Rep. Pat Roybal Caballero

Maddy summaryHB 138, the Hospital Patient Safety Act, requires all New Mexico hospitals to establish two committees: one focused on nursing staffing (with at least 51% direct care nurses) and another for professional/technical staff. These committees must develop written staffing plans prioritizing patient safety and review them annually using specific data, including missed breaks, overtime hours, and patient outcomes. The bill directly affects hospitals licensed under New Mexico's Public Health Act, mandating concrete changes to how staffing levels are planned and monitored. Key provisions include requiring committees to meet quarterly, maintain transparent minutes, and base staffing decisions on hospital-specific data rather than fixed ratios. The legislation aims to address staffing challenges through collaborative, data-driven planning without prescribing specific nurse-to-patient ratios.

Maddy summaryHB 94 sets maximum class sizes for kindergarten through third grade in New Mexico public schools. School districts must include specific class load data in their annual budget plans and obtain special approval for temporary waivers exceeding these limits. The bill requires districts to report how funds are used to maintain these class size requirements, including details on instructional staffing and resource allocation. It directly affects K-3 public school districts and their budget planning processes.

Maddy summarySB 156 adds a definition for "low-income customer" to New Mexico's Public Utility Act and exempts these customers from additional fees ("rate riders") imposed when new customers connect to utility systems. It directly affects low-income households using electricity, gas, or water services who qualify under the new definition. The bill's key mechanism is creating a formal definition for "low-income customer" and mandating that utilities exclude these households from certain cost-sharing fees. This change aims to reduce financial burdens on eligible low-income utility users by preventing them from paying extra costs tied to new infrastructure connections.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending New Mexico's constitution to remove felony convictions as a barrier to voting. It would allow individuals with felony convictions to vote again once they've completed their sentences, provided they meet other standard voter requirements like residency and registration. The amendment would change the constitution's language to eliminate the current restriction on voting rights for people convicted of felonies. If approved by voters, this change would directly affect thousands of New Mexicans who are otherwise eligible to vote but were previously barred due to past felony convictions. The resolution must be approved by voters at the next general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryHJR 15 proposes adding a clear constitutional prohibition against slavery and involuntary servitude to New Mexico's state constitution. It would amend Article 2, Section 4 to explicitly state that "slavery and involuntary servitude in any form are prohibited" for all residents. The amendment would require voter approval at the next general election or a special election called for that purpose. This change directly affects all New Mexicans by formally embedding a ban on slavery into the state's foundational law.

Maddy summaryHB 392, the Single-Use Plastic Bag Act, would prohibit New Mexico retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags for carrying purchased items, with exceptions for bulk products, takeout food with leakage risk, medical items, and other specific cases like live animal transport. Retailers could offer paper bags at a minimum 10-cent fee per bag (exempting low-income customers using SNAP or similar benefits), with 7 cents of each fee funding local waste reduction education programs. Local governments would enforce the ban, imposing penalties of up to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for third or subsequent violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Mexico state, county, school district, and municipal governments to donate public funds to private entities for public purposes like health, safety, or welfare - currently prohibited by the state constitution. It would repeal two existing constitutional sections: one banning public fund donations to private parties (Article 9, Section 14) and another restricting appropriations for charitable or educational purposes (Article 4, Section 31). The amendment requires new implementing legislation passed by the legislature before any donations can occur, and it must be approved by voters at the next general election. The bill was referred to committees and postponed indefinitely in June 2025, so it has not advanced to a vote.

Maddy summaryHB 467 requires New Mexico public schools to update discipline policies to prohibit unequal treatment based on race, religion, cultural expression (including protective hairstyles and religious headwear), disability, or home language. It mandates schools to provide an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents (with privacy protections), ban corporal punishment, and allow students to self-administer prescribed asthma/anaphylaxis medication under specific conditions. The bill also revises bilingual education program requirements to prioritize home language use in instruction, require culturally specific teacher training, and establish parent advisory committees. These changes directly affect all public K-12 schools and students in New Mexico, aiming to create safer, more inclusive learning environments.

Maddy summaryHB 490 requires New Mexico public schools to revise discipline policies to prohibit discrimination or disparate treatment based on race, religion, culture, disability, home language, gender, income level, or specific hairstyles (like braids or locs) and religious headwear (like hijabs). It mandates that schools develop policies with parent and student input, ban corporal punishment, and create a confidential online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents. The bill also allows students to self-administer prescribed asthma or anaphylaxis medication under specific safety conditions, with schools required to provide backup medication. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish a New Mexico program providing partial wage replacement for eligible workers taking leave for specific reasons, including bonding with a new child (birth, adoption, or foster placement), caring for a family member with a serious health condition, taking leave for the employee's own serious health condition, military family needs related to a spouse's deployment, or protection from domestic violence. Administered by the Workforce Solutions Department, the program would be funded through a new state leave fund and cover both employees and self-employed individuals who meet eligibility criteria. It sets time limits on leave duration, excludes certain workers (such as those covered by federal railroad laws), and preempts other similar local programs. The bill defines "family member" broadly to include domestic partners and other close relationships, ensuring coverage for diverse household situations.