Rep. Kathleen Cates

Maddy summaryHB 482 creates a three-year pilot program to provide technical, financial, and managerial assistance to public community water and wastewater systems across New Mexico. Administered by the state’s local government division, the program uses $900,000 in general fund appropriations (for fiscal years 2026-2028) to support these systems. Unspent funds after 2028 would revert to the general fund. The bill directly affects community water/wastewater providers seeking operational support, with no new regulations or eligibility requirements specified.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Mexico's ticket scalping law to cover events hosted by state agencies, local governments (like cities or counties), and tax-exempt nonprofit organizations. It prohibits reselling tickets for these events at a price higher than the original ticket cost or the venue's admission price. Sellers may still charge a service fee if permitted by a contract with the event organizer. Violating this law is a misdemeanor punishable by fines up to $500, up to one year in jail, or both.

Maddy summaryHB 27, the Librarian Protection Act, requires New Mexico public libraries to adopt policies preventing the banning of library materials based on content, author's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or political/religious views. Libraries must follow either the American Library Association's 2019 Library Bill of Rights or a state-approved policy explicitly prohibiting such bans to receive state funding. The law also prohibits local governments from reducing a library's funding for complying with these policies. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, aiming to protect diverse library collections and access for all patrons.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Mexico state, county, school district, and municipal governments to donate public funds to private entities for public purposes like health, safety, or welfare - currently prohibited by the state constitution. It would repeal two existing constitutional sections: one banning public fund donations to private parties (Article 9, Section 14) and another restricting appropriations for charitable or educational purposes (Article 4, Section 31). The amendment requires new implementing legislation passed by the legislature before any donations can occur, and it must be approved by voters at the next general election. The bill was referred to committees and postponed indefinitely in June 2025, so it has not advanced to a vote.

Maddy summaryHB 68 requires a one-to-one ratio of apprentices to journeyman supervisors in New Mexico's construction industry trades. It mandates that each apprentice must be directly supervised by a certified journeyman holding the relevant trade certification, as recognized by the state's licensing department. The bill amends existing law to explicitly limit the apprentice-to-journeyman ratio to 1:1 for building and construction trades, ensuring individualized supervision. This directly affects construction apprentices and their certified supervisors within registered trade programs. The law would take effect July 1, 2025, if enacted.

Maddy summaryHB 502 requires sellers to disclose acequia rights and water rights as material facts during real estate transactions in New Mexico. This means buyers must be informed about these water-related rights when purchasing property, directly affecting homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals. The bill designates these rights as mandatory disclosure items, not changing the rights themselves but ensuring transparency in property sales. The legislation, introduced by several state representatives, would take effect July 1, 2025, though it was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 294 allows landowners with conservation easements to have their property valued at agricultural rates for property tax purposes, rather than full market value. It specifically includes land under conservation agreements with federal/state agencies or accredited land trusts as qualifying for agricultural valuation. The bill defines "agricultural use" to cover conservation easements and sets rules for valuing land based on its productive capacity (e.g., grazing land using animal unit standards). This primarily affects New Mexico ranchers and farmers holding such easements, potentially lowering their property tax burden.

Maddy summaryHB 459 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a pollinator research, education, and outreach program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. The program must align with recommendations from a prior legislative report (House Memorial 33) and focuses on supporting healthy pollinator habitats and conservation through research and public education. Funding covers fiscal years 2026-2028, with no more than $150,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent funds revert to the general fund by 2028. The bill directly affects IAIA’s operations and aims to benefit pollinators (like bees and butterflies) and New Mexico ecosystems through science-based conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 119 requires state agencies to adjust contracts and reimbursement rates when state laws change employee compensation or benefits for certain contractors. It directly affects state contractors (Section 1) and Medicaid/Medicare healthcare providers (Sections 2-3), allowing them to request contract amendments or federal reimbursement adjustments within 45 days of relevant state law changes. The bill mandates that state agencies formally request these rate changes from federal authorities to cover increased provider costs. This creates a procedural mechanism for healthcare providers and contractors to seek fair reimbursement without requiring new state funding.

Maddy summarySB 210 increases penalties for violating New Mexico's water laws, raising the maximum daily civil fine from $100 to $2,000 for most violations (and to $10,000 per day for groundwater violations involving illegal recovery or use). It directly affects water users, including agricultural and municipal entities, who breach water rights or permits. Key mechanisms include requiring repayment of overdiverted water (up to double the amount) as a preferred remedy before fines, and mandating annual inflation adjustments to penalty amounts starting July 2027 using the U.S. Consumer Price Index. The bill amends Sections 72-2-18 and 72-5A-12 of the New Mexico Statutes to implement these changes.