Rep. Cynthia Borrego

Maddy summaryHB 134 would revise New Mexico's Delinquency Act to expand definitions of "serious youthful offender" and "youthful offender," affecting minors facing juvenile justice proceedings. Key changes include removing mandatory consultations with probation before filing petitions, eliminating required detention risk assessments, and allowing 14+ youth to waive amenability hearings. The bill also modifies court procedures by permitting electronic detention hearings, requiring segregation of serious youthful offenders from adults, and allowing transfers to adult facilities upon reaching 18. It removes restrictions on court-ordered commitments, mandates equal consideration of all amenability factors during sentencing, and shifts authority over releasing delinquent youth from the Children's Department. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and remains pending.

Maddy summaryHB 164 would increase cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for certain retired public employees in New Mexico. It provides a fixed 2% annual COLA for state retirees over 65 who retired before June 30, 2025, and a 2.5% annual COLA for retirees with 25+ years of service and disability retirees, effective July 1, 2025. The bill appropriates $10 million from the state general fund to cover the 2% increase, with unspent funds carried forward to future years. This replaces the previous formula-based COLA calculation for these groups, guaranteeing a higher minimum increase than the prior system allowed.

Maddy summaryHB 96 provides a temporary 2% annual payment on top of regular pension benefits for eligible retired members of New Mexico's Public Employees Retirement Act (PERA) during fiscal years 2026 and 2027. This non-compounding payment applies to retirees who have met specific eligibility criteria, such as having retired for at least two full years prior to the adjustment date. The bill appropriates $66 million from the general fund to cover these payments, which are calculated as 2% of each retiree's current pension amount (including prior adjustments). It does not affect current cost-of-living adjustments but adds this temporary benefit for qualifying retirees during the specified two-year period.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Planning Bureau within New Mexico's Economic Development Department to coordinate statewide growth planning. The bureau must collaborate with state agencies (transportation, environment, housing authorities), regional commissions, and tribal nations (upon request) to develop a comprehensive plan focused on jobs, housing, transportation needs, and interagency coordination. It requires the plan to be updated every three years. The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund to staff the bureau starting in fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds rolling over annually.

Maddy summaryHB 317 proposes a $2.5 million appropriation from the general fund to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, specifically to increase reimbursements paid to organizations providing services to seniors through New Mexico's aging network. The bill ensures any unspent funds from this allocation will not revert to the general fund, creating a permanent funding commitment for these providers. This direct funding change affects community-based service providers who support older adults, aiming to improve their financial stability without altering eligibility or service requirements.

Maddy summarySB 50 adds telecommunicators (such as 911 operators) to New Mexico's Law Enforcement Retention Fund, providing them with 5% annual salary retention payments after 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service. Law enforcement agencies must report detailed staffing data - including retention rates, hiring trends, and training metrics - to qualify for these funds. The bill also updates definitions (e.g., "safety agency," "telecommunicators"), requires accreditation for law enforcement academies, and changes terminology from "law enforcement officer" to "police officer" in training laws. This directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies employing telecommunicators and their training programs.

Maddy summarySB 30 provides a two percent annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for certain retired New Mexico state employees. It directly affects normal retired members over age 65 who retired from state government before July 1, 2025, by increasing their pension payments by 2% each July 1. The bill appropriates $10 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 and beyond to fund this adjustment, with unspent funds not reverting to the general fund. This replaces a previous reduction in COLA rates for this specific group of retirees.

Maddy summaryHB 394 creates a 17-member Clean Energy and Natural Resources Advisory Board within New Mexico's Energy Department, appointed by the Energy Secretary with gubernatorial approval. The board includes specific industry experts (e.g., renewable energy, oil/gas, forestry, academia) to provide annual advice to the Energy Secretary, governor, and legislative committees on clean energy implementation. It requires biannual meetings, establishes subcommittees, and is funded with $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed the House in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the Senate on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 448 creates the Office of Housing Planning and Production within New Mexico's Department of Finance and Administration to address housing challenges. The office will develop statewide housing strategies, collect and analyze housing data (including regional gaps and market trends), and provide technical assistance to local governments, tribes, and communities to increase housing availability - especially for low-income and homeless households. Key duties include streamlining land use regulations, promoting innovative housing solutions (like modular homes), and coordinating state and local efforts to reduce costs and grow housing capacity. This bill directly affects New Mexicans facing housing shortages, with a focus on improving access through data-driven policy and local partnerships.

Maddy summaryHB 49, the Closed Captioning Act, requires most public venues in New Mexico - including restaurants, stores, theaters, and hotels - to display closed captions (text showing dialogue) on TVs during regular business hours. It applies to any "place of public accommodation" where TVs are shown to the public, excluding only small operations like single-room rentals. Venues must enable captions unless TVs can’t display them or federal law exempts the program. The Attorney General enforces the law through public complaints and can impose fines up to $250 for first violations, increasing to $500 for repeat offenses.