Rep. Marian Matthews

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 426 requires mobile home park owners to provide residents with specific written notice before selling the park, including details of any third-party offer and the residents' right to purchase. The bill gives residents 90 days to form a cooperative group (with 51% approval), secure financing within an additional 90 days, and close the purchase within 270 days total - matching the third-party offer's terms. If residents meet these deadlines, the owner must negotiate in good faith and cannot delay or refuse the purchase. The bill also mandates owners to record compliance affidavits and imposes penalties (up to $100,000 or 20% of the park's value) for noncompliance, though it was postponed indefinitely in the Senate in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 125 would have prohibited conservators (people managing estates for others who cannot manage their own affairs) and their agents or representatives from accepting liability waivers. The bill specifically banned requesting, procuring, or receiving any waiver that would release conservators from financial responsibility for mistakes made while managing an estate. This would have required conservators to remain personally liable for errors in estate management, rather than allowing waivers to limit that liability. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 39 modifies New Mexico's firearm possession laws by prohibiting adults with certain juvenile firearm offenses from receiving, transporting, or possessing firearms. It directly affects adults aged 18+ who had a juvenile court disposition involving firearm use that would be a felony if committed as an adult, provided less than 10 years have passed since the disposition and no pardon was granted. The bill adds this category to existing prohibitions under Section 30-7-16 NMSA, expanding background checks to include these juvenile records. This change ensures such individuals remain barred from firearm access even if their juvenile record was later sealed under Section 32A-2-26.

Maddy summaryHB 242, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow New Mexico psychologists to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer temporary in-person care (up to 30 days yearly) in other participating states without needing full licensure there. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses, requires shared access to disciplinary records via a coordinated database, and creates standardized certifications like the E.Passport for cross-state practice. This bill directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to provide services beyond New Mexico and their clients in states that adopt the compact. The compact aims to expand access to psychological care while maintaining public safety through coordinated licensing oversight among participating states. (Note: The bill is pending, having been postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 10 establishes a dedicated Enforcement Bureau within New Mexico's Regulation and Licensing Department to oversee cannabis industry compliance. The bureau, staffed by certified law enforcement officers, has authority to conduct inspections (both announced and unannounced), embargo suspect products, seize items violating regulations, and investigate violations. Businesses (licensees) face penalties including felony charges for tampering with embargoed products or selling recalled items, while the bureau must provide written notice and allow administrative hearings for disputes. The law also creates procedures for product recalls, temporary holds on goods, and destruction of illegal or unsafe cannabis products at the licensee's expense. This bill, signed into law on April 9, 2025, directly affects all cannabis businesses operating under New Mexico's regulatory framework.