Rep. Joseph Hernandez

Maddy summaryHB 164 requires lobbyists and their employers to file detailed reports disclosing specific legislation they lobbied on, their position (support/oppose/neutral), and any changes to that position. These reports must be submitted within 48 hours of starting lobbying activity and include the employer's name. The reports will be preserved publicly online for at least ten years, searchable and downloadable on the legislature's website. This bill directly affects all registered lobbyists and their employers who engage in lobbying activities in New Mexico.

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 405, the "Volunteer Firefighter Service and Training Job Retention Act," requires New Mexico employers to provide eligible volunteer firefighters with up to 112 hours annually for training (with 30 days' notice) and for emergency service calls (with notification and documentation). It directly affects employees who volunteer at state-certified fire departments, ensuring they can attend training or respond to emergencies without losing job protections. The law prohibits employers from terminating, demoting, or reducing leave/seniority accruals for using these leave days. Currently, the bill was passed by the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025, delaying its effective date of July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 310 prohibits landfilling of electric vehicle batteries in New Mexico and requires end-of-life batteries to be managed through a hierarchy prioritizing reuse, repair, remanufacturing, or repurposing before recycling. Battery providers (including manufacturers, distributors, and retailers) are responsible for end-of-life management unless a secondary handler or user modifies the battery, in which case that entity becomes responsible. The bill defines key terms like "secondary handler" (entities that sort or prepare batteries for reuse) and "specialized battery recycler" (facilities authorized to extract materials), and restricts commercial haulers and solid waste facilities from accepting batteries for disposal. This directly affects battery sellers, recyclers, and waste management facilities by mandating specific handling procedures for electric vehicle batteries.

Maddy summaryHB 333 appropriates $50 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Environment for assessing and cleaning up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including uranium mining sites, that lack responsible parties to pay for cleanup. The funding covers fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. This bill directly affects communities and ecosystems near these abandoned sites by providing state-funded cleanup where private entities cannot or will not act. It establishes a specific funding mechanism for environmental remediation without creating new regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 315 allocates $250,000 from the general fund to New Mexico State University's Board of Regents to create a statewide archaeology field school education program. The program will be developed collaboratively by the Department of Agriculture, Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and Cultural Affairs Department, targeting students and educators through hands-on archaeological training. The funding is restricted to fiscal year 2026, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. This is a program-specific appropriation, not a policy change affecting broader legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 75 appropriates $43 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for fiscal year 2026, directly funding all county and tribal health councils statewide. The bill specifies that funds must cover staff salaries, expanding health services, coordinating with state health agencies and Medicaid/Medicare providers, community outreach, public health initiatives, and operational costs like office expenses. An additional $1 million is allocated for a nonprofit to provide training and technical assistance to these councils. The funding is intended to support the councils' existing roles under the County and Tribal Health Councils Act, with unspent balances reverting to the general fund by year-end.

Maddy summaryHB 130, the Public Banking Act, establishes the Public Bank of New Mexico as a state-created financial institution governed by an 11-member board. The board includes members appointed by the legislative council and governor with specific expertise in banking, community development, and state economic roles, while prohibiting conflicts of interest. The bill creates a State Banking Fund to manage the bank’s assets, authorizes lending and investment activities aligned with community development goals, and requires quarterly reporting to legislative committees. It does not directly affect specific residents or businesses but sets the operational structure for a new state-run financial entity. The bill is currently pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 386 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Office of the State Auditor for a study on governmental accounting classification and compensation structures. The study will examine current systems used by state agencies for classifying accounting roles and setting compensation within the governmental accounting sector. This funding is allocated for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. The bill directly affects the Office of the State Auditor, which will conduct the study, but does not enact new policy or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryHJR 3 proposes adding environmental rights to New Mexico's constitution, establishing for all residents a legally recognized right to clean air, water, soil, healthy ecosystems, a safe climate, and preserved natural/cultural environments. It requires state, county, and municipal governments to act as trustees of natural resources for all people, including future generations, with these provisions being self-executing (effective without further laws). The resolution does not allow monetary damages for violations but mandates equitable protection regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Currently pending, it must be approved by voters at the next general election after being postponed indefinitely by committees in June 2025.