Rep. Patty Lundstrom

Maddy summaryHB 48 allocates $100,000 annually to Western New Mexico University, state-supported community colleges, and branch campuses of higher education institutions that offer law enforcement training certified by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. This funding covers faculty salaries, instructional materials, and course expenses for these training programs. The bill specifically targets institutions providing certified law enforcement education, not direct school-based training or school resource officers. It amends funding distribution rules for the Law Enforcement Protection Fund to include this dedicated support for higher education training programs. The bill does not affect school districts or directly fund school safety initiatives.

Maddy summaryHouse Memorial 57 requests a study group to address a retirement benefit disadvantage affecting New Mexico law enforcement academy instructors. The memorial highlights that instructors must switch from a 20-year retirement plan (available to municipal officers) to a 25-year plan at the academy, creating a significant barrier to recruitment and retention. This gap leaves the academy only 40% staffed for instructor roles, despite needing qualified candidates with law enforcement experience. The study group - comprising representatives from the Department of Public Safety, the academy, and the state retirement system - will develop recommendations for the legislative committee by September 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 19, the Trade Ports Development Act, creates a framework for developing trade ports in New Mexico to improve cargo movement and supply chain efficiency. It establishes criteria for designating "trade port districts" (requiring proximity to highways, railroads, airports, and economic benefits for disadvantaged communities) and sets standards for approving projects (like cost-effectiveness, environmental impact, and workforce development). The bill authorizes grants and loans from a new state fund, allows public-private partnerships between government and businesses, and directs existing tax revenue (including motor vehicle excise tax distributions) toward these projects. It directly affects local communities, businesses, and state agencies like the Economic Development Department, aiming to boost regional economic growth through infrastructure development.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 15) urges the U.S. Congress to support expanded federal compensation for people exposed to radiation through nuclear weapons testing or uranium mining. It specifically calls for backing Senate Bill 243, which aims to extend the deadline for claims and broaden eligibility under the existing Federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA). The memorial highlights that current RECA rules exclude many affected individuals, including those working in uranium mining after 1972 or living downwind outside designated areas like Arizona and Utah. It directly concerns communities in New Mexico, the Navajo Nation, and other Western states impacted by historical nuclear activities.

Maddy summarySB 115 authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to provide loans from the Public Project Revolving Fund for infrastructure and public facility projects. It directly affects 29 specific local entities, including cities (like Albuquerque, Carlsbad, and Clovis), school districts (such as Alamogordo and Bloomfield), counties (like Bernalillo), and public improvement districts across New Mexico. The bill streamlines the process by allowing loans of $1 million or less without requiring separate legislative approval, covering projects like roads, water systems, schools, and public recreational facilities. It establishes a funding mechanism but does not create new policy or alter existing laws.

Maddy summaryHB 206 authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to provide loans or grants from the Water Project Fund to 56 specific entities - including cities, counties, tribes, water districts, and mutual water associations - for water infrastructure projects. These projects include water storage, conveyance, delivery, conservation, recycling, flood prevention, and watershed management across multiple New Mexico communities. The bill declares an emergency to expedite funding for these critical water system improvements. It directly affects local governments and water providers by enabling them to access state funds for planned water infrastructure upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates funding for New Mexico's Department of Transportation (DOT) to maintain and improve state highways during the 2026 fiscal year. It provides specific budgets for highway construction (e.g., project design and bridge work), road maintenance (e.g., pavement preservation and snow removal), and safety programs (e.g., traffic fatality reduction targets). The bill includes measurable performance goals, such as completing 88% of projects on schedule and maintaining 91% of interstate roads in fair condition. It directly affects DOT operations, infrastructure projects, and state highway maintenance services across New Mexico.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 5) designates February 6, 2025, as "Gallup/McKinley County Day" within the New Mexico House of Representatives. It is a ceremonial resolution honoring Gallup and McKinley County's cultural significance, including their Native American heritage, the Intertribal Indian Ceremonial, the continental divide, and Gallup's status as "adventure capital" and "most patriotic small town." The resolution has no policy or funding impact; it solely serves to recognize the region's contributions. Copies will be sent to Gallup's mayor/city council and McKinley County commissioners.

Maddy summaryThis memorial resolution honors victims of violent crime and their families through symbolic recognition, without creating new policies or affecting any group directly. It expresses state solidarity with survivors and directs a copy to be shared with the Crime Victims Reparation Commission for awareness. As a procedural memorial, it makes no concrete policy changes but aims to acknowledge the impact of violent crime on communities.