Sen. Linda López

Maddy summarySB 250 prohibits New Mexico state and local agencies (including police, sheriffs, and jails) from using public funds, personnel, or resources to enforce federal immigration laws or assist federal agents in immigration enforcement activities. This directly affects law enforcement agencies by barring them from detaining individuals solely based on suspected immigration status or aiding federal immigration investigations. The bill also clarifies that jails holding individuals under federal criminal warrants must be paid for by the federal government, replacing a prior law that allowed state cost-sharing. It repeals outdated references to federal immigration enforcement in state statutes.

Maddy summaryHB 375 creates the Graduate Behavioral Health Scholarship Act, providing debt-free education for New Mexico graduate students pursuing master's or doctoral degrees in behavioral health fields (counseling, psychology, social work, psychiatric nursing, or addiction medicine). The scholarship covers tuition, fees, books, and licensing costs after other state aid is applied, but recipients must commit to practicing in New Mexico for a number of years equal to the scholarship duration. The Higher Education Department will administer the program using $10 million appropriated for fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds rolling over annually. Students who graduate but fail to fulfill their practice commitment face penalties up to three times the scholarship value.

Maddy summarySB 216 repeals a state law that previously banned cities and towns in New Mexico from enacting rent control on privately owned rental properties. This change would allow local governments to create their own rent control policies for residential buildings. The bill directly affects landlords, tenants, and municipal governments by removing the legal barrier to local rent regulation. It does not create new rent control rules itself but enables communities to develop their own policies. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 428, the Crossover Youth Act, creates a dedicated program to support children simultaneously involved in New Mexico's child welfare and juvenile justice systems (termed "crossover youth"). It requires the state department to appoint a program coordinator to foster collaboration between child welfare and juvenile justice divisions, mandate annual training for all relevant staff (including judges, attorneys, and social workers) on trauma, cultural humility, and system coordination, and establish protocols for joint case management. The bill also guarantees basic visitation rights for siblings and parents of affected youth, unless safety concerns arise. This legislation directly impacts youth navigating both systems, their families, and state agencies responsible for their care.

Maddy summarySB 489 allows New Mexico's children's courts to require abused or neglected children aged 14 and older to participate in court-ordered behavioral health services or treatment, after a hearing where the court determines it is necessary for the child's health, safety, or welfare. The bill amends existing law to clarify that such children have the right to consent to treatment (including therapy and counseling) without parental permission, though psychotropic medications still require parental consent with child notification. It specifically applies to youth under the court's jurisdiction due to abuse or neglect, not to all minors or general mental health cases. The law does not change consent rules for special education services or override a child's right to control disclosure of their mental health records.

Maddy summarySB 395 appropriates $100,000 from New Mexico's general fund to the Tourism Department for Special Olympics programs during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The funding directly supports Special Olympics New Mexico events and initiatives through the Tourism Department's administration. Any unspent funds by the end of 2026 would revert to the general fund. The bill passed committee review but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 406 amends New Mexico's child welfare law to remove a presumption of abandonment as a basis for terminating parental rights in abuse or neglect cases. It deletes the provision that created a rebuttable presumption of abandonment when a child lived with others for an extended period under specific conditions (like disintegrated parent-child relationships). The bill also prohibits courts from terminating rights solely based on parental incarceration or the child being an Indian child. This directly affects child welfare cases where courts currently consider these factors. The bill was postponed indefinitely by the Senate on June 3, 2025, and has not become law.

Maddy summarySB 491 expands New Mexico's loan repayment program to include child and family welfare workers. It creates a new "Child and Family Welfare Worker Loan Repayment Act" that provides funding to repay student loans for public service workers with bachelor's or master's degrees in critical fields like social work. Eligible workers must have completed at least one year of service with the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy, with repayment amounts tied to years served (capped at $25,000 per worker). The bill establishes a dedicated fund and requires the office to provide an annual list of qualifying job classifications to the Higher Education Department.

Maddy summarySB 271 revises New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) membership to 16 total members (eight from the House and eight from the Senate), reducing the previous total. It adjusts the appointment process to ensure proportional party representation in each chamber and requires at least one minority member from each house. The bill also clarifies vacancy procedures and alternates leadership roles between the Senate and House every two years. Introduced in the 2025 legislative session, the bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 487 amends New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to explicitly protect and preserve the state's heritage Spanish language and culture as part of the law's purpose. It requires the Hispanic Education Advisory Council to meet at biannual Hispanic Education Summits and allows council members to receive travel and daily allowances (per diem and mileage) for their service. The bill directly affects the advisory council, public schools, and educational institutions serving Hispanic students across New Mexico. Key provisions update the act's goals to include cultural preservation and formalize council meeting requirements with compensation for members. The changes aim to strengthen collaboration between schools, communities, and policymakers to support Hispanic student success.