New Mexico Foundation for Open Government

New Mexico Foundation for Open Government The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government -- We open the doors to democracy. For everyone.

09/08/2026

Nothing says “we needed the long Labor Day weekend” quite like making a video about Labor Day — and forgetting to post it on Labor Day.

Better late than never. Here’s a little backstory about why you got yesterday off.

08/19/2026

Access to public records remains in the balance in New Mexico.

The Public Records Task Force — offically called the IPRA Task Force — has finished its statewide listening sessions but is still taking public comment at its meetings. And its next one is tomorrow.

Need some inspiration? Here’s Melanie.

She is our former executive director, who retired a few years ago to take it easy.

This is Melanie taking it easy:
Defending New Mexicans who wouldn’t be able to afford public records if the government started charging $30 an hour or more to retrieve them.

She is our hero.
_________________________

8/20/26 — IPRA Task Force Meeting
TIME: 4-7 pm

IN PERSON: UNM Student Union Building, Room Acoma A & B, 1 Roma Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106

ONLINE: https://nmdoj.gov/event/ipra-task-force-meeting-august-20-2026/

Way to go, Albuquerque!The final statewide listening session of the Public Records Task Force drew the largest turnout o...
08/06/2026

Way to go, Albuquerque!

The final statewide listening session of the Public Records Task Force drew the largest turnout of members of the public yet.

Albuquerque speakers:
- Members of the public: 64%
- Government officials: 36%

Across all 11 statewide listening sessions:
- Members of the public: 27%
- Government officials: 73%

Those numbers matter because the task force was created to hear about people's experiences with New Mexico's public records law.

Yet, for most of the listening sessions, the conversation was dominated by government officials rather than the members of the public who rely on those records to understand what their government is doing.

Another way to look at those numbers:
- 73% were the people who control access to public records.
- 27% were the people trying to obtain them.

Thank you to everyone who attended, shared your experiences, and helped ensure the public's voice was heard.

LOCATION CHANGEThe Public Records Task Force is now meeting from 4-7 pm at:CNM Workforce Training Center5600 Eagle Rock ...
08/05/2026

LOCATION CHANGE
The Public Records Task Force is now meeting from 4-7 pm at:

CNM Workforce Training Center
5600 Eagle Rock Ave NE
Albuquerque, 87113

It’s near the intersection of Alameda and I-25

08/05/2026

Santa Fe you did not disappoint!

At nine previous listening sessions of the Public Records Task Force, the average number of government speakers vastly outnumbered members of the public:
14% — members of the public
86% — government officials

But in Santa Fe yesterday:
56% — members of the public
44% — government officials

Albuquerque, you think you can do better?

Your listening session — and the final one — is from 4-7 pm today. You can speak during the meeting either in person or online.

IN PERSON: Central New Mexico Community College, Room 101, 716 University Blvd, SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106

ONLINE: Here’s the link to the IPRA Task Force page. Note: To speak or have your comment read, you must give your name. https://nmdoj.gov/event/ipra-task-force-meeting-august-5-2026/

08/04/2026

We got called out at a meeting.

Because we urged the public to speak at that meeting.

Which was being held to get public comment.

Here’s what happened:

In an interview with The New Mexican over the weekend, our executive director encouraged people to speak at the final three Public Records Task Force meetings.

Why?

Because at the previous eight task force meetings, the vast majority of speakers were government officials.

That was apparently a problem for one government official who spoke at yesterday’s task force meeting in Las Vegas, NM.

Why? Well, we’re not entirely sure. It wasn’t very clear. But, to paraphrase: Government officials are people, too.

By the way, 92% of the speakers at the Las Vegas meeting were government officials.

Today, the task force — officially called the IPRA Task Force — meets in Santa Fe from 4–7 p.m. at Santa Fe Community College, Lecture Hall Room 216, 6401 Richards Ave.

We’re counting on you, Santa Fe!

Albuquerque, you’re up tomorrow: 4–7 p.m. at Central New Mexico Community College, Room 101, 716 University Blvd. SE.

07/23/2026

Adventures in driving from Gallup to Farmington to go to a meeting of the public records task force.
Aka "GPS goes on a side quest without prior approval."

From Clovis to Silver City to Gallup.Since May, the Public Records Task Force has traveled across New Mexico, holding ei...
07/23/2026

From Clovis to Silver City to Gallup.

Since May, the Public Records Task Force has traveled across New Mexico, holding eight listening sessions to hear from the public and government employees about their experiences with public records.

At yesterday's meeting in Farmington, record custodians, district attorneys, and other officials echoed the concern heard throughout the state: there are simply too many public records requests.

The solutions proposed were also familiar. Several speakers suggested reducing the number of requests by:
• Charging fees for public records.
• Banning requests from out of state.
• Requiring requestors to provide a "valid" name, address, and phone number instead of allowing requests that are essentially anonymous

The task force hits the road again in two weeks with meetings in:
📍 Las Vegas – August 3
📍 Santa Fe – August 4
📍 Albuquerque – August 5

If you've ever filed a public records request — or been denied access to records — these meetings are your chance to be heard.

07/21/2026

We went on the road to Gallup today with the public records task force as its continues holding listening sessions across the state.

We heard from a member of the public about how an Inspection of Public Records (IPRA) request revealed that a prosecutor in a criminal case allegedly withheld information.

While another member of the public spoke about how harmful it is for crime victims to have their names released in public records.

Tomorrow, the task force is in Farmington at the Civic Center from 4-7 pm.

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Albuquerque, NM

Telephone

+15057643750

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