Rep. Jenifer Jones

Maddy summaryHB 267 allows experienced physician assistants (with three or more years of clinical practice) to supervise newly licensed physician assistants, rather than requiring supervision only by licensed physicians. This change directly affects new PAs seeking supervision and experienced PAs who may qualify to oversee them. The bill amends New Mexico’s Physician Assistant Act to establish a board-approved process for experienced PAs to supervise new PAs, as specified in Section 3 of the amended law. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 266 eliminates a requirement that physician assistants (PAs) in New Mexico must maintain a formal supervising or collaborating relationship with a licensed physician to practice. This change directly affects PAs by allowing them to practice independently after initial licensure, removing the need for ongoing physician oversight. The bill amends Section 61-6C-3 of the state law to state that PAs "may practice independently" without supervision, while keeping other requirements like biennial certification and fees intact. The key mechanism is the repeal of the supervision mandate, shifting PAs toward greater autonomy within their scope of practice.

Maddy summaryHB 234 requires healthcare providers to provide immediate, medically appropriate care to any infant born alive during childbirth or abortion procedures, regardless of gestational age. It defines "born alive" as an infant showing signs of life (breathing, heartbeat, etc.) and mandates reporting of care failures to law enforcement. The bill creates criminal penalties for intentionally harming or killing such infants and allows civil lawsuits for violations, including triple damages. It also establishes a task force to monitor compliance and requires monthly inspections of abortion facilities. This law directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, and abortion clinics in New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 303 defines exposure of a child to Schedule I or II controlled substances (like opioids or methamphetamine) as child abuse under New Mexico law. It directly affects parents or caregivers who knowingly allow children to be exposed to these drugs, including newborns testing positive due to prenatal drug exposure. The bill creates specific provisions allowing hospital staff to temporarily place affected newborns (under 72 hours old) into protective custody without a court order if they show withdrawal symptoms or are in drug-manufacturing environments. This amends existing child abuse statutes to clarify that drug exposure constitutes abuse, with penalties ranging from third-degree felony for first offenses to first-degree felony if harm occurs.

Maddy summaryHB 577 creates a 12-member "Towing Services Oversight and Advisory Board" within New Mexico's Department of Transportation. The board, with members representing each of the state's six transportation districts, will review towing service policies, handle citizen complaints, mediate disputes, audit compliance with regulations, and submit quarterly reports to the Department. This bill directly affects licensed towing companies, the Department of Transportation, and residents who use towing services by establishing formal oversight mechanisms. The board's duties and structure become effective July 1, 2025, with initial appointments due by January 2026.

Maddy summarySB 25 increases penalties for selling or trafficking large quantities of fentanyl in New Mexico. It specifically enhances the basic prison sentence by three years when a court finds that one kilogram or more of fentanyl was sold or trafficked under existing drug laws. This change directly affects individuals convicted of large-scale fentanyl distribution, targeting the most severe cases. The bill modifies sentencing guidelines without altering the underlying criminal statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 207 would expand New Mexico's adoption tax credit to apply to the adoption of any child (not just those deemed "special needs"), increasing the credit amount from $1,500 to $7,000 per adopted child. The bill allows taxpayers who adopt a child to claim this credit against their state income tax liability, with any excess credit refunded if it exceeds the tax owed. It applies to taxpayers filing individual New Mexico income tax returns who adopt a child on or after January 1, 2025. The credit would be available for each year the child qualifies as a dependent for federal tax purposes.

Maddy summaryHB 376 creates a Border Security Division within New Mexico's Department of Public Safety (DPS) to prevent illegal entry of people, contraband, and firearms, enforce immigration laws, operate checkpoints, and establish satellite offices in Santa Teresa and Columbus. It also grants the governor authority to develop interstate agreements with other states for sharing border security intelligence and resources like physical barriers or surveillance systems. Additionally, the bill increases penalties for drug trafficking that causes death, requiring a minimum 12-year prison term for first offenses resulting in death, and raises fines for related violations. These provisions directly affect border communities, DPS operations, and individuals convicted of severe drug trafficking offenses.

Maddy summaryHB 271 defines "health care sharing ministries" as faith-based, nonprofit organizations that coordinate participant contributions for medical expenses, distinguishing them from insurance. The bill requires these ministries to provide written disclaimers stating they are not insurance, that contributions are voluntary, and participants remain personally responsible for medical costs. It also mandates ministries to suggest contribution amounts without guaranteeing payments and to issue monthly statements detailing expenses. This directly affects ministries operating in New Mexico and their participants, clarifying that such organizations cannot be classified as insurers under state law.

Maddy summaryHB 465 strengthens protections for New Mexico nurses who refuse unsafe assignments or medically unreasonable orders under the "safe harbor" provision. It requires healthcare facilities to create written processes allowing nurses to formally invoke safe harbor (with supervisor notification and documented reasons), conduct post-occurrence reviews involving other nurses, and prohibits retaliation like demotions, termination, or reporting to nursing boards for good-faith requests. The bill directly affects nurses facing unsafe work conditions and their healthcare employers, mandating specific procedural safeguards. It explicitly bans facility retaliation against nurses who use safe harbor, ensuring they can raise safety concerns without professional consequences. The law focuses on concrete policy changes to protect patient safety and nurse autonomy.