Rep. Wonda Johnson

Maddy summaryBased solely on the provided context, HB 610 has no substantive text or policy details available for summary. The bill was introduced by Representative D. Wonda Johnson in New Mexico's 2025 legislative session, but its title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is a broad category without specific provisions described. The bill was referred to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee on February 20, 2025, and its action was later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025. Without further bill text or summary content in the context, no concrete policy changes or affected parties can be identified.

Maddy summaryHB 299 would create a new category of retirement member for law enforcement instructors at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. Specifically, it defines "state law enforcement instructor member" as individuals who maintain law enforcement certification and provide training under the Law Enforcement Training Act. This change would include these instructors under the existing State Public Safety Member Coverage Plan 1, aligning them with other public safety employees for retirement benefits. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility rules but expands who qualifies for this specific retirement plan.

Maddy summaryHB 459 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a pollinator research, education, and outreach program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. The program must align with recommendations from a prior legislative report (House Memorial 33) and focuses on supporting healthy pollinator habitats and conservation through research and public education. Funding covers fiscal years 2026-2028, with no more than $150,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent funds revert to the general fund by 2028. The bill directly affects IAIA’s operations and aims to benefit pollinators (like bees and butterflies) and New Mexico ecosystems through science-based conservation efforts.

Maddy summaryHB 98 would automatically remove eviction records from public view in New Mexico after five years. It directly affects tenants who have been evicted, as their court and agency records related to eviction would be destroyed without needing to file a separate request. The bill requires courts and agencies to implement this automatic removal and creates a verification process through the Administrative Office of Courts to confirm expungement or handle delayed cases. All requests for verification remain confidential, protecting tenants' privacy during the process.

Maddy summaryHB 333 appropriates $50 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Environment for assessing and cleaning up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including uranium mining sites, that lack responsible parties to pay for cleanup. The funding covers fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. This bill directly affects communities and ecosystems near these abandoned sites by providing state-funded cleanup where private entities cannot or will not act. It establishes a specific funding mechanism for environmental remediation without creating new regulatory requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 75 appropriates $43 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for fiscal year 2026, directly funding all county and tribal health councils statewide. The bill specifies that funds must cover staff salaries, expanding health services, coordinating with state health agencies and Medicaid/Medicare providers, community outreach, public health initiatives, and operational costs like office expenses. An additional $1 million is allocated for a nonprofit to provide training and technical assistance to these councils. The funding is intended to support the councils' existing roles under the County and Tribal Health Councils Act, with unspent balances reverting to the general fund by year-end.

Maddy summaryHB 180 creates a new "Speech-Language Pathology Assistant" license to replace the current "Apprentice" license. It repeals outdated sections of law (61-14B-3.1 and 61-14B-15.1) that governed the old apprentice system. The bill defines supervision requirements, including "direct contact" for assistants working under licensed speech-language pathologists. This change clarifies the role for assistants while maintaining patient safety through defined supervision standards.

Maddy summaryHB 15 creates New Mexico's Health Care Strategic Recruitment Program within the Workforce Solutions Department to address healthcare shortages. The program targets recent graduates (within 10 years) of New Mexico public colleges in healthcare shortage fields who aren't currently working in the state, providing recruitment assistance, licensing navigation, job matching, and housing information. It requires collaboration with health and education agencies, tracks applicant data, and mandates annual reports on program success to the legislature. The bill appropriates $2 million for program start-up costs in fiscal year 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 611, titled "PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE," is a New Mexico legislative bill introduced by Representative D. Wonda Johnson in the 2025 session. The provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, policy changes, or affected parties. The bill was referred to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee and was later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, indicating it did not advance to further consideration. Without substantive text or summary details in the context, no concrete policy description can be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 48 allocates $100,000 annually to Western New Mexico University, state-supported community colleges, and branch campuses of higher education institutions that offer law enforcement training certified by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. This funding covers faculty salaries, instructional materials, and course expenses for these training programs. The bill specifically targets institutions providing certified law enforcement education, not direct school-based training or school resource officers. It amends funding distribution rules for the Law Enforcement Protection Fund to include this dedicated support for higher education training programs. The bill does not affect school districts or directly fund school safety initiatives.