Rep. Joy Garratt

Maddy summaryHB 134 creates a new crime for knowingly installing a GPS tracking device to monitor another person's location without their knowledge, consent, or permission. This law applies to individuals who place such devices on vehicles or property to track movements, classifying the offense as a petty misdemeanor. Exemptions cover certified law enforcement officers acting in official duties and licensed private investigators. The bill defines a "global positioning system" as any device transmitting location data to track a person, vehicle, or property.

Maddy summaryHB 67 requires courts issuing domestic violence protection orders to mandate that restrained parties immediately surrender all firearms in their possession or control to law enforcement or a federal firearms licensee. This applies to all protection orders, with courts permitted to allow alternative surrender methods or timing if needed. The bill also mandates law enforcement to provide written receipts to both the restrained party and the petitioning party within 72 hours, detailing surrendered firearms and filing copies with the court. It directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protection orders and law enforcement agencies handling firearm surrenders.

Maddy summaryHB 149 expands access to facility financing for New Mexico charter schools by amending the New Mexico Finance Authority Act. It allows the state finance authority to provide loans from the Charter School Facility Revolving Fund to nonprofit foundations or support organizations affiliated with charter schools - previously limited to schools themselves. The bill also requires charter schools to receive the maximum available grant from the Public School Capital Outlay Fund for lease assistance and caps their local contribution to capital projects at 10%. These changes directly affect charter schools and their affiliated nonprofit groups by improving their ability to secure funding for facility construction, renovation, or lease-purchase agreements.

Maddy summaryHB 175 requires New Mexico school districts and state-chartered charter schools to report detailed transportation data, including the number of students transported (especially special education and charter school students), bus routes, miles traveled, and any expansion of services compared to the previous year. If a district or charter school reports expanded transportation services (such as new routes, increased miles, or more riders), it receives an immediate funding allocation for that expansion during the current school year. This allocation may be adjusted in the following year based on final data, as determined by the Public Education Department. The bill directly affects school districts and charter schools by linking their transportation funding to specific, reported service metrics.

Maddy summaryThis joint memorial (HJM 1) expresses New Mexico's legislative support for strengthening ties between Taiwan and both the U.S. and New Mexico. It specifically encourages cooperation in trade, technology, education, and Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations like the WHO and UN climate talks. The memorial calls for creating a "New Mexico-Taiwan friendship caucus" to coordinate regular official exchanges, trade missions, and academic partnerships. It directs New Mexico’s economic agencies and universities to develop joint programs with Taiwan, aligning with U.S. policy on Taiwan engagement.

Maddy summaryHB 185 authorizes New Mexico's Public Education Secretary to require local school board members to correct failures in performing legally required duties, such as adhering to school laws or regulations. If a board member doesn't fix the issue within 30 days of written notice, the Secretary may suspend them, with the member able to request a hearing under administrative procedures. During suspension, the Secretary (or a designee) can temporarily vote to break budget deadlocks in the school district. The bill directly affects school board members who neglect statutory duties under the Public School Code.

Maddy summaryHB 146 increases penalties for individuals with felony convictions who possess firearms or destructive devices. For a first offense, it raises the penalty to five years in prison (previously a general third-degree felony without a specified term). It also creates a new second-offense penalty of nine years for repeat offenders, applying specifically to those convicted of felonies within the past decade. The bill directly affects people with recent felony convictions who unlawfully possess firearms, including those convicted of certain violent crimes or under protection orders.

Maddy summaryHB 155 expands local and state authority to restrict fireworks during droughts or dangerous weather. Municipalities and counties can issue proclamations banning specific fireworks (like missile rockets) or limiting use to paved/barren areas after hearings, while the State Fire Marshal can issue statewide orders prohibiting sales/use when fire risks threaten lives or property. Violating these orders becomes a crime with increased penalties, and property owners allowing violations may face civil fines. The bill directly affects fireworks sellers, users, and property owners in New Mexico during declared emergency conditions.

Maddy summaryHB 100 appropriates $3 million from the state general fund to the Public Education Department for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Network during fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports public schools and educational institutions in New Mexico by financing STEM programs and resources. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 must revert to the general fund. The bill establishes a specific, time-bound funding mechanism without altering existing education policies or creating new requirements for schools.

Maddy summarySB 76 increases New Mexico's gasoline tax from 17 cents to 23 cents per gallon and raises the special fuel excise tax from 21 cents to 26 cents per gallon. This bill directly affects all consumers and businesses purchasing gasoline or special fuels in New Mexico, as it raises the cost per gallon for these products. The key change is the specific tax rate increase for both fuel types, effective July 1, 2026. The bill makes no other policy changes beyond adjusting these excise tax rates.