Rep. Luis Terrazas

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to issue revenue bonds totaling up to $11.7 million for cancer center improvements at the Gila Regional Medical Center in Grant County and Nor-Lea General Hospital in Lea County. The funds would cover construction, equipment (like a PET scanner and clean room), and technology upgrades, including an electronic health records system, to enhance cancer treatment services. Local officials must certify the need for bond issuance, and existing funds from the rural county cancer treatment fund may supplement bond proceeds. The bill directly affects these two rural medical facilities and their patients by expanding cancer care infrastructure.

Maddy summaryHB 132 would create a legal presumption that specific health conditions are work-related for New Mexico police officers, directly affecting commissioned officers (including sheriffs, deputies, and certain missile range civilian police) who meet the eligibility criteria. The bill presumes that PTSD (after 20 years for pre-2013 hires, 25 years for later hires), back pain from wearing a duty belt, and heart issues (same timeframes) were caused by employment. Employers could rebut these presumptions with evidence showing non-work-related causes, but would initially cover medical treatment until a court rules otherwise. If a court finds the condition isn’t work-related, the employer’s insurer would be reimbursed by the officer’s health insurance plan.

Maddy summaryHB 262 amends New Mexico's Transportation Emergency Fund to explicitly allow grants for small rural school districts to purchase buses specifically for student activities. This change directly affects small rural school districts by creating a new, targeted funding source for transportation needs beyond existing uses like fuel price spikes. The bill adds this provision to the fund's existing purpose, ensuring money remains available year-to-year without reverting to the general fund. The state education secretary must track and report all distributions to the governor and relevant legislative committees, as required by current fund rules.

Maddy summaryHB 261 allocates $3 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Public Education Department to provide grants for small rural school districts to purchase buses specifically for student activities (such as sports and clubs). The funds must be expended by the end of fiscal year 2027, with any unused balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects small rural school districts that lack resources for activity transportation. It is a funding measure, not a policy change, providing targeted financial support for existing extracurricular needs.

Maddy summaryHB 285 clarifies rules for New Mexico's existing disabled veteran property tax exemption, directly affecting veterans with service-connected disabilities and their surviving spouses who own property. It specifies that veterans must occupy the property as their principal residence to qualify, clarifies how exemptions apply to properties with multiple owners, and streamlines the claiming process by requiring proof of eligibility (including a veterans' services certificate) within 30 days of receiving the county assessor's notice. The bill also adds procedures for claiming the exemption after moving and for protesting denied claims, while ensuring the exemption applies only to the highest disability percentage among qualifying owners. It does not change the exemption amount or eligibility criteria but makes the current system clearer and easier to navigate for veterans and local assessors.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 27 designates January 28, 2026, as the fiftieth annual "Grant County Day" in the New Mexico House of Representatives. The memorial also honors former Hurley mayor Joseph Edward "Ed" Stevens and current Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales for their service to New Mexico. This ceremonial resolution recognizes Grant County's cultural heritage, historical significance, and contributions to the state. As a non-binding memorial, it does not create new laws or affect any legal obligations.

Maddy summaryHB 387, the Education Opportunity Account Act, creates a state-funded program allowing New Mexico students (residents not yet holding a high school diploma) to use state deposits to cover private school tuition and qualifying education expenses. The state would deposit monthly funds into accounts based on average public school spending per grade (adjusted for special needs), covering costs like private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees. Parents must contract with the state annually for approved expenses, and unused funds revert to the general fund after two years unless waived for extenuating circumstances. The program does not require students to attend private schools but prohibits parents from adding personal funds to accounts or receiving refunds.

Maddy summaryHB 374 amends the definition of "occurrence" in New Mexico's Medical Malpractice Act. Currently, the law defines "occurrence" as all claims for damages from harm to a single patient, regardless of how many health care providers or errors contributed to the harm. This bill changes that definition, which would affect how malpractice claims are grouped and processed in court. The change directly impacts patients filing claims, health care providers (including hospitals and outpatient facilities), and insurers handling these cases.

Maddy summaryHB 506 creates two tax credits in New Mexico for hotel renovation projects: a 20% credit (or 30% for LEED-NC silver-certified projects) on qualifying costs for owners of existing hotels. The credit applies to renovations of at least 40% of guest rooms in hotels with 15+ rooms, excluding new construction, with minimum cost thresholds ($25,000-$40,000 depending on county size). Hotel owners must obtain pre-certification from the Tourism Department before starting work and final certification within one year of completion, with annual credits capped at $30 million. This directly affects hotel operators seeking to renovate existing properties, incentivizing upgrades while requiring environmental certification for the higher credit tier.

Maddy summaryHJR 8 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would change how New Mexico's legislature operates. It would limit all regular legislative sessions to 45 days (down from 60 days for odd-year sessions) and remove restrictions preventing consideration of non-budget bills during even-numbered years. The amendment also adds a provision for considering governor veto overrides for bills from previous sessions within the same legislative biennium. As a constitutional proposal, it requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently stalled after being postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.