Maddy summarySB 356, the "State Diversity Act," requires New Mexico state agencies to address systemic barriers in hiring, promotion, and pay by creating a Chief Diversity Officer position within the State Personnel Office. It mandates agencies to develop policies identifying and reducing institutional racism, track racial data for workforce equity, and provide annual reports and anti-racism training for all state employees. The bill directly affects all state agencies and employees covered by the Personnel Act, requiring them to implement diversity strategies targeting underserved communities. Key mechanisms include establishing diversity liaisons, creating a Workforce Diversity Council, and setting measurable goals to improve representation and inclusion.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 161 requires the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs (DMA) to conduct state and national criminal background checks on all employees and volunteers who supervise minors in DMA youth programs, including the Youth Challenge, Job Challenge Academies, and Governor's Summer Program. It mandates fingerprinting for these checks, with applicants covering the cost, and restricts the use of results solely to DMA hiring decisions for minor-supervision roles. The bill prohibits employment or volunteering for individuals with convictions involving sex crimes, crimes against minors, or drug felonies, while allowing consideration of other relevant offenses. It also requires applicants to acknowledge their right to review and dispute background report details. This policy directly affects DMA staff and volunteers working with minors in specific youth programs.
Maddy summarySB 190 creates a dedicated Homelessness Reduction Division within New Mexico's Health Care Authority, led by a director who will coordinate statewide efforts to reduce homelessness. The bill establishes a task force with agency secretaries to develop a strategic plan targeting homelessness prevention, improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, and build a statewide data system to track homelessness services (while protecting privacy). It also creates an advisory council to provide community input. The bill directly affects state agencies coordinating housing and health services, and aims to streamline existing programs through better data sharing and cross-agency collaboration, with annual reports required to lawmakers.
Maddy summarySB 192 amends New Mexico's property tax code to update veteran exemptions based on recent voter-approved constitutional changes. It directly affects veterans and disabled veterans' surviving spouses by allowing their property tax exemptions to be transferred to a surviving spouse in the same tax year through a written request to the county assessor. The bill also modifies valuation rules for residential properties, limiting annual value increases (with exceptions for solar installations, disaster repairs, or ownership changes) and removing requirements for mailing residential property declarations to owners. These changes aim to clarify and streamline property tax administration while maintaining key veteran benefits.
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 140 would exempt certain New Mexico residents from state income tax based on their annual income levels. Specifically, it would eliminate state income tax for single individuals earning $40,000 or less, married individuals filing separately earning $30,000 or less, and married couples filing jointly earning $60,000 or less. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, directly affecting low-to-moderate income earners in the state. This policy change modifies the state's income tax structure by creating new thresholds for tax liability.
Maddy summaryHB 169, the Public Expression Protection Act, creates a legal shield to dismiss civil lawsuits targeting speech on public issues by allowing defendants to file a "special motion" within 60 days of being sued, which pauses all other legal proceedings until the motion is resolved. The law applies to communications in government proceedings, speech on public matters, or exercise of free speech rights, but excludes government employees acting officially, public safety enforcement, and business sales communications (while protecting creative works like journalism). If the court rules the speech is protected and the plaintiff fails to show the law doesn’t apply, the case is dismissed without trial. This bill directly affects individuals, journalists, activists, and organizations engaging in public discourse by making it easier to end lawsuits that could suppress such speech.
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 433, the "Dentist and Dental Hygienist Interstate Compact," would allow licensed dentists and dental hygienists from participating states to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It creates a "compact privilege" that streamlines interstate practice by eliminating duplicate licensing requirements while maintaining each state's authority to regulate scope of practice and ensure public safety. The bill directly affects licensed dental professionals seeking to work across state lines, including military personnel relocating with families. The bill passed committee review in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis New Mexico bill requires schools to create individualized seizure action plans for students with seizure disorders, developed with input from parents and healthcare providers. It mandates annual training for all school staff on recognizing seizures, providing first aid, and administering emergency medication, ensuring at least two trained staff (including school nurses or designated personnel) are available during school hours and activities. School nurses or designated staff must provide care as specified in the plans, including medication administration and use of medical devices. The law applies to all public, charter, and private schools in New Mexico.