Rep. Tara Luján

Maddy summaryHB 394 creates a 17-member Clean Energy and Natural Resources Advisory Board within New Mexico's Energy Department, appointed by the Energy Secretary with gubernatorial approval. The board includes specific industry experts (e.g., renewable energy, oil/gas, forestry, academia) to provide annual advice to the Energy Secretary, governor, and legislative committees on clean energy implementation. It requires biannual meetings, establishes subcommittees, and is funded with $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026. The bill passed the House in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the Senate on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 220 prohibits property deeds, contracts, and homeowner association (HOA) bylaws from banning or unreasonably restricting ignition-resistant construction (like fire-resistant materials or landscaping) that meets industry standards. It directly affects homeowners and HOAs by making such restrictions unenforceable, while allowing HOAs to impose reasonable design standards with a 60-day review window for applications. The bill defines "fire hazard" as conditions increasing fire risk and ensures HOAs cannot deny applications without written justification. It does not override mandatory building codes but aligns with safety standards from recognized industry bodies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (HM 18) is a House Memorial requesting New Mexico’s state auditor to create a task force addressing the shortage of certified public accountants (CPAs) in the state. The task force, including state departments and stakeholders like the American Institute of CPAs, will study solutions such as integrating accounting into STEM education, expanding K-12 and college programs, and improving workforce training. It specifically aims to tackle barriers like the 150-hour education requirement and declining interest in accounting careers, with recommendations due by November 2025. The bill directly affects New Mexico’s CPA workforce, accounting employers, and students pursuing accounting careers.

Maddy summaryHB 49, the Closed Captioning Act, requires most public venues in New Mexico - including restaurants, stores, theaters, and hotels - to display closed captions (text showing dialogue) on TVs during regular business hours. It applies to any "place of public accommodation" where TVs are shown to the public, excluding only small operations like single-room rentals. Venues must enable captions unless TVs can’t display them or federal law exempts the program. The Attorney General enforces the law through public complaints and can impose fines up to $250 for first violations, increasing to $500 for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 63 requests New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to study creating a nuclear energy commission and related topics. The study would examine repurposing decommissioned power plant sites, reactor safety (including small modular reactors), carbon capture policies, industrial uses of carbon dioxide, and county-level microgrid development. This non-binding resolution, introduced in 2025 and postponed indefinitely by the House committee, does not create new laws but directs state officials to assess nuclear energy's role in the state's renewable energy transition. The study aims to inform future policy decisions affecting New Mexico's energy infrastructure and climate goals.

Maddy summaryHB 70, the "Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver Act," aims to create a new Medicaid waiver program in New Mexico for residents with behavioral health disabilities, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries. The bill requires the Health Care Authority to develop and submit a federal application for this waiver by December 2025, using $1.1 million in state funds to hire staff and retain consultants. It mandates the authority to coordinate services through individualized plans, establish advisory councils, and align reimbursement systems with existing home- and community-based waiver programs. The bill does not change current Medicaid coverage but seeks to expand access to community-based behavioral health services. Note: This bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not advance to law.

Maddy summaryHB 452 clarifies how New Mexico utilities must handle renewable energy certificates (RECs) to meet the state's renewable energy standards. It specifies that utilities own RECs from most renewable energy they purchase, except for pre-July 2019 contracts or community solar projects (where the utility owns the RECs). The bill requires new contracts (after July 1, 2019) to transfer RECs to the utility, which must retire them or transfer them to customers under a voluntary program, and mandates annual reporting on REC usage and accounting.

Maddy summaryHB 353 creates the New Mexico Youth Film and Media Development Act, establishing a $250,000 annual grant fund administered by the state's Higher Education Department. The program provides grants to organizations offering hands-on film and media training for youth aged 12-18, with specific requirements to serve at least 100 schools across one-third of New Mexico counties and engage at least half of the state’s Native nations, tribes, and pueblos. Recipients must submit annual reports tracking youth participation, school coverage, tribal engagement, and program impact on participants’ educational and career opportunities. The bill appropriates $1.5 million total for the fund, starting in fiscal year 2026, prioritizing rural and tribal communities to expand access to film industry careers.

Maddy summarySB 80 requires New Mexico insurance companies selling Medicare supplement policies to offer an annual open enrollment period starting on each eligible policyholder's birthday month and lasting at least 60 days. This directly affects seniors aged 65+ who have Medicare supplement insurance in New Mexico, allowing them to switch plans without health-based denial, price discrimination, or delays. During this window, insurers must notify policyholders 30-60 days in advance about their enrollment dates and rights. The bill prohibits insurers from using health status, medical history, or claims experience to deny coverage or adjust premiums during this period.

Maddy summaryHB 393 appropriates $5 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for the New Mexico Health Service Corps, specifically to support recruitment and retention of healthcare providers serving rural or underserved communities or patients at federally qualified health centers. The funds are allocated for fiscal years 2026-2027, with no more than $200,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent balance reverts to the general fund by 2027. This bill directly affects healthcare providers working in designated underserved areas and the patients they serve, aiming to address workforce shortages in critical care settings. The bill was referred to committees, passed committee approval, but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.