Rep. Anita Gonzales

Maddy summaryHB 138, the Hospital Patient Safety Act, requires all New Mexico hospitals to establish two committees: one focused on nursing staffing (with at least 51% direct care nurses) and another for professional/technical staff. These committees must develop written staffing plans prioritizing patient safety and review them annually using specific data, including missed breaks, overtime hours, and patient outcomes. The bill directly affects hospitals licensed under New Mexico's Public Health Act, mandating concrete changes to how staffing levels are planned and monitored. Key provisions include requiring committees to meet quarterly, maintain transparent minutes, and base staffing decisions on hospital-specific data rather than fixed ratios. The legislation aims to address staffing challenges through collaborative, data-driven planning without prescribing specific nurse-to-patient ratios.

Maddy summaryHB 482 creates a three-year pilot program to provide technical, financial, and managerial assistance to public community water and wastewater systems across New Mexico. Administered by the state’s local government division, the program uses $900,000 in general fund appropriations (for fiscal years 2026-2028) to support these systems. Unspent funds after 2028 would revert to the general fund. The bill directly affects community water/wastewater providers seeking operational support, with no new regulations or eligibility requirements specified.

Maddy summaryHB 405, the "Volunteer Firefighter Service and Training Job Retention Act," requires New Mexico employers to provide eligible volunteer firefighters with up to 112 hours annually for training (with 30 days' notice) and for emergency service calls (with notification and documentation). It directly affects employees who volunteer at state-certified fire departments, ensuring they can attend training or respond to emergencies without losing job protections. The law prohibits employers from terminating, demoting, or reducing leave/seniority accruals for using these leave days. Currently, the bill was passed by the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025, delaying its effective date of July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 407 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for shaken baby syndrome prevention. The funding will update educational materials with UNM Pediatrics, require all state hospitals to implement prevention training programs, and establish statewide reporting for cases of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. This bill directly affects hospitals statewide and prevention efforts targeting infant safety. It focuses on concrete policy changes through funding allocation, not legislative mandates. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 502 requires sellers to disclose acequia rights and water rights as material facts during real estate transactions in New Mexico. This means buyers must be informed about these water-related rights when purchasing property, directly affecting homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals. The bill designates these rights as mandatory disclosure items, not changing the rights themselves but ensuring transparency in property sales. The legislation, introduced by several state representatives, would take effect July 1, 2025, though it was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 37 appropriates $250,000 from New Mexico's general fund to New Mexico Highlands University's board of regents for a feasibility study on potentially acquiring the privately owned Star Axis sculptural observatory in San Miguel County. The study would assess costs for public access upgrades, long-term operations, educational partnerships with colleges, and creating a state land art tourism network. The bill, which was postponed indefinitely in June 2025, does not authorize acquisition but only examines the possibility through a study. It directly affects state budget resources and the observatory's future status, with funds expiring unused by 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 476, the "Price Fixing Prohibition, Consumer Transparency and Tax Fairness Act," prohibits major payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) and large credit card issuers (with over $85 billion in assets) from colluding to set interchange fees - the fees merchants pay for processing card transactions. It bans charging these fees on taxes and gratuities, requires clear disclosure of interchange fees on consumer statements, and prohibits networks from penalizing merchants for how they price goods. The bill directly affects large financial networks, merchants (especially restaurants and retailers), and consumers by increasing transparency and preventing unfair fee structures. It creates penalties for violations but does not apply to smaller card networks or issuers.

Maddy summaryHB 326 creates a $5,000 state income tax credit for small businesses in New Mexico that suffered significant revenue losses due to a governor-declared disaster. To qualify, businesses must have operated for two years, experienced at least a 30% drop in gross revenue from the disaster, and have under $2 million in annual revenue. Businesses must apply for certification through the Economic Development Department, which verifies eligibility before the credit can be claimed. The credit reduces tax liability directly, with any excess refunded, and applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 183 appropriates $100,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support economic development in the Lower Estancia Valley. The funds would contract with a local economic development organization to strengthen business income potential, promote civic and cultural programs, and address barriers to business growth in the community. This one-time appropriation expires at year-end, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund.

Maddy summarySB 55 would require New Mexico residential property insurance policies to cover the full cost to repair or replace damaged property without reducing payments for depreciation. This directly affects homeowners, ensuring they receive 100% of the replacement cost (not the depreciated value) after a claim, with reasonable overhead allowed if they self-repair. The bill mandates insurers pay the full replacement cost upon completion of repairs, rather than a reduced amount based on the property's age or wear.