SANTA FE — Today, the New Mexico Supreme Court issued an opinion in State ex rel Candelaria v. Grisham. The case, originally filed by Senate Republican Leader Greg Baca (R-Belen) and former Senator Jacob Candelaria (D-Albuquerque) in 2021, led to a Legislative Special Session after the Court found that the Governor had improperly spent New Mexico's share of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds from the Federal government.

The decision, attached below, states in part: "...federal funds provided with a broad or discretionary purpose such that they can be put to a variety of uses must be appropriated by the Legislature."

Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen), who was co-primary counsel in the case, issued the following statement regarding the opinion:

"Today was a victory for the people of New Mexico and the Constitution. I am grateful that the state's highest court issued a thoughtful and decisive opinion that will now serve as a guidepost for the limited bounds of executive power. It is the right of the people of New Mexico through their 112 legislators to decide how their taxpayer dollars are spent. "