Rep. Rebecca Dow

Maddy summaryHB 203 changes how members are appointed to New Mexico's Spaceport Authority board. It shifts appointment authority from the current process to require the governor to appoint two members (with Senate consent), while the Senate President, House Speaker, Senate Minority Leader, and House Minority Leader each appoint one member. The bill also mandates that one appointed member must reside in Sierra County, limits the board to no more than three members from the same political party, and sets new qualifications like experience in aerospace, aviation, or public finance. These changes will take effect on July 1, 2026, for all future appointments.

Maddy summaryHB 114 appropriates $1 million from the general fund to expand New Mexico's Double Up Food Bucks program for fiscal year 2027. The bill directly helps SNAP participants by doubling their purchasing power for meat, nuts, eggs, and fresh fruits/vegetables at New Mexico farmers' markets. It requires the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University to manage the funds, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by year-end. This concrete funding increase aims to increase access to fresh, healthy food for low-income residents at local farmers' markets.

Maddy summaryHB 186 increases tax credits for landowners who donate property for conservation or preservation purposes. For donations made on or after July 1, 2026, it raises the credit to 80% of the land's fair market value (up from 50%), with a new $2 million annual cap (up from $250,000). The credit is refundable (meaning taxpayers receive cash if it exceeds their tax bill) and can be transferred in $10,000 increments to other taxpayers. This directly affects landowners donating conservation easements or similar permanent interests to eligible public or private conservation groups, such as those preserving farmland, historic sites, or natural habitats.

Maddy summaryHB 157 allocates $100,000 from the state general fund to New Mexico's Department of Health to create a website and hotline for expectant families and new parents. The resource will provide direct access to information on social services, financial assistance, adoption services, pregnancy care, parenting guidance, and local care centers. The funding is limited to fiscal year 2027, with any unused balance returning to the state budget. This bill does not change existing laws but provides new public access to existing support resources.

Maddy summaryHB 235 requires medical examiners to conduct detailed autopsies and report specific sudden unexpected deaths of people under 20 to state and national health registries. It applies to sudden cardiac deaths in apparently healthy young people without known heart disease, unexplained natural deaths under 20, and infant deaths under one year (whether explained or unexplained). Autopsies must include toxicology, microscopic studies, and a review of medical and immunization records, with a focus on vaccines given within 90 days of death. The findings will be submitted to the New Mexico state registrar and a national CDC/NIH registry to standardize data collection for public health research.

Maddy summaryHB 233, the "Protection of Women's Sports Act," requires New Mexico public schools and athletic clubs to designate sports teams and events as either for males, females, or coed. It mandates that participants in female-designated teams must be biologically female, verified by birth certificate sex at or near birth, and prohibits males from competing on such teams. The bill allows males to serve only as non-roster practice players without displacing female athletes. Violations permit private lawsuits for damages or injunctions, with a one-year filing deadline. This law directly affects high school and college athletic programs, governing team eligibility and competition rules.

Maddy summaryHB 31 creates the Emergency Medical Services Personnel Licensure Interstate Compact, allowing EMTs and paramedics licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining new licenses. It directly affects EMS professionals who work across state lines and the states that join the compact. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary actions (like license suspensions), and requiring home states to use national registry exams and investigate complaints. This streamlines emergency response during cross-state incidents while maintaining public safety through shared accountability. The compact aims to increase access to licensed EMS personnel and reduce licensing barriers for providers.

Maddy summaryHB 245 prohibits New Mexico public schools from denying enrollment to school-age students based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, or residential address. It requires school boards to post grade-level vacancy counts every 12 weeks and enroll applicants on a first-come, first-served basis when space is available. The bill also limits school boards' ability to create enrollment preferences beyond specific priorities and mandates annual public reporting of enrollment data to the state education department. This directly affects all public school districts and students seeking enrollment across New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 214, the Consumer Information and Data Protection Act, creates new rules for businesses handling personal data in New Mexico. It directly affects New Mexico residents ("consumers") by granting them rights to access, correct, or delete their personal data, and requiring businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent for data processing - prohibiting "dark patterns" that trick users. Key provisions include special protections for children's data, sensitive health information (like reproductive or mental health data), and biometric data, while banning the use of precise location tracking without consent. Businesses must also implement security measures and cannot use de-identified data for re-identification. The bill does not apply to publicly available information or de-identified data.

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.