Rep. Stefani Lord

Maddy summaryHB 170 requires New Mexico voters to present identification at polling places and when requesting mail ballots. It allows voters to use photo IDs, utility bills, or other government documents (including tribal IDs) instead of a driver's license for in-person voting, while requiring a driver's license or MVD ID plus Social Security number for mail ballots. The bill mandates the Motor Vehicle Division to issue free voter ID cards and provides free copies of ID documents at government offices. This directly affects all New Mexico voters participating in person or by mail, changing current voting requirements.

Maddy summaryHJR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace New Mexico's current public education governance structure. It creates a new State Board of Education to set school policies, manage public school finances, and appoint a superintendent, while retaining the Public Education Commission as the chartering authority for state-chartered charter schools. The amendment specifies that both the Board and Commission will have ten elected members serving staggered four-year terms in district-based elections, with the first elections held in 2028. This change requires voter approval at the next general election.

Maddy summarySB 152 allows New Mexico counties to request a two-year pause on new cannabis producer licenses by petitioning the Cannabis Control Division. If approved, the division cannot issue new licenses for commercial or medical cannabis production in that county during the moratorium period. Counties must submit petitions within 10 days of approval, and the division must decide within 10 days, with counties able to request an early end if needed. The bill was advanced by committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it has not become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "family in need of court-ordered services" to include two new scenarios: children alleged to be involved in acts that would be prostitution if committed by adults, and children identified as victims of human trafficking. It adds these situations to the list where court intervention may be necessary for child welfare. The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund to help courts implement this expansion, with unused funds reverting to the general fund by 2026. This directly affects children in these specific circumstances and the child welfare system, requiring courts to consider these cases under the updated definition starting July 2025.

Maddy summaryHJR 6 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Mexico voters to initiate the recall of elected state officials in the executive or legislative branches through a petition process. To trigger a recall, voters must collect signatures from at least 25% of the people who voted in the last election for that office within 90 days (for district-level offices) or 180 days (for statewide offices). If validated, a special election is held within 90 days to vote on removal, with a majority "yes" vote resulting in the official's removal and the top candidate for the office taking over for the remainder of the term. This would apply to positions like governors, legislators, and other constitutionally created offices, with restrictions on timing and multiple recalls per term.

Maddy summaryHB 566 exempts certain law enforcement personnel from New Mexico's standard 7-day firearm waiting period. It specifically applies to active certified law enforcement officers, former/retired officers, commissioned officers with arrest powers, and tribal law enforcement officers who are not disqualified from firearm possession. The bill amends existing law to remove the waiting period requirement for these individuals when purchasing firearms, while maintaining the 7-day waiting period for all other buyers. This change directly affects qualified law enforcement personnel during firearm purchases, without altering the general waiting period for the public.

Maddy summaryHB 384 would repeal New Mexico's existing seven-day waiting period for firearm purchases, directly affecting individuals buying firearms in the state. The bill targets Section 30-7-7.3 NMSA 1978 (enacted in 2024), removing the requirement that retailers wait seven days before transferring a firearm to a buyer. This change would allow immediate firearm sales without the current waiting period. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the legislature on June 3, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 485, the School Marshal Act, creates a program allowing school districts to employ retired or former law enforcement officers as "school marshals" who may carry concealed firearms on school premises. To qualify, individuals must have at least three years of law enforcement experience, hold a concealed carry permit, and complete state-approved training. School marshals may only carry weapons with school board permission and are restricted to using force only to prevent serious bodily harm or death. The bill requires school districts to develop policies for firearm storage, mandates notification of law enforcement agencies about marshals, and specifies that marshals do not earn retirement benefits.

Maddy summaryHB 320 defines necrophilia (sexual acts with a dead body) and criminal desecration of dead bodies as specific crimes in New Mexico. It classifies using a dead body for sexual purposes (e.g., intercourse or penetration) as a second-degree felony, and touching a dead body's intimate parts for sexual reasons as a third-degree felony. The bill also criminalizes dismemberment, disfigurement, or burning of a dead body as a fourth-degree felony. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the House committees in June 2025, so it did not advance.

Maddy summaryHB 83 would allow adults aged 18 or older who are not prohibited by law from possessing firearms to carry loaded handguns on their person - either concealed or openly - without needing a permit. It repeals current permit requirements and modifies existing laws to clarify that carrying unloaded firearms remains permitted. The bill does not change restrictions on carrying firearms on buses (requiring company approval) or apply to individuals prohibited by federal/state law or court orders. This directly affects all eligible New Mexico adults seeking to carry firearms in public without a permit.