Rep. Meredith Dixon

Maddy summaryHB 408 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to conduct a study every five years, starting in 2026, to examine the costs and reimbursement rates for community-based foster care placements and treatment services. The study must cover specific expenses like safety resources, food, clothing, shelter, and daily needs for foster parents and other caregivers (referred to as "resource families" in the bill). CYFD must submit the initial study to the legislative finance committee by December 1, 2025, and $100,000 is allocated from the general fund for this purpose in fiscal year 2026. This bill mandates a regular review of foster care funding without changing current policies or reimbursement rates.

Maddy summaryHB 403 increases the percentage of oil and gas tax revenue distributed to New Mexico's Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund from two-nineteenths to 19.7 percent, providing more funding for cleanup efforts. The bill requires that at least $40 million or 5% of the fund's average value over the past three years be used annually for surveying abandoned wells and planning their reclamation, while also capping energy education spending at $150,000 per year. It clarifies that the state can plug wells on federal lands without bonds and later seek reimbursement from oil and gas operators through legal action. This legislation would expand resources for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas sites and improving environmental conditions across New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 525 adds "second degree homicide by vehicle" to New Mexico's legal definition of "serious violent offense." This change directly affects prisoners convicted of this offense, limiting their eligibility for meritorious deductions - reducing their monthly sentence reduction from up to 30 days (for nonviolent offenses) to a maximum of four days. The bill amends Section 33-2-34 of New Mexico law, which governs how prisoners earn time off sentences through participation in approved programs. As a result, individuals convicted of second degree homicide by vehicle will have fewer opportunities to shorten their prison terms via these deductions.

Maddy summarySB 119 authorizes the New Mexico Bioscience Authority to invest in bioscience companies operating in New Mexico or relocating to New Mexico, requiring each company to maintain a minimum of five in-state employees with an average annual salary of $60,000. The bill establishes assessment criteria for investments, including market opportunity, financial stability, and projected economic benefits over five years, and mandates co-investing with qualified external organizations where the state provides no more than one-third of the total investment. Investment contracts require companies to either fully reimburse the state if they fail to meet obligations or demonstrate that their economic benefits to New Mexico exceeded the state's investment cost. The bill also creates a Bioscience Development Fund to manage these investments, with repayment priority in bankruptcy scenarios. (Note: Bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 111 requires first responders (law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs) in New Mexico to make a reasonable effort to search for a missing qualified service animal when notified during an emergency, while prioritizing human safety. It directly affects individuals with disabilities who rely on trained service animals (dogs or miniature horses that perform specific tasks), excluding emotional support or therapy animals. The bill amends existing law to add this obligation, ensuring service animals are not left unattended during evacuations or relocations. The bill passed the House in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 212 creates a tax credit for New Mexico national laboratories that receive federal funds for quantum testing and evaluation services or quantum device fabrication, matching the federal funds dollar-for-dollar. The credit is capped at $15 million per year per laboratory and $60 million total across all laboratories, requiring certification from the Economic Development Department and claiming within one year of receiving federal funds. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to 60 years, and the credit expires July 1, 2035. The bill aims to support quantum industry growth in New Mexico by aligning state tax incentives with federal quantum initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 202 creates a one-time $750 income tax credit for New Mexico taxpayers who purchase certified secure gun storage (like safes or lock boxes) after July 1, 2025. The credit, limited to $1 million total annually, requires proof of purchase and safety certification from the Department of Public Safety, with applications due within 12 months of purchase. Taxpayers may claim the credit against their tax liability, and any excess credit is refundable. The bill is currently stalled, having been postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, after passing committee review.

Maddy summarySB 255 requires standard background checks for most private firearm sales in New Mexico, creating two new offenses: selling a firearm without a background check and facilitating such sales. It directly affects private sellers (not licensed dealers), online platforms enabling sales, and individuals involved in transactions bypassing checks. Key provisions include mandating background checks for all non-licensed sales (with exceptions for immediate family, law enforcement, and licensed dealers), penalizing platforms that fail to prevent illegal sales through reasonable measures, and adding these offenses to the state's racketeering definition for enhanced penalties. The bill aims to prevent firearm sales to prohibited buyers by strengthening background check requirements and accountability for facilitators.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a regulatory framework for storing carbon dioxide underground in geologic formations (like rock layers or aquifers) to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. It requires companies (called "operators") seeking to store CO2 to form "sequestration units" covering the necessary land and subsurface pore space, with specific processes for acquiring rights from landowners and submitting detailed applications to the Oil Conservation Division. The law applies to new storage projects after its effective date, excludes projects using CO2 for oil recovery, and establishes the division's authority to enforce rules and approve projects based on geologic evidence and landowner notifications.

Maddy summarySB 244 creates a new crime in New Mexico for knowingly giving a firearm to someone under 19, unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions cover supervised activities like hunter safety courses, legal hunting, target shooting at authorized ranges, or transfers from parents/guardians. Violating this law would be a second-degree felony, with each firearm transferred counting as a separate offense. The bill also adds "unlawful transfer of a firearm to a minor" to New Mexico’s definition of racketeering offenses. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.