Rep. Rebecca Dow

Maddy summarySB 247 requires New Mexico's Public Education Department to publish annual results of state-approved science, math, and English language arts assessments by September 1 each year. It mandates the department to include statewide performance trends and disaggregated data broken down by student demographics (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special education status) and school-level performance. The results must be published in an easily accessible, user-friendly format on a dedicated website maintained by the department. This directly affects public schools, parents, educators, and students by making assessment data more transparent and available for review. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 414 requires New Mexico counties to reimburse sheriffs and deputies for daily transportation expenses when moving inmates, people charged with crimes, or individuals in law enforcement custody. The reimbursement must use the same daily rate established by the state's Per Diem and Mileage Act for government travel. This bill creates a mandatory reimbursement system for these specific transportation costs, which were not previously explicitly required of counties. The bill passed committee approval but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

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 561 requires New Mexico agricultural employers providing housing to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers to comply with existing U.S. Department of Labor housing standards, rather than creating new state rules. It directly affects farms and agricultural businesses in New Mexico that house seasonal workers. The bill adopts federal standards for housing conditions, including requirements for sanitation, safety, and space. The bill was referred to committees in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and is currently inactive.

Maddy summaryHB 241 clarifies financial terms used in New Mexico's gaming tax calculations. It defines "allowable gaming expenses" to include specific costs like security, employee salaries, license fees, and maintenance, and defines "balance of net take" as revenue remaining after paying taxes and these expenses. This change directly affects gaming operators by standardizing how they calculate taxable income under the Gaming Control Act. The bill does not alter tax rates or create new requirements - only refines existing definitions for clarity. (Procedural bill; summary under 2 sentences.)

Maddy summaryHB 411 proposes adding Smithsonite as New Mexico's official mineral by amending state law to include it in the list of designated state symbols. This symbolic bill directly affects New Mexico's official state identity by expanding its catalog of recognized symbols, which already includes items like the yucca flower and chile vegetables. The bill's mechanism is purely procedural - requiring a statutory update to the existing list without imposing new regulations or affecting any policies. As a purely symbolic measure with no fiscal or regulatory impact, it does not change how state government operates or affect any residents' rights or obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 542 creates a $7,000 refundable income tax credit for New Mexico residents who give birth to a child during the taxable year. It directly affects new parents who are state residents, not claimed as dependents by another individual, and requires certification through the Children, Youth and Families Department. The credit is claimed within three years of certification, with any amount exceeding the taxpayer's liability refunded. The policy applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and would be included in the state's tax expenditure budget. (Note: The bill was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.)

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 501 requires New Mexico public school employees to immediately report to a school administrator if a student expresses gender incongruence (a difference between biological sex and perceived gender) or requests social affirmation or transition support at school. The school administrator must then notify the student's parent and obtain their written permission to develop a response plan, which may include counseling and parental involvement. The bill defines key terms and mandates parental consent before schools implement any formal response for students with gender incongruence. It does not restrict student gender expression but establishes a reporting and parental notification process. The bill is currently pending in committee as of June 3, 2025.