Rep. Anita Gonzales

Maddy summarySB 183 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Health Care Authority to study creating regional urgent care or emergency facilities in Torrance County and nearby areas. The study will examine whether such facilities are practical and beneficial for residents in that region. The funds must be spent by fiscal year 2027, with any unspent balance returning to the general fund. This bill does not create facilities but only funds the initial research phase.

Maddy summarySB 168 provides $150,000 in state funding to the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority for planning and designing a dedicated facility to recycle wind turbine blades. The bill directly affects the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority, which will use the funds in fiscal year 2027 to collaborate on site development. This is a procedural funding measure focused solely on the planning phase, not on building or operating the recycling site. The appropriation expires if unspent by the end of fiscal year 2027, with any remaining funds reverting to the general fund.

Maddy summaryThis memorial (SM 13) requests the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Division of the Department of Justice and the Land Grant Council to study potential consequences of restructuring the governance of the Las Vegas land grant. It directly affects the Las Vegas land grant community and the San Miguel County district court, which currently manages the grant under 1903 laws. The study will evaluate changing the court's role in appointing the grant's board of trustees and managing the land, with a report due by December 1, 2026. The bill does not change laws but seeks to assess options for governance reform.

Maddy summaryHB 89 establishes a new computer science teaching endorsement in New Mexico, allowing educators to teach computer science at all grade levels. To qualify, teachers must meet one of several requirements, including 15 college credits in computer science, two years of industry experience, or 60 hours of relevant professional development. The bill appropriates $250,000 for quantum computing-focused professional development to support teachers seeking or maintaining this endorsement. This requirement directly affects current and future New Mexico teachers who wish to add computer science to their teaching license.

Maddy summarySB 154 requires New Mexico property insurance policies that cover wildfire damage to also include coverage for related flood damage, landslides, debris flows, mudflows, or similar events for five years after a wildfire is controlled. This directly affects homeowners and property owners in New Mexico whose insurance policies cover wildfire risks. The bill mandates that insurers automatically include these related flood events in coverage for policies issued on or after July 1, 2026. It does not change existing coverage for standalone flood events but extends wildfire policy protection to linked post-wildfire hazards. The law applies only to new policies after the effective date, not existing coverage.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 22 (HM 22) is a non-binding memorial requesting that the New Mexico Association of Counties and New Mexico Municipal League inform their members about the benefits of forming flood control districts under the existing Flood Control District Act (NMSA 1978, Chapter 72, Article 18). It aims to raise awareness among local and regional governments about using this established legal framework to address flood risks, particularly following wildfires and climate change impacts that increase flooding. The memorial does not create new laws or funding but encourages proactive planning through existing state law. It directly affects county and municipal governments by providing information about a pre-existing tool for flood management.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual transfer of funds from the New Mexico Irrigation Works Construction Fund to the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund from $2.5 million to $5 million. It directly affects acequia (traditional community irrigation systems) and local ditch infrastructure projects by providing them with doubled annual funding. The key mechanism is an amendment to existing state statute governing fund allocations, while maintaining a separate $1 million annual transfer to the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and represents a concrete policy shift in water infrastructure funding priorities.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 24 requests the Guadalupe Hidalgo Treaty Division and Land Grant Council to study potential consequences of changing how the Las Vegas land grant is governed. Currently, a district court manages the land grant (since 1903), but this structure has led to disputes over self-governance for land grant members and heirs. The study will examine revising the 1903 law (Chapter 49, Article 6 NMSA 1978) that gives the court management authority, following agreement from both the court and land grant members that the current system needs adjustment. The entities must report findings to legislative committees by December 1, 2026. This is a procedural request for analysis, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryHB 8 creates a $300 million Higher Education Major Projects Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, funded by a transfer from the general fund. The bill allows state universities and community colleges to use these funds for major construction projects, including research facilities costing $50 million or more, student housing, and student life facilities like recreation centers. It requires institutions to cover 25-50% of project costs through non-state sources (like donations or bonds), with waivers possible if institutions cannot afford matches. Initial priorities include $150 million for a new UNM medical school, $50 million for a NMSU building, and $100 million for student housing statewide.

Maddy summaryHB 4 adjusts how funds from New Mexico's health insurance premium surtax are distributed to the Health Care Affordability Fund. It changes the percentage of surtax revenue sent to the fund over time: 55% before July 2024, 30% from July 2024 to September 2025, 55% from September 2025 to September 2026, and 100% after September 2026. The bill directly affects the allocation of state revenue generated by the health insurance surtax, which supports healthcare affordability programs. This policy change modifies existing distribution rules without altering the surtax rate itself. The fund's purpose is to assist New Mexicans with healthcare costs, though the bill does not specify new eligibility criteria or program expansions.