Rep. Day Hochman-Vigil

Maddy summaryHB 59, the Earned Wage Access Services Act, creates a licensing system for companies that offer workers early access to earned but unpaid wages (like salary or hourly pay not yet paid by an employer). It requires these providers to obtain a license from New Mexico's Financial Institutions Division, with exemptions for banks, credit unions, and employers offering direct advances. The law defines key terms like "earned but unpaid income" and clarifies that these services are not loans or money transmission. This directly affects workers using such services and the businesses providing them, establishing rules for licensing, fees, and provider conduct.

Maddy summaryHB 541 (New Mexico 2025) allows state and local treasurers to invest unspent funds from bond proceeds or sinking funds in specific, low-risk instruments. It authorizes investments in U.S. government securities, bonds from qualifying counties/municipalities (with minimum valuation and no recent defaults), federal agency securities, and federally insured obligations like CDs. The bill requires treasurers to follow approved investment policies reviewed every two years and obtain board of finance approval for changes. This bill directly affects state, county, and municipal treasurers managing public funds. It was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 146, the Railway Safety Act, requires railroads operating in New Mexico to install and maintain wayside detector systems (including hot bearings and dragging equipment detectors) every ten miles along tracks. Railroads must stop trains for defect inspections, follow speed limits when carrying hazardous materials, and report all defect messages and safety violations to the state Department of Transportation annually. The bill protects crew members who report safety concerns from retaliation and authorizes the department to impose fines of $5,000-$25,000 for violations. This law, effective January 1, 2026, directly affects railroad corporations and their workers by mandating enhanced safety protocols and accountability measures.

Maddy summaryHB 145 increases New Mexico's bonding authority for highway projects, authorizing up to $1.124 billion in additional bonds. It sets specific limits: $624 million for major infrastructure projects (including those with federal financing history), $100 million for roads tied to the waste isolation pilot project, and $400 million for other highway work. Proceeds would come from state road fund taxes and federal highway reimbursement money, with annual caps on new bond issuance. This directly affects the State Transportation Commission's ability to finance road projects and impacts taxpayers through future bond obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 370 prohibits hospitals receiving public funds from denying medical staff membership or clinical privileges based on economic factors, such as a doctor’s fee structure, advertising, participation in health plans, or patient referral patterns. It requires hospitals to base credentialing decisions solely on objective, uniform professional qualifications, not anti-competitive motives. The law specifically bans consideration of factors like membership in professional groups, willingness to refer patients, or whether a provider works at competing facilities. This directly affects healthcare professionals seeking hospital privileges and hospitals receiving state or federal funding in New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 577 creates a 12-member "Towing Services Oversight and Advisory Board" within New Mexico's Department of Transportation. The board, with members representing each of the state's six transportation districts, will review towing service policies, handle citizen complaints, mediate disputes, audit compliance with regulations, and submit quarterly reports to the Department. This bill directly affects licensed towing companies, the Department of Transportation, and residents who use towing services by establishing formal oversight mechanisms. The board's duties and structure become effective July 1, 2025, with initial appointments due by January 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 314 allows law enforcement officers and New Mexico Department of Transportation employees to move vehicles, cargo, or debris that create immediate road safety hazards. It specifically permits clearing obstructions blocking traffic when such hazards endanger public safety, such as stalled vehicles in travel lanes. Officials acting under this law are protected from liability for damage to the moved items. The bill modifies existing traffic regulations (Section 66-3-852 NMSA) to clarify this authority, focusing on urgent safety risks rather than routine parking violations. It does not alter standard parking rules or affect drivers' responsibilities for non-hazardous stops.

Maddy summaryHB 13 requires New Mexico electric utilities to create detailed distribution system plans by 2027, including mapping grid capacity, setting connection time targets for new customers, and outlining strategies for grid upgrades to meet decarbonization goals. It mandates annual reports tracking connection times and requires utilities to develop "beneficial electrification" plans - converting non-electric energy use (like gas heating) to efficient electric systems - with cost recovery allowed through approved rate changes. Utilities must also provide quarterly online access to grid capacity data and follow minimum wage rules for related construction work. This directly affects all New Mexico electric utilities providing retail service, requiring them to plan for grid modernization and electrification while ensuring cost transparency.

Maddy summaryHB 190 amends New Mexico's Victims of Crime Act to expand protections for victims of specific crimes, including battery against healthcare workers and human trafficking. It allows victims to have an attorney licensed in New Mexico represent them in court, requires courts to provide language interpretation services, and mandates at least seven working days' notice for court proceedings unless exceptional circumstances are documented. Victims can appeal if a hearing is held with shorter notice, and courts must reschedule if the notice period was unjustified. The bill also creates a private right to sue for violations of the Act and waives government immunity for such claims.

Maddy summaryHB 37 appropriates $250,000 from New Mexico's general fund to New Mexico Highlands University's board of regents for a feasibility study on potentially acquiring the privately owned Star Axis sculptural observatory in San Miguel County. The study would assess costs for public access upgrades, long-term operations, educational partnerships with colleges, and creating a state land art tourism network. The bill, which was postponed indefinitely in June 2025, does not authorize acquisition but only examines the possibility through a study. It directly affects state budget resources and the observatory's future status, with funds expiring unused by 2027.