SANTA FE – New Mexico House and Senate leaders have held discussions about a special legislative session focused on a capital works package, after a previous bill that included $264 million in projects died in the Senate in the final minutes of this year’s 60-day session.

House Speaker Don Tripp, R-Socorro, said Monday that top legislative staffers are working on potential versions of a new capital outlay bill.

“I’m very optimistic we can get something worked out,” Tripp told the Journal.

However, Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, another key figure in the special session talks, said no deal has been reached.

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