Rep. Andrea Romero

Maddy summaryHB 426 requires mobile home park owners to provide residents with specific written notice before selling the park, including details of any third-party offer and the residents' right to purchase. The bill gives residents 90 days to form a cooperative group (with 51% approval), secure financing within an additional 90 days, and close the purchase within 270 days total - matching the third-party offer's terms. If residents meet these deadlines, the owner must negotiate in good faith and cannot delay or refuse the purchase. The bill also mandates owners to record compliance affidavits and imposes penalties (up to $100,000 or 20% of the park's value) for noncompliance, though it was postponed indefinitely in the Senate in June 2025.

Maddy summaryThe Immigrant Safety Act prohibits New Mexico state and local government agencies - including police departments, jails, schools, and universities - from entering into or continuing agreements that allow federal immigration authorities to detain people for civil immigration violations. It requires immediate termination of any existing such agreements and bans the use of public property for this purpose. The law does not affect law enforcement's ability to detain individuals for criminal investigations under state law. Violations can be addressed through civil lawsuits filed by the attorney general to obtain court orders halting the practice.

Maddy summarySB 85 updates New Mexico's campaign finance rules to require more detailed reporting of contributions and expenditures. It mandates disclosure of electronic communications related to campaigns, standardizes reporting for all contributions of $1,000 or more (including during legislative session fundraising bans), and prohibits using campaign funds to repay candidate loans with interest. The bill directly affects candidates, campaign committees, and political committees by tightening transparency requirements for donations and spending. The measure passed the Senate in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the House in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 60, the Artificial Intelligence Act, requires developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems (those making consequential decisions in areas like employment, housing, healthcare, or lending) to provide notice to consumers, document system details, and disclose risks of algorithmic discrimination. It mandates risk management policies, impact assessments before deployment, and reporting of "risk incidents" where discrimination occurs. The law would enforce these requirements through the New Mexico Department of Justice and allow consumers to sue for injunctive or declaratory relief. Note: The bill was replaced by a committee substitute and postponed indefinitely in June 2025, so it has not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 571, the "Building Housing Communities Act," creates a program to recognize New Mexico municipalities that adopt zoning and land-use strategies increasing housing options. Municipalities meeting department-approved criteria would earn a "Building New Mexico Community" designation, with the Department of Finance and Administration developing specific strategies to reduce regulatory barriers. Key provisions include addressing urban/rural differences, simplifying development reviews, lowering construction costs, and expanding permitted housing types. The bill aims to directly support local governments in boosting housing availability through targeted zoning reforms.

Maddy summaryHB 291 amends New Mexico's Recycling and Illegal Dumping Act to formally establish a "circular economy" framework. It requires the Environmental Improvement Board to adopt rules for public submissions and decide within 60 days whether to hold hearings on proposed rules. The bill creates a statewide "recycling, circular economy and illegal dumping alliance" involving cities, counties, tribes, state agencies, and private businesses to coordinate recycling efforts and foster sustainable resource use. Key provisions include renaming the act to explicitly include "circular economy" and mandating the alliance to develop strategies for reusing materials like tires, e-waste, and construction debris, aiming to reduce waste and support economic development.

Maddy summarySB 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, allows regulated medical use of psilocybin (a compound found in certain mushrooms) to treat specific conditions including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life care. It removes psilocybin from New Mexico's controlled substances list for medical purposes, creating a program overseen by the Department of Health that requires clinicians and producers to obtain permits and follow safety protocols. The bill establishes an advisory board to help develop treatment guidelines and provides legal protections, exempting authorized use from criminal penalties while prohibiting use while driving under its influence. Qualified patients must be diagnosed with an approved condition by a licensed clinician within an approved setting, with the Department of Health required to implement the program by December 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 361, the "Well Repurposing Act," allows New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to authorize converting inactive oil or gas wells into facilities for energy storage or geothermal energy development. The bill establishes that wells repurposed for these uses are considered "beneficially used" and not abandoned, provided they remain active for energy storage. If storage operations stop for 12+ months, the well must be plugged and abandoned per existing rules. This law directly affects oil/gas well operators seeking to repurpose infrastructure and EMNRD, which will set fees and requirements for these conversions. The act takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 17 modifies parole procedures for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment in New Mexico. It requires the parole board to consider whether a deadly weapon was used in the offense and clarifies that inmates become eligible for a parole hearing after serving 30 years (defined as the "retributive portion" of the sentence). The bill mandates the board make two specific findings before granting parole: that release is in society’s best interest and that the inmate can be a law-abiding citizen. If parole is granted, individuals must serve a minimum five-year parole period under board supervision. The bill does not affect inmates sentenced to life without parole, who remain ineligible for parole.

Maddy summarySB 112 exempts student housing facilities from property tax when they are located on land owned by a New Mexico higher education institution (like a public university) and operated under a lease from the institution to a nonexempt entity (such as a private housing company). The exemption applies specifically to housing for students or medical residents at institutions listed in the state constitution, provided the institution owns the land and leases the housing to the nonexempt entity for operation. This change affects how property taxes are calculated for these facilities, removing tax liability on the housing improvements (not the land) starting in 2026. The bill does not alter tax rules for other housing types or land ownership arrangements.