Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

Maddy summarySB 312 eliminates a legal protection that previously prevented motorcycle riders (and passengers under 18) from being considered negligent for not wearing a helmet. The bill amends New Mexico law to remove the provision stating that "failure to wear a safety helmet shall not constitute contributory negligence," meaning riders who don't wear helmets could now be held partially responsible in accident lawsuits. It also repeals two existing sections (32A-24-5 and 66-3-1010.4) that contained similar protections. This change directly affects motorcycle operators and passengers under 18, who must still wear helmets under the law, but now face potential legal consequences for non-compliance.

Maddy summarySB 11, the Nurse Loan Repayment Act, creates a state fund to repay student loans for New Mexico nurses working in designated underserved areas or as nursing educators. It directly affects licensed registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who commit to four years of service in areas identified by the state as lacking sufficient nursing staff. The program provides up to $35,000 in total loan repayment ($7,500 annually for two years and $10,000 for the next two), with payments made directly to lenders. Nurses must meet eligibility criteria (NM license, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, and service in designated areas or as faculty/preceptors), and non-compliance requires repayment of the award plus 15% interest. The bill excludes state loan-for-service programs, scholarships, and personal loans from eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 45 requires New Mexico's public colleges and universities to establish clear policies for managing library resources, including how to handle removal requests. The bill prohibits libraries from removing books, digital materials, or other resources based on the content's author, topic, or audience (e.g., race, gender, or political views), and mandates that only students may request removals. Libraries must follow a uniform process involving written decisions explaining the reasoning, review the resource as a whole, and wait for final approval before removal - preventing snap decisions. The policy also protects library staff from retaliation for refusing to remove materials before a final decision or acting in good faith under the rules. Institutions must adopt these policies by September 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 51, the Wrongful Conviction Compensation Act, creates a legal process for people wrongfully convicted of misdemeanors or felonies in New Mexico state court to seek compensation after being declared innocent. To qualify, individuals must prove through court evidence that they were convicted for a crime they didn’t commit or that the crime wasn’t committed, and that their conviction was overturned, reversed, or vacated based on innocence. The bill establishes a compensation fund to pay exonerated individuals for time served in jail or prison, plus additional damages, with claims filed in district court. It modifies existing laws, including the Indigent Defense Act, to allow recovery of funds used to pay for legal aid in wrongful conviction cases. The bill requires petitioners to meet specific evidence standards and outlines court procedures for processing claims.

Maddy summarySB 31, the U Visa Certification Act, creates a standardized process for New Mexico victims of serious crimes (like domestic violence, trafficking, or assault) to obtain state certification needed for federal U visas. It requires local law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts to process certification requests within 30 days (14 days for urgent cases) and provides clear appeal steps if denied. Victims must have assisted investigations, but certifications cannot be denied due to case closures or lack of convictions. The law specifies qualifying crimes, defines key terms, and mandates written explanations for denials to streamline access to federal immigration relief without altering U visa eligibility rules.

Maddy summarySB 16, the "Health Professional Autonomy Act," protects health care providers (like doctors and nurses) by prohibiting health care entities (such as hospitals, staffing companies, and management organizations) from interfering with clinical decisions. It specifically bans entities from controlling or directing providers' choices about diagnostic tests, referrals, patient care plans, or patient volume. The bill allows affected providers to sue for damages or seek court orders if their autonomy is violated, and the Attorney General can also enforce the law. This law directly affects providers and entities in New Mexico’s health care system, excluding federally qualified health centers and independent practices, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 80 amends New Mexico's Family Violence Protection Act by expanding and updating the legal definition of "abuse" (replacing "domestic abuse"). The bill adds specific examples to the definition, including digital harassment, harm to animals, threats about immigration status, unauthorized sharing of private images, and harm to children. It explicitly clarifies that courts may include provisions protecting a victim's animals in orders of protection. This change directly affects victims seeking protection orders, courts issuing those orders, and law enforcement handling domestic violence cases under the updated definition.

Maddy summarySB 65 requires New Mexico school districts (including charter schools) to create written policies for managing public school libraries, ensuring fair access to books and materials. It prohibits schools from removing library resources based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or sexual orientation, and mandates a strict process for any removal requests - including requiring written decisions, limiting removals to once every two years, and reviewing entire resources, not just parts. School librarians and staff are protected from retaliation for following these policies or refusing to remove materials before a formal decision is made. This bill directly affects school districts, library staff, and students/parents who may request changes to library collections.

Maddy summarySB 94 requires individuals convicted of specific domestic violence offenses - including assault, battery, and related crimes under New Mexico law - to complete a domestic violence offender treatment program approved by the Children, Youth and Families Department. The bill applies directly to people sentenced for offenses listed in Sections 30-3-12 through 30-3-16 of the state code, such as assault against a household member or aggravated battery. Key provisions mandate treatment participation upon conviction and specify that violating probation terms (e.g., failing treatment) allows courts to impose the full original sentence without counting time served on probation. The bill aims to address domestic violence through structured intervention while tightening consequences for probation violations.

Maddy summarySB 90 defines "credible threat" in New Mexico's domestic violence law as any situation causing reasonable fear for physical safety based on statements, acts, or conduct - not requiring actual firearm use. If a court determines a credible threat exists during a domestic violence protection order hearing, it must order the abuser to surrender all firearms and refrain from possessing firearms while the order is active. This directly affects victims of domestic violence and abusers in cases where courts issue protection orders. The bill expands firearm restrictions beyond scenarios involving direct firearm threats, ensuring courts can mandate firearm removal when safety concerns arise.