Rep. Cristina Parajón

Maddy summaryHB 527 would require New Mexico health insurers to cover medical cannabis for patients with qualifying debilitating conditions (like cancer, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis) as defined in the state's Compassionate Use Act. Insurers must provide coverage for an "adequate supply" (three months' worth from in-state retailers) either through direct payment to cannabis retailers or reimbursement to patients. This applies to both private insurance plans under the Health Care Purchasing Act and public assistance programs under the Public Assistance Act. The bill specifies that coverage must align with medical standards and comply with department of health rules, but it remains pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 529 appropriates $14 million from the general fund to the Civil Legal Services Fund for housing-related civil legal services in New Mexico, starting in fiscal year 2026. The funding directly supports low-income residents needing legal assistance with housing issues like evictions, lease disputes, or housing discrimination. Unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2026 will not revert to the general fund, ensuring continued support. The bill aims to expand access to legal aid specifically for housing challenges through dedicated, ongoing funding.

Maddy summaryHJM 10 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Higher Education Department to study strategies for increasing youth voter participation in public schools and colleges. It asks the department to examine how automatic voter registration (like when renewing driver's licenses) and civic engagement programs could encourage students to become lifelong voters, with findings to inform future legislation. The bill does not create new laws but seeks research to address low youth voter turnout, citing that 14% of ballots in 2024 came from voters aged 18-24.

Maddy summaryHB 418 would require mobile home rental agreements in New Mexico to have a minimum 24-month initial term, extend the notice period for nonpayment of rent from 30 to 60 days, and prohibit landlords from increasing rent during land use change notice periods. It clarifies termination procedures, mandates landlords to disclose mailing addresses in disputes, and bans unreasonable restrictions on tenants selling their mobile homes. The bill directly affects mobile home tenants and landlords in New Mexico by increasing lease stability and transparency. Key provisions aim to prevent abrupt evictions and provide clearer tenant protections under the Mobile Home Park Act.

Maddy summarySB 68 updates New Mexico's Graduate Scholarship Act to expand access for graduate students. It removes the requirement that recipients be U.S. citizens or hold permanent resident visas, lowers the minimum enrollment from full-time to six credit hours per semester, and adds a requirement of a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA or a paid faculty support position. Scholarships now cover up to 100% of tuition and fees (replacing a fixed $7,200 annual amount), while maintaining priority for New Mexico residents with financial need and those from underrepresented groups in graduate education. The bill applies to students enrolled in eligible New Mexico graduate programs at accredited state universities.

Maddy summarySB 141 proposes to increase New Mexico's corporate income tax rate from 5% to 6.9% and establish a $100,000 gross receipts threshold for out-of-state businesses to be subject to state taxation. It creates a new $100,000 deduction for businesses that did not claim tax credits or deductions in the previous year, provided they maintained business activity throughout that year. The bill also includes $100,000 in funding for tax administration software updates. This legislation, introduced by Senator Peter Wirth, was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and would affect businesses with significant New Mexico sales activity.

Maddy summaryHB 250 requires all New Mexico correctional facilities (including jails, prisons, and detention centers operated by state, local, or private entities) to provide free menstrual hygiene products to people in custody who menstruate or experience uterine/vaginal bleeding. The bill mandates facilities to develop policies ensuring products like pads, tampons, and panty liners are available at no cost upon admission, routinely, and on request without medical referral. Facilities must offer product choices (including combinations) and maintain availability regardless of confinement conditions, except for safety reasons. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting incarcerated individuals with menstrual needs.

Maddy summaryHB 253 requires that court records for eviction cases be sealed (made inaccessible to the public) from the start of the case. The records remain sealed until 15 days after a court orders the landlord to take possession, unless the tenant appeals or the parties agree to keep them sealed. After that period, records become public but must be resealed after three years or if a tenant petitions for resealing based on "interests of justice." The bill also prohibits courts from publishing tenant or landlord names online and exempts tenants from disclosing evictions to third parties.

Maddy summaryHB 27, the Librarian Protection Act, requires New Mexico public libraries to adopt policies preventing the banning of library materials based on content, author's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or political/religious views. Libraries must follow either the American Library Association's 2019 Library Bill of Rights or a state-approved policy explicitly prohibiting such bans to receive state funding. The law also prohibits local governments from reducing a library's funding for complying with these policies. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, aiming to protect diverse library collections and access for all patrons.

Maddy summaryHB 459 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a pollinator research, education, and outreach program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. The program must align with recommendations from a prior legislative report (House Memorial 33) and focuses on supporting healthy pollinator habitats and conservation through research and public education. Funding covers fiscal years 2026-2028, with no more than $150,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent funds revert to the general fund by 2028. The bill directly affects IAIA’s operations and aims to benefit pollinators (like bees and butterflies) and New Mexico ecosystems through science-based conservation efforts.