Rep. Eleanor Chávez

Maddy summaryHB 552, the Medical Corporation Accountability Act, requires hospitals receiving local or state funding to disclose their ownership structures - including whether private equity or hedge funds own them - as well as health care provider salary ranges and CEO compensation. The Health Care Authority must then compile and report this information to the legislature annually starting in 2026. The bill also prohibits private equity funds and hedge funds from interfering with health care providers' professional decisions, such as treatment choices, staffing, or billing practices. This legislation aims to increase transparency around hospital ownership and protect clinical judgment from corporate influence.

Maddy summaryHB 343 requires hospitals and birthing centers to create written "Plans of Safe Care" for newborns affected by prenatal substance exposure (e.g., drugs or alcohol in utero). These plans must be shared with the child’s doctor, a care coordinator (if insured), and the parent/guardian at discharge, outlining needed services like substance use treatment, mental health support, or early intervention. The bill updates reporting rules to ensure hospitals share data about these cases with the Children, Youth and Families Department without triggering child abuse investigations. It directly affects hospitals, newborns with prenatal exposure, and their families by coordinating healthcare and social services post-discharge.

Maddy summaryHB 169, the Public Expression Protection Act, creates a legal shield to dismiss civil lawsuits targeting speech on public issues by allowing defendants to file a "special motion" within 60 days of being sued, which pauses all other legal proceedings until the motion is resolved. The law applies to communications in government proceedings, speech on public matters, or exercise of free speech rights, but excludes government employees acting officially, public safety enforcement, and business sales communications (while protecting creative works like journalism). If the court rules the speech is protected and the plaintiff fails to show the law doesn’t apply, the case is dismissed without trial. This bill directly affects individuals, journalists, activists, and organizations engaging in public discourse by making it easier to end lawsuits that could suppress such speech.

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 15 creates New Mexico's Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program within the Workforce Solutions Department to address healthcare shortages. The program targets recent graduates (within 10 years) of New Mexico public colleges in healthcare shortage fields who aren't currently working in the state, providing recruitment assistance, licensing navigation, job matching, and housing information. It requires collaboration with health and education agencies, tracks applicant data, and mandates annual reports on program success to the legislature. The bill appropriates $2 million for program start-up costs in fiscal year 2026.

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 summaryHB 40, titled the "Traveling with Dignity Act," requires all state-funded facilities serving 2,500+ annual visitors - including public buildings and large commercial venues like theaters or convention centers - to install at least one gender-neutral, accessible universal adult changing station in single-occupancy restrooms. Covered facilities must comply by July 1, 2032, with earlier deadlines for renovations costing over $50,000 or new constructions receiving state funding. The bill defines these stations as height-adjustable, adult-sized changing tables available to all genders. Currently pending after being postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, the law aims to improve accessibility for people with disabilities or caregiving needs during public outings.

Maddy summaryHB 375 creates the Graduate Behavioral Health Scholarship Act, providing debt-free education for New Mexico graduate students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in behavioral health fields (counseling, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, or addiction medicine). The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and licensing costs after other state aid is applied, but recipients must commit to practicing in New Mexico for a number of years equal to the scholarship duration. The Higher Education Department will administer the program using $10 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds rolling over annually. Students who graduate but fail to fulfill their practice commitment face penalties up to three times the scholarship value.

Maddy summaryThe Immigrant Safety Act prohibits New Mexico state and local government agencies - including police departments, jails, schools, and universities - from entering into or continuing agreements that allow federal immigration authorities to detain people for civil immigration violations. It requires immediate termination of any existing such agreements and bans the use of public property for this purpose. The law does not affect law enforcement's ability to detain individuals for criminal investigations under state law. Violations can be addressed through civil lawsuits filed by the attorney general to obtain court orders halting the practice.

Maddy summaryHB 72 would require New Mexico hospitals to maintain minimum nurse-to-patient ratios based on hospital unit types (like critical care, emergency departments, and labor units). It creates a staffing advisory committee with balanced representation from hospital administrators, direct-care nurses, and labor organizations to help set these ratios. Hospitals would need to develop written policies for staffing, training, and competency evaluations for both licensed and unlicensed staff. The bill mandates the Health Care Authority to establish specific numerical ratios by July 2026, with potential rural hospital adjustments, while requiring hospitals to meet these minimums for patient safety.