Sen. Shannon Pinto

Maddy summarySB 135 revises the membership structure of New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee (LFC). It reduces the total committee size from 16 to 15 members, adjusts the appointment process for house members (from six to five), and clarifies rules for minority representation and vacancy fills. The bill requires appointments to maintain proportional party representation within each chamber and specifies that committee chairs alternate between the Senate and House every two years. This procedural bill affects only the committee's composition and appointment procedures, with no substantive policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 138 repeals a state law that has prohibited New Mexico cities and towns from enacting rent control on privately owned housing. This bill directly affects local governments, removing a legal barrier that has prevented them from creating rent control policies since 1991. The key mechanism is the repeal of Section 47-8A-1 NMSA 1978, which previously banned municipalities from passing such ordinances. If passed, this would allow cities and towns to develop their own rent control rules for private rental properties.

Maddy summarySB 134 creates a permanent joint legislative committee focused on health and human services in New Mexico. It establishes a 10-member committee (4 Senate, 6 House) with specific party representation rules, appoints a director, and requires the committee to study state health/human services systems, recommend policy changes, and report findings before each odd-year legislative session. The bill appropriates $500,000 for initial staffing and operations in fiscal year 2027. This procedural bill directly affects the legislature and state agencies, which must provide requested information to the committee.

Maddy summarySB 139 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the Commission on the Status of Women for fiscal year 2027. The funding directly supports the commission's operations by covering contractor assistance, additional office space, and an agency database. Any unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. This bill provides specific financial resources to enhance the commission's capacity without changing existing laws or policies.

Maddy summarySB 8 authorizes a $650 million transfer from New Mexico's general fund to the Behavioral Health Trust Fund for fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports the state's behavioral health services by replenishing the trust fund, which finances mental health and substance use disorder programs. The bill establishes a specific, one-time funding mechanism to bolster existing services without creating new programs or eligibility criteria. It affects all New Mexicans who access behavioral health care through state-funded programs, as the transfer aims to strengthen service availability and infrastructure.

Maddy summarySB 180 limits strip or cavity searches in New Mexico juvenile detention facilities to situations where there is a reasonable belief that dangerous contraband is present and cannot be found by other means, requiring authorization from the facility superintendent. The bill mandates that such searches be conducted in the least intrusive manner possible and requires detailed incident reports - including the child's name, search rationale, and results - to be submitted within one business day. It also prohibits cameras or recording devices in shower and toilet areas of detention facilities. These provisions directly affect juvenile detention facilities and the children held in them in New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 10 creates New Mexico's Health Training Corps within the Department of Health to address healthcare shortages in underserved areas. The bill establishes a stipend program paying experienced health professionals $100 per hour (max $10,000 annually) for training health students and newly licensed providers at designated health training sites. It appropriates $3 million for the program to recruit preceptors, cover stipends, and provide support, with funds remaining available year-to-year. The initiative directly affects preceptors, health professional students, and newly licensed providers working in underserved communities, prioritizing behavioral health, primary care, and obstetrics/gynecology services.

Maddy summarySB 7 allocates $20 million from the state general fund to the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center to increase pay for clinician faculty members. This funding is specifically for fiscal year 2027, with any unused portion reverting to the state general fund. The bill directly affects clinicians who hold faculty positions at UNM's health sciences programs, such as physicians and nurses teaching in medical or nursing education. The key provision is a one-time appropriation to address compensation, without creating new ongoing state obligations.

Maddy summarySB 184 creates a new "Children's Behavioral Health Services Division" within New Mexico's Health Care Authority, transferring oversight of children's behavioral health services from the Children, Youth and Families Department. This reorganization directly affects children receiving behavioral health services, as well as the two state departments managing these programs. The bill's key mechanism is the formal transfer of operational responsibility for mental health and substance abuse services for children in department custody to the Health Care Authority's new division. It does not create new services but reassigns existing program management to improve coordination under the Health Care Authority.

Maddy summarySB 9 authorizes a $1 billion transfer from New Mexico's general fund to the Medicaid Trust Fund for fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports the state's Medicaid program, which provides healthcare coverage to low-income residents, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The bill establishes a specific financial mechanism to replenish the Medicaid Trust Fund, ensuring stable funding for healthcare services without altering eligibility rules or program structure. It does not create new benefits or change how Medicaid operates, only providing a dedicated funding source. The transfer is scheduled for implementation in the 2027 fiscal year.