Rep. Tara Luján

Maddy summarySB 26 renames New Mexico's "Family Violence Protection Act" to the "Protection Against Abuse and Violence Act" to better reflect its scope. The bill clarifies key definitions and specifies that courts must follow a clear standard when issuing orders of protection, which are court orders designed to protect individuals from abuse. It also amends and repeals specific sections of state law to modernize the legal framework for these protections. These changes aim to make the law more precise and accessible for victims seeking safety.

Maddy summaryHB 221, the "Voice and Visual Likeness Rights Act," establishes a new property right for individuals to control the commercial use of their voice and visual likeness in digital replicas. It requires written consent for any commercial use of an individual's likeness in highly realistic digital representations (like AI-generated videos or audio), with licenses limited to 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors (ending at age 18). The law allows individuals to transfer these rights after death but prohibits unauthorized use - such as creating AI clones without permission - except for bona fide news or public affairs content. It directly affects anyone whose likeness could be digitally replicated (e.g., celebrities, influencers, or everyday people) and imposes civil liability for violations.

Maddy summaryHB 265 allocates $4 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Creative Industries Fund for grants supporting creative businesses and organizations (e.g., artists, filmmakers, musicians). The funds, designated for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, will be administered by the Economic Development Department's creative industries division. Unspent funds will roll over to future years instead of reverting to the general fund, ensuring continued support for the sector.

Maddy summaryHB 355 creates New Mexico's Overdose Prevention Program under the Department of Health, directly affecting people who use drugs and service providers. The program provides sterile syringes, overdose reversal monitoring in safe spaces, drug testing supplies, and referrals to treatment, while prohibiting the sale of controlled substances. It includes legal protections shielding participants, providers, and property owners from arrest or penalties when acting in good faith under the program. The bill also requires the Department to establish rules by 2026 and form an advisory committee including health officials and treatment providers.

Maddy summaryHB 232 prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) from charging fees when a property owner sells a lot or home within the HOA's development. This directly affects homeowners selling property in HOAs by banning a specific transaction fee tied to the sale. The bill amends the Homeowner Association Act to state that associations "shall not assess a fee on the sale of a lot or real property" by a lot owner. It focuses solely on eliminating this fee, with no other provisions or changes to HOA governance.

Maddy summaryHB 397 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Higher Education Department for stipends to undergraduate and graduate behavioral health students. It directly affects students completing required training, supervision, or practical experience needed to obtain professional licensure in behavioral health fields. The stipends are funded for fiscal year 2026 only, with any unspent funds reverting to the general fund. The bill was referred to committees and later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHouse Joint Memorial 5 requests New Mexico's legislature to support federal protections for the Upper Pecos Watershed. It urges federal action to permanently withdraw lands from mining claims and advocates for congressional passage of the Pecos Watershed Protection Act to safeguard water resources, cultural heritage (including ties to Pecos Pueblo and Pueblo of Tesuque), and local economies dependent on agriculture, recreation, and clean water. The memorial emphasizes the watershed's ecological sensitivity and recovery from past mining impacts, without opposing mining generally.

Maddy summaryHB 354 creates a six-year pilot program in New Mexico's Behavioral Health Services Division to divert certain individuals from the criminal justice system into community-based treatment and support services. It requires participating local governments (in at least five counties across different judicial districts) to establish pre-arrest diversion for petty misdemeanors and post-arrest options for some misdemeanors, along with mobile crisis response teams and a full range of services - including immediate needs (shelter, food), health care (mental/physical treatment), and long-term support (housing, job help). The program is funded through a new state fund that prioritizes Medicaid dollars for eligible services, with participants required to collect data on outcomes like reduced crime and recidivism. The project mandates regular reporting to legislative committees and a final evaluation by 2031.

Maddy summaryHB 557, titled "Allow Telecommunication Marriages," would amend New Mexico law to permit witnesses at marriage ceremonies to observe via telecommunication (e.g., video calls) instead of requiring physical presence. The bill does not change the requirement that the officiant (such as a judge, clergy member, or authorized civil magistrate) must be physically present in the state during the ceremony. This change would directly affect couples seeking to include remote witnesses, such as family members living out of state or overseas, in their wedding. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but was postponed indefinitely by committee action.

Maddy summaryHB 533 would update New Mexico's rules on solitary confinement (termed "restricted housing") by expanding protections for vulnerable inmates and limiting its duration. The bill prohibits placing individuals under 21 or over 55 in restricted housing, bans its use for pregnant people in the first eight weeks postpartum, and prevents involuntary placement for LGBTQ+ individuals or in protective custody. It also caps restricted housing at 15 consecutive days or 90 days total in a year for state facilities and requires quarterly public reporting of who is held in such conditions, including reasons and dates. These changes directly affect inmates in New Mexico prisons and jails, aiming to reduce solitary confinement's use and improve transparency.