Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow retired protective service workers (such as police officers and firefighters) in New Mexico to return to work for their former public employer after a 12-month waiting period following retirement. During reemployment, their retirement pension would be suspended but would automatically resume upon leaving the position. The bill specifically prohibits these workers from accruing new retirement service credit or making contributions during their return to work. This change applies only to protective service workers, not other public employees covered under the retirement system.

Maddy summarySB 407, the "Wrongful Conviction Compensation and Services Act," creates a legal pathway for New Mexicans whose convictions were overturned or pardoned to seek compensation. It requires courts to award specific damages: $100,000 per year for death penalty cases, $75,000 per year for incarceration, and $50,000 per year for parole/probation, plus economic losses like unpaid child support and attorney fees. To qualify, individuals must prove their conviction was overturned based on new evidence or a court finding they didn’t commit the crime, with strict standards to exclude cases involving self-inflicted convictions. The bill establishes a dedicated compensation fund and mandates clear procedural steps for filing petitions in district court.

Maddy summaryHB 135 requires businesses or organizations seeking public funding for economic development projects to conduct a housing study before applying for support under New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act. The study must estimate housing demand created by new full-time jobs expected from the project, such as those in manufacturing, retail, or cultural facilities. This requirement applies to projects that would generate new jobs in sectors covered by the act, including manufacturing, retail, and cultural facilities. The bill amends the application process to include this housing analysis as a mandatory step before public funds are approved.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 13, introduced by Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, is a non-binding request asking the governor to declare a "Citizen Science Day" and urging state agencies to expand community-led environmental monitoring. It specifically directs the Public Education Department, Outdoor Recreation Division, Higher Education Department, and Department of Agriculture to review a working group report and integrate citizen science initiatives, especially for youth. The bill aims to engage New Mexico residents - particularly students - in collecting data on local environmental issues like water quality and wildlife, while supporting state agencies that manage public lands. It does not create new laws or funding but seeks to formalize existing collaboration efforts highlighted in a 2024 agency report. The bill was referred to committees but was later postponed indefinitely.

Maddy summarySB 94 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain sex crimes against minors in New Mexico. It modifies the law to allow criminal prosecution for crimes against minors until the victim turns 35, with exceptions for violent first-degree felonies. The bill also adds a provision that pauses the statute of limitations clock until the victim turns 18 or reports the crime to police, whichever occurs first. This change directly affects victims of sexual offenses under specific New Mexico statutes (Sections 30-6-1, 30-9-11, and 30-9-13) and their ability to seek prosecution years after the crime occurred.

Maddy summarySB 440 allocates $250,000 from the general fund to the Department of Finance and Administration to support state agencies in creating and maintaining language access plans, as required by existing law (Section 9-1-5 NMSA 1978). This funding directly affects New Mexico state agencies that must provide language assistance services to non-English speakers. The bill ensures the funds can be used across multiple fiscal years without reverting to the general fund if unspent. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SJR 12) proposes to change New Mexico's legislative session rules by setting all regular sessions to 60 days (currently 30 days in even-numbered years), removing restrictions on bills considered during even-numbered years, and allowing veto overrides for bills from any session type (regular, special, or extraordinary) within the same legislative biennium. If approved by voters, it would standardize session lengths and expand the scope of bills lawmakers can address during even-numbered years. The proposal requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending before committees after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 210 increases penalties for violating New Mexico's water laws, raising the maximum daily civil fine from $100 to $2,000 for most violations (and to $10,000 per day for groundwater violations involving illegal recovery or use). It directly affects water users, including agricultural and municipal entities, who breach water rights or permits. Key mechanisms include requiring repayment of overdiverted water (up to double the amount) as a preferred remedy before fines, and mandating annual inflation adjustments to penalty amounts starting July 2027 using the U.S. Consumer Price Index. The bill amends Sections 72-2-18 and 72-5A-12 of the New Mexico Statutes to implement these changes.

Maddy summarySB 396 amends New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students in public schools. It requires school districts to develop a systemic framework (with input from students, families, and community groups) including culturally relevant programs, bilingual initiatives, tutoring, and services to boost attendance and graduation rates. The bill mandates an annual statewide report tracking Hispanic student achievement, attendance, graduation rates, and bilingual program availability by school district. The Hispanic Education Liaison, a state position, will advise on these frameworks and five-year plans for post-secondary education.

Maddy summarySB 487 amends New Mexico's election code to establish "voter convenience centers" by consolidating precincts, primarily affecting county election officials and voters across the state. Key provisions require these centers to be ADA-compliant, serve at least 10 precincts for general elections (15 for local elections), provide accessible voting systems, and maintain broadband connectivity for real-time voter data. The bill specifically aims to improve accessibility for voters with disabilities and streamline voting in areas with high absentee voter rates (e.g., designating precincts as mail-only if 55%+ of voters are on permanent absentee lists). It does not create new emergency voting procedures but refines standard election logistics for greater efficiency and inclusion.