Rep. Tara Luján

Maddy summaryHB 114 appropriates $1 million from the general fund to expand New Mexico's Double Up Food Bucks program for fiscal year 2027. The bill directly helps SNAP participants by doubling their purchasing power for meat, nuts, eggs, and fresh fruits/vegetables at New Mexico farmers' markets. It requires the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University to manage the funds, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by year-end. This concrete funding increase aims to increase access to fresh, healthy food for low-income residents at local farmers' markets.

Maddy summaryHB 243 creates an Equine Welfare Trust Fund and amends the Equine Shelter Rescue Fund to better support registered equine rescue and retirement facilities in New Mexico. It transfers $5 million from the state’s General Fund to the new Trust Fund, which will invest the money and annually transfer 4% of its average value to the Shelter Fund starting in 2027. The Shelter Fund will then provide annual grants to eligible facilities (such as tax-exempt organizations not breeding horses) for costs like shelter, veterinary care, adoption programs, and basic equine welfare services. Facilities must apply for funding and report on their use of funds, and the state must submit annual reports to the legislature on fund distribution and outcomes.

Maddy summaryHB 238 creates a three-year pilot program (2026-2029) providing up to $2,000 monthly sponsorship payments to eligible independent theaters in designated municipal business districts (Main Street programs or arts/cultural districts). To qualify, a theater must be owned by a single owner and located in one of these districts. The Economic Development Department will administer the program, determine payment amounts based on financial need, and require theaters to use funds for capital improvements or operating expenses. The state appropriates $1 million total, with annual reporting required and a final evaluation due by October 2029.

Maddy summaryHB 242 provides a temporary 1.68% annual cost-of-living pay increase for eligible New Mexico public retirees aged 65+ who have retired for at least two years. It applies to normal retirees, disability retirees, and survivors meeting specific criteria, with an additional 2.5% increase for retirees with pensions under $25,000 annually. The state appropriates $10 million from the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2028 to fund these adjustments, starting July 1, 2026. The bill ensures retirees receive these increases without compounding and allows them to opt out of the adjustment.

Maddy summaryHB 241 requires New Mexico courts to notify the Medical Board when physicians are named as defendants in malpractice lawsuits, including dismissals or amendments removing a physician. It extends the period the Medical Board can temporarily suspend a physician's license without a hearing and mandates the Board to post all active malpractice claims, related payments, and disciplinary actions on its website. Hospitals and healthcare entities must report malpractice settlements exceeding $1 million to the Board. This bill directly affects physicians facing lawsuits, the Medical Board, courts, and healthcare providers required to submit reporting data.

Maddy summaryHB 104 appropriates $8 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Department of Health for fiscal years 2027-2028 to support county and tribal health councils under the County and Tribal Health Councils Act. The bill specifically allocates $1 million to contract for services assisting the Department of Health in supporting these councils. Any unspent funds by the end of 2028 would revert to the general fund. This funding directly enables local health councils to operate and engage with state health initiatives.

Maddy summaryHB 42 allocates $200,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Aging and Long-Term Services Department for fiscal year 2027. The funds will contract with providers to supply frozen food, including medically tailored meals, to communities facing high food insecurity, limited healthy food access, and populations with medical conditions requiring special diets. The bill directly affects vulnerable residents in these underserved communities by improving access to nutritious, condition-specific food options. Any unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund.

Maddy summaryHB 127 requires the New Mexico Medical Board to grant expedited licenses to physicians already licensed in other U.S. states, territories, or foreign countries who meet all other licensing criteria. It also mandates the creation of a public registry for out-of-state telehealth providers, requiring them to maintain active licenses elsewhere, carry professional liability insurance, and avoid physical offices or in-state patient interactions in New Mexico. The bill directly affects out-of-state physicians seeking to practice medicine or provide telehealth services in New Mexico, and imposes new administrative duties on the Medical Board. Key provisions include standardized application requirements for the registry, public disclosure of provider details, and mandatory reporting of disciplinary actions against their out-of-state licenses. The bill repeals an outdated section of existing law to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryHB 153 establishes a state rebate program to incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as cement, steel, and glass, in eligible projects (over one residential unit or 5,000 square feet of nonresidential space). Material buyers (e.g., developers or contractors) can receive rebates for purchasing materials meeting emissions benchmarks set by the Department of Environment - 15% below industry-average greenhouse gas emissions - verified through independently assessed environmental product declarations. Rebates are capped at $500,000 per project and $10 million statewide annually, with priority given to projects achieving the greatest emissions reductions and using New Mexico-made materials. The program requires annual reporting on emissions reductions and includes strict antifraud measures, including penalties for false claims.

Maddy summaryThis memorial requests New Mexico's Public Education Department to study creating a "gifted in-field" teacher endorsement for secondary school educators. It asks the department to collaborate with universities and organizations to examine how teachers with deep content expertise (e.g., in math or science) plus gifted education knowledge could better serve secondary gifted students. The study would evaluate criteria for this endorsement, aiming to address current gaps where teachers lack subject-specific expertise while teaching gifted students. This would primarily affect secondary gifted education teachers and the students they serve.