Rep. Gail Armstrong

Maddy summaryHB 391 creates the Office of Child Ombud in New Mexico to independently review child welfare services and handle complaints. It establishes a nine-member selection committee (with specific expertise requirements, including Indian Child Welfare Act knowledge) to appoint a six-year ombud who will investigate complaints about the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, operate a toll-free hotline, and review systems protecting children's rights. The ombud will investigate cases involving child fatalities or near-fatalities in state custody, provide updates to complainants, and issue annual reports to lawmakers. The office, attached to the administrative office of the courts, will have authority to subpoena witnesses and make referrals while maintaining budget autonomy.

Maddy summaryHB 484 would exempt tips received by New Mexico residents as compensation for services (like from restaurant servers or bartenders) from state income tax calculations. This directly affects workers in tipped occupations who currently have tips counted toward their taxable income. The bill creates a new tax exemption allowing these workers to exclude tip earnings from their taxable income starting in 2025. The policy change would reduce the state income tax burden for eligible service industry workers. The bill was referred to relevant committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 242, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow New Mexico psychologists to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer temporary in-person care (up to 30 days yearly) in other participating states without needing full licensure there. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses, requires shared access to disciplinary records via a coordinated database, and creates standardized certifications like the E.Passport for cross-state practice. This bill directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to provide services beyond New Mexico and their clients in states that adopt the compact. The compact aims to expand access to psychological care while maintaining public safety through coordinated licensing oversight among participating states. (Note: The bill is pending, having been postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025.)

Maddy summaryHB 325 creates two new tax deductions for businesses building or selling new residential housing in New Mexico. It allows a deduction for labor costs incurred during construction (Section 2) and deductions of up to $125,000 per year for sales of new residential housing (single-family homes, townhouses, condos, or apartment buildings) or $75,000 for housing intended for lease (Section 3). The bill also includes a "hold harmless" provision (Section 1) requiring state distributions to municipalities and counties to offset potential revenue losses from these deductions. The bill, which would take effect July 1, 2025, directly affects developers, contractors, and real estate sellers of qualifying new housing.

Maddy summaryHB 269 requires New Mexico's Health Care Authority to implement an open electronic visit verification system for Medicaid home health and personal care services. This system allows providers to choose any compliant electronic tool (meeting federal 21st Century Cures Act standards) while using a central aggregator to collect standardized data - including service type, recipient, date, location, provider, and timing - for federal reporting. It directly affects Medicaid recipients and licensed healthcare providers by mandating specific data collection and privacy protections. The bill was passed by both chambers in March 2025 but vetoed by the governor on April 11, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 42 moves New Mexico's state program administering services under the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 from the Children, Youth and Families Department to the Department of Health. It updates requirements for "plans of safe care" - written plans addressing treatment needs for substance-exposed newborns and their caregivers to ensure child safety. The bill specifically amends Section 32A-1-4 of the Children's Code to reflect this administrative shift and revised safe care protocols. This change directly affects child welfare systems, health departments, and families with newborns exposed to substances prenatally. The bill was enacted after passing both chambers and receiving the governor's signature in April 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 10 establishes a dedicated Enforcement Bureau within New Mexico's Regulation and Licensing Department to oversee cannabis industry compliance. The bureau, staffed by certified law enforcement officers, has authority to conduct inspections (both announced and unannounced), embargo suspect products, seize items violating regulations, and investigate violations. Businesses (licensees) face penalties including felony charges for tampering with embargoed products or selling recalled items, while the bureau must provide written notice and allow administrative hearings for disputes. The law also creates procedures for product recalls, temporary holds on goods, and destruction of illegal or unsafe cannabis products at the licensee's expense. This bill, signed into law on April 9, 2025, directly affects all cannabis businesses operating under New Mexico's regulatory framework.

Maddy summaryHB 398 extends the required examination timeline for Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and their contracted healthcare providers in New Mexico from every three years to every five years. This change directly affects HMOs and the healthcare providers they contract with, reducing the frequency of regulatory reviews they must undergo. The key provision modifies Section 59A-46-19 of the New Mexico Insurance Code to update the examination schedule while maintaining the requirement for HMOs to submit records and cooperate with exams. The bill aims to reduce administrative burden on these entities while still requiring regular oversight for consumer protection.

Maddy summaryThis memorial declares February 6, 2025, as "Valencia County Day" in the New Mexico House of Representatives to honor the county's cultural heritage and economic contributions. It does not create legal requirements or affect policies, but symbolically recognizes Valencia County's history (including Spanish land grants, Route 66, and the world's largest *matanza*), modern growth (with employers like Meta and Amazon), and landmarks like the Belen Harvey House Museum. The resolution will be shared with local mayors and county officials. As a commemorative measure, it has no binding effect on state law or funding.

Maddy summaryHB 174 requires health insurance plans under New Mexico's Health Care Purchasing Act to reimburse community-based pharmacies for the full cost of prescription drugs (using either the national average drug acquisition cost or wholesale cost) plus a professional dispensing fee. It directly affects local pharmacies that serve the public, are not hospital-owned or part of out-of-state chains, and meet specific location criteria - excluding government, hospital, or mail-order pharmacies. The bill mandates that the dispensing fee must match the rate paid to pharmacies in New Mexico's Medicaid program. This law takes effect January 1, 2026, and aims to ensure fair reimbursement for community pharmacies providing prescription services.