Rep. Jenifer Jones

Maddy summaryHB 216 updates New Mexico's Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act to modernize definitions, registration fees, and safety rules for ATVs, snowmobiles, and recreational off-highway vehicles. It clarifies vehicle definitions (e.g., size, weight, seating requirements) and increases registration fees: a $17 base fee (with $5 covering processing costs) plus a variable user fee up to $40 per vehicle, all distributed to specific state funds. The bill also strengthens operational safety rules, prohibiting reckless operation, operation under the influence, or off-road use near livestock structures or agricultural areas without authorization. These changes directly affect OHV users, operators, and local agencies managing registration and enforcement.

Maddy summaryHB 14 creates the "Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact" to allow licensed dentists and dental hygienists from New Mexico to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It establishes a "compact privilege" that eliminates duplicate licensing requirements, directly affecting dental professionals seeking to work across state lines, including military personnel and their families. Key provisions include standardized background checks, shared disciplinary information between states, and requirements for practitioners to follow each state's scope of practice rules. The bill aims to improve access to dental services in underserved areas and streamline workforce mobility while maintaining state regulatory authority.

Maddy summaryHB 215 allows local and county governments in New Mexico to authorize recreational off-highway vehicles (like ATVs) to operate on paved streets and highways within their boundaries, subject to specific safety requirements. The bill requires vehicles to have headlights, taillights, brakes, mirrors, and mufflers; operators must hold valid driver’s licenses, off-highway vehicle permits, and insurance; and those under 18 must wear safety helmets. Local authorities can also set separate speed limits and operating restrictions for these vehicles on public roads. The bill maintains prohibitions against operating such vehicles on freeways, state game lands, and state parks without specific permission. It does not change existing rules for off-highway vehicle use on non-paved public lands.

Maddy summaryHB 10 establishes the Physician Assistant Licensure Interstate Compact, allowing physician assistants (PAs) licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without needing separate licenses. It requires states to mutually recognize PAs' licenses and mandates that PAs practice under the jurisdiction of the state where the patient is located at the time of care. The compact specifically benefits military families by enabling active-duty personnel and their spouses to use their home state license in other participating states, while states retain authority to take disciplinary action against PAs for safety concerns. This eliminates licensing barriers for PAs working across state lines while maintaining patient safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 28) is a non-binding request to New Mexico's governor, asking them to formally opt the state into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. It does not create new state law but urges the governor to submit an "advance election" to the IRS, allowing New Mexico residents to claim federal tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations supporting K-12 students. The program, enacted by federal law, enables dollar-for-dollar tax credits for charitable contributions to scholarship-granting groups, with no cost to New Mexico’s state budget. The memorial emphasizes that delaying this decision could redirect private donations to other states, potentially reducing educational funding opportunities for New Mexico families.

Maddy summaryHB 12 establishes New Mexico's participation in the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing physical therapists licensed in one participating state to practice in New Mexico without obtaining a separate license. The bill requires states to share disciplinary information, conduct federal background checks, and recognize licenses across member states, with practice always governed by the state where the patient is located. It directly affects physical therapists seeking to work across state lines, military spouses relocating with service members, and state licensing boards managing cross-jurisdictional practice. Key provisions include mutual license recognition, standardized criminal background checks, and mechanisms for states to share investigative data to protect public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 44 (Dental & Dental Hygienist Compact) proposes to create a multi-state agreement allowing licensed dentists and dental hygienists from New Mexico to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It establishes a "compact privilege" that would let qualified professionals work temporarily in other member states, reducing duplicative licensing requirements. The bill also requires state and federal criminal background checks for license applicants, as amended in the Dental Health Care Act. This aims to improve access to dental care, address workforce shortages, and facilitate mobility for military members and their families. The bill is currently under review by the House Health & Human Services and Judiciary Committees.

Maddy summaryHB 249 creates a New Mexico tax credit for health care practitioners who adopt digital medical records systems. It allows eligible practitioners (like physicians, nurses, and psychologists) to claim a credit equal to their payments for electronic medical records, up to $6,000 per year, if they meet specific requirements: providing at least 1,584 hours of care annually, working at a small health care institution (employing ≤10 practitioners), and maintaining payment records. The credit is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward if it exceeds tax liability, and practitioners cannot claim it if they already use a separate rural health care tax credit. The credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 66) requests the New Mexico Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of implementing a border crossing fee at the Santa Teresa port of entry. The study would examine legal authority, impacts on trade competitiveness, potential fee structures, economic effects on the Santa Teresa region, and infrastructure needs for the next 20 years. It does not propose a fee but seeks a report evaluating whether such a fee could fund infrastructure improvements for this major international trade corridor. The study must include input from local governments, stakeholders, and federal agencies before a November 2026 deadline.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 35) requests New Mexico's Health Care Authority to develop a Medicaid state plan amendment creating a pediatric palliative care benefit. It would allow children with serious, complex, or life-limiting conditions to receive supportive palliative care - including pain management, family support, and 24/7 nurse access - alongside curative treatments, without requiring a shift to hospice care. The benefit would be modeled on a 2024 UNM study, including specific quality measures and payment structures for providers. This would directly affect families of medically complex children in New Mexico who currently face barriers to accessing coordinated care under existing Medicaid rules.