Sen. Linda Trujillo

Maddy summarySB 299 requires New Mexico's Secretary of State to send written notice to county commissioners in a legislative district within 15 days when a state representative or senator's seat becomes vacant. This bill directly affects county commissioners, ensuring they are promptly informed about vacancies in their district's legislative office. It amends existing law to establish this notification process, replacing the previous requirement for the Secretary to notify only the affected legislative office. The bill is procedural and does not alter substantive policy or create new obligations beyond this administrative notification.

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 summaryThis bill (SJR 11) proposes amending New Mexico's constitution to allow school board elections to be held simultaneously with partisan elections (like those for governor or Congress), rather than requiring separate voting dates. It directly affects all New Mexico school districts, voters in those districts, and the state's election administration. The key mechanism is a constitutional change requiring voter approval at a general election after legislative passage. If approved, it would remove the current constitutional requirement that school elections "shall be held at different times from partisan elections." The resolution is pending voter approval after passing the Senate and committee stages.

Maddy summaryHB 60, the Artificial Intelligence Act, requires developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems (those making consequential decisions in areas like employment, housing, healthcare, or lending) to provide notice to consumers, document system details, and disclose risks of algorithmic discrimination. It mandates risk management policies, impact assessments before deployment, and reporting of "risk incidents" where discrimination occurs. The law would enforce these requirements through the New Mexico Department of Justice and allow consumers to sue for injunctive or declaratory relief. Note: The bill was replaced by a committee substitute and postponed indefinitely in June 2025, so it has not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 366 adds veterinarians to the legal definition of "health care practitioner" in New Mexico law, specifically in Sections 24A-4-1 and 24A-4-5 of the state statutes. This change directly affects veterinarians and veterinary practices by making certain restrictive provisions in their employment agreements (like non-compete clauses) void, unenforceable, and against public policy. The bill applies to new or renewed agreements executed after its effective date (set for 2025), aligning veterinarians with other health care professionals like physicians and pharmacists under these rules. The bill passed committee reviews in February and March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 172 creates the Immigrant Health Care Workforce Development Act to support underemployed immigrant health care workers in New Mexico, particularly those with prior foreign health care experience seeking licensure. The bill establishes an Acceleration Program providing training in medical English, health IT systems, and licensing pathways, along with financial support for exam fees, living costs, and career navigation. It also creates a Primary Care Physician Readiness Pathway for qualified international medical graduates, including a 6-12 month clinical readiness program and exam preparation assistance. Participants must be New Mexico residents, commit to working in an underserved community for at least one year post-licensure, and meet specific eligibility criteria like having prior foreign health care experience.

Maddy summarySB 179 requires landlords and property advertisers to clearly disclose key terms of rental-purchase agreements for properties listed online. It mandates that online listings state whether the agreement is a rental-purchase deal, show the total number and amount of payments needed to own the item, and clarify that renters gain no ownership until all payments are made. This applies directly to online property advertisers and renters viewing such listings, replacing physical tags with electronic disclosures displayed before other required information. The bill aims to increase transparency for consumers shopping for rental-purchase options online.

Maddy summaryHB 129 reduces the probation period for New Mexico state public employees from one year to 180 days. It directly affects all state employees hired into classified positions, changing their initial probationary requirement. The bill also prohibits requiring additional probation if an employee transfers to a different state service assignment. This change amends Section 10-9-13 of New Mexico's Personnel Act, specifically modifying the probation duration and transfer rules. The legislation passed the House in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 224 allows the New Mexico Superintendent of Insurance to participate in mediation and court proceedings involving medical malpractice claims under the Medical Malpractice Act. It requires that records held by the Superintendent or the third-party administrator of the medical malpractice insurance fund remain confidential and cannot be subpoenaed, except for use in administering the Act. The bill also mandates that the Superintendent must be notified before any district court settlement involving the insurance fund can be approved, giving them the chance to review the settlement terms. This bill directly affects medical malpractice claimants, healthcare providers, and the state’s medical malpractice insurance fund.

Maddy summaryHB 64 would expand eligibility for New Mexico's in-state tuition rates and state financial aid to include non-residents regardless of immigration status, provided they meet one of three criteria: graduating from a New Mexico high school, completing two semesters of adult education in the state, or earning income in New Mexico for two years with filed tax returns. This change requires public post-secondary institutions to grant these benefits on the same terms as New Mexico residents, removing immigration status as a barrier for qualifying individuals. The bill applies to all state-funded financial aid and tuition rates at public colleges and universities. It is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025, if enacted.