Sen. Linda Trujillo

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (not a bill) requests the Water Quality Control Commission to prioritize a petition from Taos County regarding the reuse of treated oil/gas wastewater (produced water) for industrial uses, including supporting data centers. It asks the Commission to review the petition within 90 days and hold hearings in Questa, Taos County, to enable this reuse. The memorial aims to protect freshwater resources by reducing demand on them for growing industries, while acknowledging rural communities' leadership in water stewardship. It does not create new law but urges state agencies to act on the petition. The focus is on using treated produced water instead of freshwater for economic development in rural areas.

Maddy summarySB 241 creates a state-run child care assistance program administered by New Mexico's Early Childhood Education and Care Department. It provides funding to licensed child care facilities for eligible children under 13 (or under 19 if disabled or under court supervision), primarily benefiting low-income families where parents or guardians are employed, in school, homeless, or participating in approved programs like job training. Eligibility requires household income below 600% of the federal poverty level, with income documentation and proof of New Mexico residency. The program excludes children enrolled in Head Start, early pre-K, or pre-K programs during those hours, and allows temporary eligibility for up to 90 days while seeking employment.

Maddy summarySB 96 ensures registered and licensed child care homes (including family and group homes) are treated as standard residential uses under local zoning rules, meaning they cannot be charged extra fees, require special permits, or face stricter parking rules than other single-family homes in the same zone. Licensed child care centers are permitted "by right" in commercial, mixed-use, or multifamily residential zones without additional fees or building restrictions. The bill prohibits local governments from imposing unique regulations on child care facilities that don’t apply to other private residences and clarifies that homeowner associations cannot block or charge fees for child care operations. These provisions aim to reduce regulatory barriers for child care providers while maintaining consistent zoning standards.

Maddy summaryHB 184 reorganizes New Mexico's conservation funding by transferring the entire balance of the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund into the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and establishing new investment and distribution rules. It requires the Conservation Legacy Fund to be invested under the prudent investor rule, sets annual distributions from the Conservation Legacy Fund to the Land of Enchantment Fund at 5% of its three-year average value, and specifies how funds from the Land of Enchantment Fund must be allocated. Specifically, 22.5% goes to the Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department for forest/watershed projects, 22.5% to the University Board for agricultural programs, 10% to the Environment Department for water quality, 15% to Economic Development for outdoor recreation, 8% to Cultural Affairs, and 22% to Wildlife for conservation programs. Unspent funds from these allocations revert to the Conservation Legacy Fund. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis memorial requests the creation of a work group to study the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) fund's solvency, focusing on factors affecting retiree benefits and cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). It directly affects approximately 30,000 New Mexico public retirees whose pensions have not kept pace with inflation since 2020 changes suspended COLAs and altered adjustment formulas. The work group will examine PERA's unfunded liability causes - such as investment underperformance and salary increases - evaluate COLA formulas tied to inflation, and recommend improvements to fund solvency without harming retiree benefits. The group, composed of finance experts and retirees, must report by December 2026. (Note: This is a procedural memorial requesting a study, not a policy change.)

Maddy summarySJR 7 is a joint resolution ratifying an exchange of property between the New Mexico General Services Department and the City of Santa Fe. It approves the state giving up five parcels of land (totaling ~19 acres) in Santa Fe's midtown area (valued at $6.5 million) for one city-owned parcel (34.97 acres) at 4491 Cerrillos Road. This exchange requires legislative approval under state law (NMSA 1978 §13-6-3) because the state property's value exceeds $550,000. The resolution was signed into law on February 27, 2026, after passing the Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes removing a constitutional requirement that school elections in New Mexico must be held at separate times from partisan elections. If passed, it would allow school board elections to be scheduled concurrently with other partisan elections, directly affecting school districts and voters participating in local school governance. The key change is deleting the specific phrase "All school elections shall be held at different times from partisan elections" from Article 7, Section 1 of New Mexico's constitution. The amendment must be approved by voters at the next general election.

Maddy summaryHB 50 creates the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, allowing licensed social workers to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It establishes a "multistate license" system where a social worker's home state license authorizes practice in all compact states, using a shared data system to track licenses and any restrictions. To join, states must require national exams, meet education standards, and have complaint systems in place. The bill directly affects licensed social workers seeking to work in multiple states and their home state licensing authorities, streamlining practice across state lines while maintaining oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Mexico's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, enabling licensed physicians to more easily practice across participating states. It requires physicians seeking multi-state licensure to maintain a "state of principal license" (their primary practice location) and meet strict eligibility criteria, including no criminal convictions, active licensure, and no pending disciplinary actions. The compact creates a commission to manage applications, verify qualifications, and issue "expedited licenses" without requiring full re-licensure in each state. This primarily affects physicians already licensed in New Mexico who wish to provide care in other participating states, streamlining cross-state medical practice. The bill is pending final approval after passing the House.

Maddy summarySB 19 adjusts New Mexico's public school funding calculation for fiscal year 2026 by resetting the "unit value" used to determine state education funding. It requires the Secretary of Public Education to adjust this value by February 27, 2026, based on statewide unit counts after consulting with finance departments and legislative committees. This change directly affects all public schools in New Mexico by altering the formula for calculating their state funding allocation for that fiscal year. The bill is a temporary adjustment for FY2026, not a permanent change to the school finance system.