Sen. Harold Pope

Maddy summaryHB 30 amends New Mexico's Motor Carrier Safety Act to establish specific safety requirements for companies that transport railroad employees. The bill requires these motor carriers to implement annual driver training covering vehicle operation, emergency procedures, and safety belt use; conduct criminal background checks for drivers; maintain $5 million liability insurance per vehicle; and equip vehicles with safety features including seat belts, spare tires, emergency kits, and GPS devices. It also limits drivers to a maximum of 10 consecutive driving hours, 15 total on-duty hours, and 70 hours in any eight-day period. These provisions apply specifically to motor carriers of railroad employees and take effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHJR 3 proposes adding environmental rights to New Mexico's constitution, establishing for all residents a legally recognized right to clean air, water, soil, healthy ecosystems, a safe climate, and preserved natural/cultural environments. It requires state, county, and municipal governments to act as trustees of natural resources for all people, including future generations, with these provisions being self-executing (effective without further laws). The resolution does not allow monetary damages for violations but mandates equitable protection regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. Currently pending, it must be approved by voters at the next general election after being postponed indefinitely by committees in June 2025.

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 107 establishes a STEM Center of Excellence at New Mexico State University (NMSU) focused on innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). It creates a statewide STEM Innovation Network with NMSU as the principal hub, connecting up to eight regional hubs and tribal hubs for federally recognized tribes to improve access to STEM education and career opportunities. The bill requires the network to coordinate with schools, employers, and tribes, develop annual reports, and uses $6 million in state funds (2026-2028) to support its operations. This directly affects students, educators, tribal communities, and schools by expanding STEM pathways and collaboration across public institutions.

Maddy summarySB 147, the Exclusionary Practices Act, prohibits early childhood programs (like pre-K and licensed childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years) from expelling or suspending children for behavioral or disciplinary reasons. Exceptions allow suspensions only if a child causes bodily injury to others (not in self-defense), limited to three school days per incident. The bill requires programs to report any suspensions or expulsions to the early childhood department and bans "soft expulsions" - practices making programs unwelcoming to force parental withdrawal. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and aligns with federal disability laws for children with individualized education plans.

Maddy summarySB 90 prohibits former New Mexico state legislators from accepting lobbying compensation for two years after their term ends, and also bars employers from paying them as lobbyists during that period. The bill requires lobbyists to disclose in their registration whether they served as a legislator in the past two years, and mandates the secretary of state to notify employers if such a disclosure is made. It applies to legislators serving on or after January 1, 2026, and takes effect January 1, 2026. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but was postponed indefinitely by the Senate on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 69, the "Right to Repair Consumer Electronics Act," requires manufacturers to provide independent repair shops and consumers with fair access to repair documentation, tools, and parts for consumer electronics sold in New Mexico. It specifically bans manufacturers from using software (called "parts pairing") to block non-original parts, reduce device functionality, or display misleading warnings after 2026. Manufacturers must offer these resources at no extra cost beyond reasonable shipping or printing fees, on terms equivalent to those given to their own authorized repair shops. The bill directly affects consumers who repair devices themselves, independent repair businesses, and electronics manufacturers selling products in New Mexico.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment proposal (SJR 7) would require New Mexico to establish nominating committees for each public university. These committees would create lists of recommended candidates for the governor to appoint as nonstudent members to university boards of regents, replacing the current appointment process. The governor would then select appointees from these lists with Senate approval, while maintaining existing rules for student regent appointments and board composition. The change applies to all state universities, including the University of New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 76 proposes changing New Mexico's back-to-school tax deduction period from the first Friday in August to the last weekend in July. It also increases price limits for qualifying items: clothing and footwear from $100 to $150, computers from $1,000 to $1,500, and computer accessories from $500 to $750. The bill directly affects New Mexico residents purchasing school-related items like clothing, electronics, and supplies during the designated sales period. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and is not currently active law.

Maddy summaryHB 128 establishes a $60 million Local Solar Access Fund within New Mexico's Finance Authority to provide grants for solar energy systems. The fund supports eligible entities like counties, municipalities, school districts, and tribal nations in planning, installing, and upgrading solar systems for public buildings and infrastructure. Grants prioritize projects in rural areas, low-income communities, and those serving community services or emergency needs, with rules requiring transparency in allocation. The fund’s money does not revert to the general fund annually, ensuring ongoing support for solar initiatives.