Rep. Nicole Chavez

Maddy summaryHB 43 amends New Mexico's Public Employees Retirement Act to clarify disability and survivor pension rules, including removing inconsistencies in survivor pension calculations. It creates a disability review committee within the retirement board to handle disability retirement claims. The bill also allows state fire members and other eligible public safety workers (like police officers) to earn retirement service credit during approved workers' compensation leave if their employer continues paying both employee and employer pension contributions. Technical changes are made to service credit purchase and reinstatement procedures for members.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 25 is a symbolic resolution honoring victims of violent crime and their families in New Mexico. It expresses the state's solidarity with these individuals, recognizes the impact of violent crime on families and communities, and directs that a copy be transmitted to the Crime Victims Reparation Commission chair. This memorial does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal statement of recognition.

Maddy summaryHB 341 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to issue identification cards to licensed foster parents who provide care for children in CYFD custody. The bill applies directly to foster parents with full, non-provisional licenses, providing them a physical card to verify their status as licensed providers during care. The key provision mandates CYFD to issue these cards upon full licensure, creating a standardized identification method. The bill passed committee review in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 345 requires New Mexico's child welfare department to conduct a behavioral health assessment for any child entering foster care within 45 days of placement. This assessment, specifically a "child and adolescent needs and strengths trauma assessment," must be followed by referrals to appropriate behavioral health services. The bill directly affects children entering foster care in New Mexico, ensuring they receive early mental health evaluations before permanent placement. It amends state law to mandate this process, replacing previous requirements with a standardized assessment framework. The law is set to take effect July 1, 2025, if passed.

Maddy summaryHB 163 amends New Mexico's Delinquency Act to define unlawful possession of cannabis and alcohol by minors as a "delinquent act." It directly affects children under 18 who possess cannabis or alcohol in prohibited settings, such as public places or retail establishments without parental supervision. The bill adds specific provisions: possessing cannabis (except under the Compassionate Use Act) or being present in liquor establishments (outside restaurants) without a parent/guardian now triggers juvenile court involvement. This expands the list of activities that would be treated as juvenile offenses under the law. The bill was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 445 expands New Mexico's Victims of Crime Act to cover all crime victims suffering bodily harm or property damage exceeding $1,000, replacing a previous list of specific violent crimes with a broader definition. It redefines "victim" to include anyone directly harmed by any qualifying crime, requires law enforcement to treat victims with dignity and privacy, and mandates electronic notification systems for victims about offender releases pre- and post-conviction. The bill also updates "formally charged" to include filing a criminal complaint and strengthens victims' rights to notice, restitution, and property return. This legislation directly affects all New Mexico crime victims, not just those of specified violent offenses. The bill was referred to committees in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 82 would allow New Mexico to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, enabling licensed physical therapists from participating states to practice in New Mexico without obtaining a separate license. The bill requires states to conduct federal criminal background checks and share disciplinary information to protect public safety, while maintaining each state's authority over licensure. It directly affects physical therapists seeking to practice across state lines and patients who would gain broader access to physical therapy services. The compact aims to simplify interstate practice without changing core state regulatory standards.

Maddy summaryHB 136 amends New Mexico's child abuse statute to explicitly include knowingly exposing a child to fentanyl use as "prima facie evidence" of child abuse. This change directly affects parents, guardians, or caregivers who allow children to be present during fentanyl use. The bill adds a specific provision (Section J) stating that such exposure automatically meets the legal standard for proving abuse, making it easier for authorities to pursue cases. It does not create new crimes but strengthens existing legal evidence for prosecuting abuse involving fentanyl. The bill is pending with a postponed committee hearing and would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 231 would expand New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Act to include assault, battery, criminal sexual contact, and armed robbery as offenses eligible for financial reparation to victims. This change directly affects victims of these specific crimes by adding them to the list of qualifying offenses under the existing law. The bill amends Section 31-22-8 of the state code to explicitly include these crimes as enumerated offenses for which reparation may be awarded. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and remains pending.

Maddy summaryHB 134 would revise New Mexico's Delinquency Act to expand definitions of "serious youthful offender" and "youthful offender," affecting minors facing juvenile justice proceedings. Key changes include removing mandatory consultations with probation before filing petitions, eliminating required detention risk assessments, and allowing 14+ youth to waive amenability hearings. The bill also modifies court procedures by permitting electronic detention hearings, requiring segregation of serious youthful offenders from adults, and allowing transfers to adult facilities upon reaching 18. It removes restrictions on court-ordered commitments, mandates equal consideration of all amenability factors during sentencing, and shifts authority over releasing delinquent youth from the Children's Department. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and remains pending.