commissioner. In 2024, he was elected as the Republican Senator for District 12, succeeding retired Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino. His campaign emphasized limited government, economic reform, and veterans' issues. During his time as County Commissioner, he sponsored a Second Amendment resolution making Sandoval County a "2A Sanctuary County" and played a key role in economic development initiatives.
