Rep. Yanira Gurrola

Maddy summarySB 250 prohibits New Mexico state and local agencies (including police, sheriffs, and jails) from using public funds, personnel, or resources to enforce federal immigration laws or assist federal agents in immigration enforcement activities. This directly affects law enforcement agencies by barring them from detaining individuals solely based on suspected immigration status or aiding federal immigration investigations. The bill also clarifies that jails holding individuals under federal criminal warrants must be paid for by the federal government, replacing a prior law that allowed state cost-sharing. It repeals outdated references to federal immigration enforcement in state statutes.

Maddy summarySB 107 establishes a STEM Center of Excellence at New Mexico State University (NMSU) focused on innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It creates a statewide STEM Innovation Network with NMSU as the principal hub, connecting up to eight regional hubs and tribal hubs for federally recognized tribes to improve access to STEM education and career opportunities. The bill requires the network to coordinate with schools, employers, and tribes, develop annual reports, and uses $6 million in state funds (2026-2028) to support its operations. This directly affects students, educators, tribal communities, and schools by expanding STEM pathways and collaboration across public institutions.

Maddy summaryHB 32 allows New Mexico public school districts to replace diesel school buses with electric or zero-emission alternatives during their standard 12-year replacement cycle. The bill requires the state to provide funding for these electric buses and charging infrastructure, covering the full cost if districts secure less than half their funding from non-state sources. It also permits school districts to use idle electric buses as mobile energy storage - supplying grid services or reducing school electricity demand during emergencies - through agreements with utilities. The policy directly affects all New Mexico public school districts and utilities managing grid services.

Maddy summaryThis memorial (HM 43) requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to examine New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act and Bilingual Multicultural Education Act. It directs the committee to study current programs, funding structures, and student outcomes for Hispanic and bilingual students - primarily affecting the state's majority-Hispanic student population - and identify successful initiatives by December 2025. The study will involve input from students, educators, community members, and the Public Education Department. This is a procedural request for evaluation, not a new law or funding measure.

Maddy summaryHB 64 would expand eligibility for New Mexico's in-state tuition rates and state financial aid to include non-residents regardless of immigration status, provided they meet one of three criteria: graduating from a New Mexico high school, completing two semesters of adult education in the state, or earning income in New Mexico for two years with filed tax returns. This change requires public post-secondary institutions to grant these benefits on the same terms as New Mexico residents, removing immigration status as a barrier for qualifying individuals. The bill applies to all state-funded financial aid and tuition rates at public colleges and universities. It is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 487 amends New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to explicitly protect and preserve the state's heritage Spanish language and culture as part of the law's purpose. It requires the Hispanic Education Advisory Council to meet at biannual Hispanic Education Summits and allows council members to receive travel and daily allowances (per diem and mileage) for their service. The bill directly affects the advisory council, public schools, and educational institutions serving Hispanic students across New Mexico. Key provisions update the act's goals to include cultural preservation and formalize council meeting requirements with compensation for members. The changes aim to strengthen collaboration between schools, communities, and policymakers to support Hispanic student success.

Maddy summaryHB 54 requires every high school in New Mexico to install an automated external defibrillator (AED) by January 1, 2026, and maintain them according to manufacturer guidelines. The bill also mandates annual AED training for all high school employees, following American Heart Association standards, to ensure staff can use the devices during cardiac emergencies. This law directly affects all public and private high schools and their employees across the state. HB 54 was signed into law on April 10, 2025, after passing both chambers of the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 2) requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to form a work group focused on education data governance and artificial intelligence. The work group will include state agencies (like Public Education, Higher Education, and Tribal departments), school leaders, educators, students, tribal representatives, and AI/data experts. It will study key issues including improving data quality across education systems, ensuring responsible AI use in schools, protecting student data privacy, and addressing unique needs of New Mexico communities. The group aims to develop recommendations for better data policies and AI integration, but the memorial itself does not create new laws. This is a procedural step to coordinate existing data efforts, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Mexico to add the DNA of individuals arrested for a felony but who die before being formally charged to the national CODIS DNA database. If the person died while in prison, their DNA is automatically entered into CODIS. If they died outside prison, prosecutors must seek a court order to add the DNA. The law directly affects only those arrested for felonies who die before facing charges, with specific rules based on whether they were incarcerated at the time of death.