Sen. Moe Maestas

Maddy summarySB 50 adds telecommunicators (such as 911 operators) to New Mexico's Law Enforcement Retention Fund, providing them with 5% annual salary retention payments after 5, 10, 15, and 20 years of service. Law enforcement agencies must report detailed staffing data - including retention rates, hiring trends, and training metrics - to qualify for these funds. The bill also updates definitions (e.g., "safety agency," "telecommunicators"), requires accreditation for law enforcement academies, and changes terminology from "law enforcement officer" to "police officer" in training laws. This directly affects all state and local law enforcement agencies employing telecommunicators and their training programs.

Maddy summaryHB 369 modifies the fee schedule for insurance licensing in New Mexico, affecting insurers, agents, brokers, adjusters, and other licensed insurance professionals. It updates specific fee amounts for applications, renewals, and filings - for example, increasing the biennial producer license renewal from $30 to $60 and raising the viatical settlements provider license renewal from $400 to $500. The bill does not change licensing requirements or timelines but adjusts the cost structure for existing license categories. These changes apply directly to all entities seeking or maintaining insurance licenses under New Mexico law. The bill was passed by committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 465 prevents New Mexico schools from barring students from participating in school sports based on prior participation at another school, club sports, or athletic training camps. It allows eighth-grade students to join high school sports teams without losing future eligibility and permits private schools to offer sports scholarships. The bill directly affects student-athletes, especially those transferring schools, participating in non-school sports, or attending training camps, ensuring they face no penalty for these activities. Key provisions include removing eligibility restrictions for these scenarios and defining "athletic activity" as sports regulated by the New Mexico Activities Association. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 446 appropriates $200,000 to the University of New Mexico's political science department to study the demographics of people speaking at housing and construction-related hearings in Santa Fe and Albuquerque during fiscal year 2026. The research will collect data on speakers' age, sex, race, homeownership status, place of birth, and whether they represent neighborhood associations, then summarize findings in a report for state officials by June 30, 2026. Unspent funds would revert to the state general fund. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and is not currently active.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 4) proposes declaring February 18, 2025, as "ALS Awareness Day" in the New Mexico Senate. It symbolically recognizes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, and acknowledges the impact on patients, families, and organizations like ALS New Mexico that support affected individuals. The bill does not create new policies or funding but aims to raise public awareness and honor local efforts, including the work of ALS New Mexico and the Grange family. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects awareness efforts for New Mexicans living with ALS and their communities.

Maddy summarySB 233 requires sellers of residential solar and small-scale energy systems to provide buyers with a detailed written statement covering key financial terms, system performance, and tax obligations. This statement must include specific disclosures like projected energy output, all fees (including maintenance and removal costs), tax incentives used, and assumptions behind savings estimates. Failure to provide this written disclosure would be classified as an unfair or deceptive trade practice under New Mexico law. The bill directly affects consumers purchasing these systems and the companies selling them, aiming to increase transparency in transactions.

Maddy summarySB 245 requires all New Mexico charter schools to operate as separate "boards of finance" for managing public funds, directly affecting charter schools and their governing bodies. The bill mandates that charter schools must demonstrate trained financial staff, proper bonding for fund handlers, and consultation with state authorities on fiscal matters to qualify as a board of finance. Failure to meet these requirements can lead to charter denial, nonrenewal, or revocation. Locally chartered schools must comply by July 1, 2026, and all charter schools must maintain this status during operation. The bill separates charter school audits from their chartering authorities while requiring these audits to be included in the authority’s overall audit.

Maddy summarySB 311 would amend New Mexico’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Code to explicitly grant local governments the power of eminent domain for redevelopment projects. This directly affects property owners in designated slum or blighted areas where local governments seek to acquire land for public projects. The bill’s key mechanism adds eminent domain to the list of powers local governments already hold, enabling them to seize private property to promote economic development, housing, medical care, infrastructure, and other public benefits outlined in the code. The change aligns with the code’s existing purpose of revitalizing distressed areas without authorizing governments to operate businesses or facilities.

Maddy summarySB 268 allocates $2.5 million from the state general fund to fund athletics for the University of New Mexico (UNM) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) for fiscal year 2026. UNM receives the full amount directly, while NMSU’s funding is contingent on hiring an athletic director with at least five years of experience in name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy. Any unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2026 will revert to the state general fund. This bill directly affects UNM and NMSU athletics departments through targeted budget allocations with specific conditions for NMSU.

Maddy summarySB 466 modifies New Mexico restaurant liquor licensing rules. It creates a new Restaurant C license for establishments selling only beer and wine, reduces renewal fees for Restaurant B licenses (which allow full liquor service), and removes restrictions on the number of drinks per customer. The bill also eliminates the requirement for Restaurant A license holders to maintain "good standing" for 12 consecutive months to obtain spirituous liquor permits and deletes proximity restrictions to churches. These changes directly affect restaurants holding or seeking Restaurant A, B, or C licenses across the state.