Rep. Cathrynn Brown

Maddy summaryHB 65 creates a three-year pilot program in seven New Mexico counties (Dona Ana, Chaves, San Juan, McKinley, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Eddy) to improve stability for children in state custody. It provides in-home or home-like placements with enhanced services - including 24-hour crisis support, weekly therapy, parent training, and monthly family sessions - to reduce placement disruptions. The program prioritizes children with frequent placement history, behavioral health needs, or risk of disruption, and includes specialized incentives for foster homes caring for adolescents, siblings, or those needing short-term stabilization. The state appropriates $2.5 million to fund the program through fiscal year 2029, requiring collaboration between the Children, Youth and Families Department and Health Care Authority.

Maddy summaryHB 207 requires New Mexico's Water Quality Control Commission to create specific rules allowing the reuse of treated water generated from oil and gas operations (called "produced water"). This bill directly affects oil and gas operators, water treatment facilities, and entities seeking to use this treated water for purposes like irrigation or industrial processes. The key mechanism is mandating the Commission to develop these rules, which must be based on scientific data and consider water quality protection, while ensuring the rules align with existing legal authority under the Water Quality Act. The bill does not specify the exact permitted uses but sets a process for the Commission to establish them.

Maddy summaryHJM 2 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Attorney General to create a task force to study how effectively the state's Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) provides public access to government records. The task force must gather input from stakeholders - including courts, local governments, media, civil liberties groups, and legal experts - to evaluate IPRA's clarity, transparency, and public accountability impact. It will determine if legislative changes are needed to improve the law, with proposed changes to be considered by the 58th Legislature. This procedural resolution directly affects state agencies handling public records and aims to strengthen government transparency through a formal review process.

Maddy summaryHB 255 creates a dedicated state fund to help counties and public safety agencies recruit and retain workers in law enforcement, firefighting, corrections, and public defender offices. The program provides competitive grants for recruitment bonuses, training, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and equipment tied to workforce development - *not* for base salaries or new positions. Grant applicants must demonstrate how their initiatives address local staffing gaps, with priority given to areas with high vacancy rates or crime. All funds must be spent within two years, and grantees must submit annual progress reports to the state.

Maddy summaryHB 217, the Counseling Compact, would allow licensed professional counselors in New Mexico to practice across state lines without needing separate licenses in each state. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses among participating states, directly benefiting counselors seeking to work in multiple states and their clients, including military spouses relocating with active duty service members. Key provisions include requiring counselors to follow the laws of the state where the client is located during care, supporting telehealth delivery of services, and enabling states to share disciplinary and licensing information. The bill aims to improve access to counseling services while preserving each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety.

Maddy summaryHB 497 amends New Mexico's Inspection of Public Records Act to expand exemptions from public disclosure and revise request procedures. It adds new exemptions for cybersecurity information, victim personal details in specific crimes (like sexual assault or child exploitation), security system records, and certain financial bidder information, while also extending deadlines for law enforcement responses during active investigations. The bill revises how public bodies must handle requests, including clearer rules for redacting sensitive information and processing grant-related materials. As of June 2025, the bill was postponed indefinitely by the House committees after committee referrals.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 36 requests the University of New Mexico (UNM) to study the costs and benefits of developing New Mexico's nuclear energy industry and recommend statutory or regulatory changes. The study must examine economic, safety, and operational factors, with UNM reporting findings to the legislative energy committee. This non-binding memorial directly affects UNM as the study recipient and could inform future policy decisions about nuclear energy development. It does not create new law but seeks research to support potential industry growth, acknowledging New Mexico's historical ties to nuclear energy and uranium mining.

Maddy summaryHJR 8 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would change how New Mexico's legislature operates. It would limit all regular legislative sessions to 45 days (down from 60 days for odd-year sessions) and remove restrictions preventing consideration of non-budget bills during even-numbered years. The amendment also adds a provision for considering governor veto overrides for bills from previous sessions within the same legislative biennium. As a constitutional proposal, it requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently stalled after being postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 473 establishes new qualifications for school security personnel in New Mexico schools and charter districts. It defines "assistant school security personnel" as Level 1 or 2 security guards (who cannot carry firearms) and "school security personnel" as retired law enforcement officers or Level 3 guards (who can carry firearms with approval). The bill requires school districts to verify credentials, complete school-specific security training, conduct background checks, and cover costs for psychological evaluations for armed personnel. It also mandates approved training programs covering cultural competency and prohibited profiling. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and has not advanced to a vote.

Maddy summaryHB 414 requires New Mexico counties to reimburse sheriffs and deputies for daily transportation expenses when moving inmates, people charged with crimes, or individuals in law enforcement custody. The reimbursement must use the same daily rate established by the state's Per Diem and Mileage Act for government travel. This bill creates a mandatory reimbursement system for these specific transportation costs, which were not previously explicitly required of counties. The bill passed committee approval but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.