Sen. Katy Duhigg

Maddy summaryHB 250 requires all New Mexico correctional facilities (including jails, prisons, and detention centers operated by state, local, or private entities) to provide free menstrual hygiene products to people in custody who menstruate or experience uterine/vaginal bleeding. The bill mandates facilities to develop policies ensuring products like pads, tampons, and panty liners are available at no cost upon admission, routinely, and on request without medical referral. Facilities must offer product choices (including combinations) and maintain availability regardless of confinement conditions, except for safety reasons. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting incarcerated individuals with menstrual needs.

Maddy summarySB 352 makes photographic images taken by New Mexico's state, district, or deputy medical investigators confidential. It prohibits these photos from being public records or accessible to the public, except when needed for civil or criminal court cases. The bill amends existing law to explicitly state that such images cannot be shared with the public, directly affecting how medical investigators handle death investigation photos. This change ensures these images are protected unless used in legal proceedings, replacing the prior standard for public access.

Maddy summarySB 307, the Child Ombud Act, creates a new Office of Child Ombud within New Mexico's court system to independently review child welfare services. The ombud, appointed by a nine-member committee with child welfare expertise, will investigate complaints about the state's child welfare department, review policies protecting children's rights, and operate a toll-free hotline for families. Key provisions include requiring the ombud to investigate cases involving children in state custody, provide annual reports to lawmakers, and compile data on fatalities or near-fatalities. This office directly affects children in state custody, families receiving child welfare services, and the state department responsible for child protection.

Maddy summarySB 370 would require New Mexico Medicaid to pay OB/GYN providers at least 250% of the Medicare reimbursement rate for covered services, starting from the July 2024 baseline. It directly affects OB/GYN providers who accept Medicaid patients and requires 75% of any new reimbursement revenue to fund staff pay raises or hiring. The bill appropriates $12 million for fiscal year 2026 to cover these increased payments, with unused funds reverting to the general fund. This policy change aims to improve provider compensation and staffing in a critical healthcare sector.

Maddy summarySB 218 updates New Mexico's election administration rules. It adds home address confidentiality protections for election staff and public officials, requires county clerks to complete a certification program within 12 months, and sets new rules for election board composition (like requiring non-partisan team assignments). The bill also removes the elections security program from the Bureau of Elections and modifies ballot procedures, provisional voting, and special election processes. The bill was referred to committees, passed with amendments, but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 97 would increase New Mexico's minimum auto insurance requirements for uninsured and underinsured motorists, raising bodily injury coverage from $25,000/$50,000 per accident to $50,000/$100,000 per accident, while keeping property damage coverage at $10,000. The bill mandates that all auto insurance policies sold in New Mexico must include this coverage by default, with drivers able to opt out in writing. It also clarifies that "underinsured" applies when another driver's coverage is less than the insured's uninsured motorist limits. The bill would take effect January 1, 2026, but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and remains pending.

Maddy summarySB 259 amends New Mexico's Charitable Solicitations Act to impose new requirements on professional fundraisers and third-party solicitors who raise money for charities. It directly affects individuals or companies paid to solicit donations or sell nonperishable goods for charitable organizations (excluding religious groups). Key provisions require these entities to register with the Attorney General ($200 fee), post a $25,000 surety bond, and submit detailed contracts outlining compensation, solicitation methods, locations, and materials before working with charities. The bill aims to increase transparency and accountability in fundraising activities.

Maddy summaryHB 84, the Employee Free Speech Act, protects New Mexico employees from employer retaliation for refusing to attend or listen to workplace communications about political matters. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions like firing, demoting, or reducing hours against employees who decline to participate in mandatory political discussions or communications. The bill allows affected employees to seek damages, reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees, while exempting required legal updates, job-related information, educational coursework, religious communications, and casual conversations. The bill passed the House in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate by June 3, 2025, and remains pending.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding joint memorial (HJM 6) expresses New Mexico's legislative support for strengthening U.S.-Taiwan and New Mexico-Taiwan relations. It specifically advocates for Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations (like the WHO and UN climate talks), supports ongoing U.S.-Taiwan trade negotiations, and encourages educational exchanges between New Mexico and Taiwan. The resolution does not create new laws or obligations but formally endorses existing efforts, citing New Mexico's $62 million in exports to Taiwan and companies like Admiral Cable operating in the state. The memorial passed the New Mexico House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 91 prohibits New Mexico municipalities that use automated speed cameras to detect speeding violations from contracting with private companies to collect unpaid fines for those violations. It also bans impounding vehicles solely due to unpaid fines from automated speed camera detections. Municipalities must collect these fines directly and cannot report unpaid fines to credit reporting agencies for such violations. This bill amends New Mexico's traffic law (Section 66-8-130) to restrict how municipalities handle fines from automated speed enforcement.