Rep. Doreen Gallegos

Maddy summaryHB 570 prohibits health insurers in New Mexico from requiring prior authorization for specific covered services, including chemotherapy, dialysis, elder care, and home health care. It also removes prior authorization requirements for prescription medications treating autoimmune disorders, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, or substance use disorders - unless a biosimilar, interchangeable biologic, or generic alternative is available. Insurers may still request post-service notifications and treatment plans compliant with federal law. The bill directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and patients seeking these covered services.

Maddy summaryHB 447 temporarily exempts gaming operators licensed in areas declared disaster zones due to wildfires (specifically those declared in June 2024) from paying gaming taxes until July 1, 2029. The bill applies directly to licensed gaming businesses operating in these affected wildfire zones. Key provisions include requiring the exemption to be tracked in the state's tax expenditure budget and setting a fixed repeal date of July 1, 2029. This policy change removes a specific tax obligation for affected businesses during the recovery period.

Maddy summaryHB 20 creates a new Technology and Innovation Division within New Mexico's Economic Development Department to advance economic growth in key sectors like aerospace, biosciences, clean energy, and advanced computing. The bill establishes a Technology and Innovation Network Advisory Board with representatives from national labs, universities, industry, and tribal nations to guide strategy and fund applications. It also creates a Research, Development and Deployment Fund with an application process, matching requirements for projects, and reporting obligations to track economic impact. This division and fund directly affect state agencies, businesses, research institutions, and entrepreneurs working in New Mexico's targeted innovation sectors. The law aims to coordinate state efforts, attract investment, and support ecosystem development through structured funding and strategic planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August each year as "New Mexico Red and Green Chile Month" to recognize chile's cultural significance and economic impact. It highlights chile's role in blending New Mexico's indigenous and Spanish heritage and acknowledges its importance to the state's agricultural economy, supporting thousands of jobs. The bill is purely commemorative and does not create new laws or obligations. It directly affects New Mexicans by formally celebrating a symbol central to the state's identity and livelihood.

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 178 amends New Mexico's Nursing Practice Act to clarify which nurses can administer general anesthesia, anesthetics, and sedatives, directly affecting registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and advanced practice nurses (including nurse anesthetists). The bill defines specific scope-of-practice boundaries for each nurse category and updates licensing procedures to align with these clarifications. It also expands the Board of Nursing's authority, modifies disciplinary processes, and mandates confidentiality for communications related to potential disciplinary actions. These changes aim to provide clearer, more consistent guidelines for nursing practice and administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryHB 71 increases the annual mandatory transfer from New Mexico's Early Childhood Education and Care Fund to the Early Childhood Education and Care Program Fund from $250 million to $500 million, effective July 1, 2025. This change directly affects early childhood education and care programs serving young children and families across the state by providing a significant, guaranteed funding boost. The bill mandates that on July 1 each year, the state must transfer the greater of 5% of the fund’s average three-year market value or $500 million to the program fund. The legislation ensures stable, predictable funding for childcare and early learning services without altering other fund management rules or reporting requirements.

Maddy summaryHB 553 establishes New Mexico's first state-specific structural timber grading system. It requires sawmill owners or employees to earn a certification to grade and label dimensional lumber, beams, and vigas processed in-state, with labels including details like sawmill location, species, moisture content, and processing dates. The law allows this locally graded timber to be used in all residential and commercial construction as equivalent to nationally certified lumber, replacing the need for external grade stamps. Building inspectors must accept these state-issued labels as proof of compliance, and certificates expire after five years with a $250 fee for issuance.

Maddy summaryHB 214 establishes a voluntary credentialing system for doulas in New Mexico, allowing them to enroll as Medicaid providers. It requires the Health Department to create rules for education, training, and ethics standards, and forms a 15-member advisory council to ensure equitable access for underserved communities. The bill mandates hospitals and birth centers to develop policies permitting credentialed doulas to support patients during pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum. Additionally, it creates a Doula Fund and requires annual reporting on service access and outcomes.