Rep. Sarah Silva

Maddy summaryHB 17 creates a 9-member commission to study factors driving high grocery costs in New Mexico, focusing on essential items like milk, eggs, produce, and bread. The commission must evaluate supply chains, price gouging laws, local food production support, and federal trade impacts, then submit specific recommendations by November 15, 2025. It is funded with $400,000 from the general fund to conduct this study, with members required to represent diverse backgrounds and expertise. The bill does not enact new laws but mandates a report to guide future policy.

Maddy summaryHJM 8 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Department of Transportation to create a rest stop and memorial at the Trinity Site entrance on Highway 380 near Bingham. It aims to honor "downwinders" - residents of Socorro and Otero counties affected by the 1945 atomic bomb test - by installing an informational plaque, holding a dedication ceremony on July 16, 2025 (the 80th anniversary), and inviting surviving downwinders to attend. The memorial would acknowledge their unacknowledged sacrifices despite federal recognition efforts. The proposal was referred to a committee but postponed indefinitely in June 2025. This is a symbolic request, not a binding law.

Maddy summaryHB 153, the "Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying Act," prevents New Mexico state entities from forcing journalists or their service providers to disclose protected information without court approval. It specifically bars compelled disclosure of sources, notes, or communications related to journalism unless a court finds, by preponderance of evidence, that disclosure is necessary to prevent terrorism or imminent violence threatening serious harm. The law requires courts to notify journalists before granting disclosure orders (with limited 45-day delays for urgent investigations) and mandates that any compelled information be narrowly tailored and relevant. It directly affects journalists, their personal devices/accounts, and service providers like telecom companies, while explicitly allowing investigations into journalists suspected of crimes unrelated to their work.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Agritourism Promotion Act, creates legal protections for agritourism operators in New Mexico by limiting their liability for injuries or deaths that result from inherent risks of agricultural activities. It defines agritourism as public recreational experiences involving farming, ranching, harvesting, and related activities, and establishes that operators are not liable for such risks if they post clear warning signs at all entry points and key activity sites. The law maintains that operators remain fully liable if they act with willful disregard for safety, knowingly hide dangerous conditions, or intentionally harm participants, and requires operators to obtain liability insurance coverage. The bill also directs the state insurance office to develop rules about insurance accessibility for agritourism businesses and takes effect on July 1, 2025.

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 574 prohibits unlicensed individuals from providing immigration consultations or services, including using the titles "notario" or "notario publico," by adding this practice to New Mexico's definition of "unfair or deceptive trade practice" under the Unfair Practices Act. It directly affects immigration consultants who operate without a law license or attorney supervision, particularly those misrepresenting themselves as "notarios." The bill makes such actions illegal under state consumer protection law, requiring providers to either hold a law license or work under a licensed attorney. This amendment aims to prevent deceptive practices targeting immigrants seeking legal assistance. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 61 amends New Mexico's Unfair Practices Act to update definitions and increase penalties for deceptive business practices. It explicitly prohibits businesses from offering unadvertised pricing or services based on a buyer's gender or perceived gender identity (excluding insurance companies), and clarifies that "unfair or deceptive trade practice" includes false claims about product features or pricing. The bill doubles the civil penalty for violations from $5,000 to $10,000 per violation, with an additional $25,000 penalty for violations during declared emergencies. These changes directly affect businesses selling goods or services in New Mexico, particularly those using phone sales or engaging in pricing practices.

Maddy summaryHB 84, the Employee Free Speech Act, protects New Mexico employees from employer retaliation for refusing to attend or listen to workplace communications about political matters. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions like firing, demoting, or reducing hours against employees who decline to participate in mandatory political discussions or communications. The bill allows affected employees to seek damages, reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees, while exempting required legal updates, job-related information, educational coursework, religious communications, and casual conversations. The bill passed the House in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate by June 3, 2025, and remains pending.

Maddy summaryHB 552, the Medical Corporation Accountability Act, requires hospitals receiving local or state funding to disclose their ownership structures - including whether private equity or hedge funds own them - as well as health care provider salary ranges and CEO compensation. The Health Care Authority must then compile and report this information to the legislature annually starting in 2026. The bill also prohibits private equity funds and hedge funds from interfering with health care providers' professional decisions, such as treatment choices, staffing, or billing practices. This legislation aims to increase transparency around hospital ownership and protect clinical judgment from corporate influence.

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.