Decoding the New Mexico Legislative Process 

About This Episode

Host Rhiannon Samuel, Executive Director of Viante New Mexico, talks with the Legislative Council Services’ Raul Burciaga to explain how New Mexico’s legislative process works and how it is different from other states.  

The New Mexico Legislative Council appointed Raúl Burciaga as the Director of the Legislative Council Service (LCS) in 2010.  He has primary responsibility for administration of the LCS, the nonpartisan drafting and legal research agency of the New Mexico Legislature.  Additionally, he is responsible for the control, care, custody and maintenance of the State Capitol, the grounds and other legislative buildings. 

Raúl is a member of the New Mexico Compilation Commission, which oversees the compilation and publishing of New Mexico laws, and he’s a member the national Uniform Law Commission, which recommends uniform laws for states to consider enacting. 

Raúl joined the LCS in July 2000 after graduating from the University of New Mexico School of Law.  Before attending law school, he worked for 15 years in the administration of federal health care programs.  He has been lead staff for numerous legislative interim committees, task forces and other work groups.  From 2000 to 2007, he served as the primary bill drafter and legal research attorney for health care legislation.  He has worked on impeachment investigation committees and as staff to legislative ethics committees.  He served as the LCS assistant director for drafting services from 2004 until 2010, when he became director.  He is a licensed attorney in New Mexico.