Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez

Maddy summaryHB 274 amends New Mexico law to classify trafficking fentanyl as a first-degree felony, mandating a life prison sentence. It directly affects individuals who traffic fentanyl - defined as distributing, selling, or possessing with intent to distribute - by elevating the offense from potentially lower felony classifications. The bill modifies sentencing statutes to explicitly list "first degree felony for trafficking fentanyl" with a mandatory life term, removing judicial discretion for this specific crime. This change applies to all offenses involving fentanyl trafficking, regardless of prior convictions, and excludes drug-free school zones from additional sentencing enhancements.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 51 requests the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group (CREG) to study how static scoring (which assumes no economic changes from tax policies) and dynamic scoring (which accounts for economic shifts like job growth) affect New Mexico's budget decisions. The study, due by September 1, 2025, will include specific examples like the revenue impacts of personal income tax cuts paired with adjusted state spending and infrastructure projects. This memorial does not change policy but aims to inform future fiscal analysis by comparing these two evaluation methods.

Maddy summaryHB 403 increases the percentage of oil and gas tax revenue distributed to New Mexico's Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund from two-nineteenths to 19.7 percent, providing more funding for cleanup efforts. The bill requires that at least $40 million or 5% of the fund's average value over the past three years be used annually for surveying abandoned wells and planning their reclamation, while also capping energy education spending at $150,000 per year. It clarifies that the state can plug wells on federal lands without bonds and later seek reimbursement from oil and gas operators through legal action. This legislation would expand resources for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas sites and improving environmental conditions across New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 107 amends New Mexico's Controlled Substances Act to increase penalties for drug trafficking when it causes a death. It specifically adds a 12-year minimum prison term for a first-time trafficking offense resulting in human death, applying to Schedule I/II narcotics, methamphetamine, and related substances. The bill maintains existing felony classifications for other trafficking violations but elevates penalties for death-related cases. It directly affects individuals convicted of distributing controlled substances that lead to fatalities, particularly in cases involving narcotics or methamphetamine. The law does not change penalties for trafficking without death or for other offenses like distribution to minors.

Maddy summaryHB 436 requires that during emergencies, government orders closing businesses must also exempt federally tax-exempt religious facilities (like churches) on the same terms as the most permissive exemption given to other businesses. It applies to closures issued under New Mexico’s emergency management laws, including the All Hazards Emergency Management Act. The bill mandates that all such orders must explicitly include these religious exemptions, preventing their exclusion during public health or disaster closures. This ensures religious organizations operating as places of worship receive equal treatment in emergency restrictions.

Maddy summaryHB 292 creates the "All Cities and Counties Fund" to redistribute 8% of certain gross receipts tax revenue to New Mexico municipalities and counties. It establishes a formula calculating transfers based on population and tax revenue data, distributing funds to cities and counties according to their population and local tax contributions. The fund is designed to provide annual payments starting July 1, 2025, with the state treasurer making transfers by November 1 each year. The bill was approved by committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and has not advanced further.

Maddy summaryHB 279 creates a process for reviewing health care bills that could change health insurance coverage requirements. It requires New Mexico’s Legislative Council Service to hire contractors by September 2025 to analyze proposed bills, with legislators limited to requesting two reviews per chamber per session. The reviews must estimate impacts like affected residents, premium changes, cost-sharing shifts, and long-term health costs, and must include federal guideline alignment checks. The bill appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2026 to fund these reviews, which will be reported annually to the legislature.

Maddy summaryHB 197 expands New Mexico's "Silver Alert" system to include missing persons of any age showing signs of cognitive decline or impairment, not just those with Alzheimer's or dementia. This change directly affects law enforcement and families reporting missing adults who may have conditions like dementia, brain injuries, or other cognitive issues, regardless of age. The key mechanism updates the legal definition in the Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act to trigger alerts when a reporter believes an individual displays symptoms of cognitive decline. This makes the alert system more inclusive for vulnerable adults beyond the current age-based or dementia-specific criteria. The bill was signed into law after passing both legislative chambers in March 2025.