Sen. Shannon Pinto

Maddy summarySB 457 appropriates $20 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Civil Legal Services Fund for fiscal year 2026 and future years, specifically to provide civil legal services to low-income residents. The bill directly affects low-income New Mexicans who need assistance with non-criminal legal matters like housing disputes, family law, or debt issues. Key provisions include permanent funding with no requirement for unspent balances to return to the general fund, ensuring sustained support. The bill was passed by committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it is currently pending and not yet law.

Maddy summaryNew Mexico's SB 269 clarifies that employers cannot take adverse job actions (like termination) against qualified medical cannabis patients under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act, except for impairment during work hours or on company premises. It bans random cannabis testing and restricts testing to cases with reasonable suspicion of impairment during work or after accidents involving others or property damage. The bill requires the Department of Health and Workforce Solutions to create evidence-based guidelines for determining cannabis impairment, focusing on physical and cognitive indicators. These guidelines will be shared with employers and state agencies to ensure consistent application. The law directly affects medical cannabis patients employed in New Mexico who hold a qualifying patient status.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SJR 12) proposes to change New Mexico's legislative session rules by setting all regular sessions to 60 days (currently 30 days in even-numbered years), removing restrictions on bills considered during even-numbered years, and allowing veto overrides for bills from any session type (regular, special, or extraordinary) within the same legislative biennium. If approved by voters, it would standardize session lengths and expand the scope of bills lawmakers can address during even-numbered years. The proposal requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending before committees after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 234 creates a permanent "Tribal Education Trust Fund" in New Mexico's state treasury to provide annual funding for tribal education programs. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the fund will disburse at least $12.5 million each year (or 5% of its five-year average value) directly to New Mexico tribes with approved agreements, with funds carrying over annually for tribal use. Tribes must submit annual budget plans and impact reports to the Public Education Department, while the department develops a disbursement formula with a task force. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 396 amends New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students in public schools. It requires school districts to develop a systemic framework (with input from students, families, and community groups) including culturally relevant programs, bilingual initiatives, tutoring, and services to boost attendance and graduation rates. The bill mandates an annual statewide report tracking Hispanic student achievement, attendance, graduation rates, and bilingual program availability by school district. The Hispanic Education Liaison, a state position, will advise on these frameworks and five-year plans for post-secondary education.

Maddy summaryHB 417 redirects liquor excise tax revenue to address alcohol-related harms. It replaces the previous "DWI grant" program with a "local alcohol harms alleviation fund," distributing 94% of liquor excise tax revenue to this fund for community services. A new "tribal alcohol harms alleviation fund" receives all revenue from a proposed liquor excise surtax on retailers, specifically targeting tribal communities. The bill also excludes liquor taxes from "gross receipts" definitions in other tax laws and requires periodic legislative reviews of tax rates and distributions. These changes aim to reallocate existing tax revenue toward prevention and treatment programs rather than previous uses like drug courts or municipal grants.

Maddy summarySB 308 creates the Office of the Native American Ombud within New Mexico's Indian Affairs Department to address concerns raised by Native Americans. The ombud investigates complaints about state services (like legal aid or healthcare access), maintains strict confidentiality, and issues annual reports with recommendations for improving services. It requires all service providers to prominently display the ombud's contact information and prohibits retaliation against those who file concerns. The bill appropriates $2 million to fund this office and mandates annual reporting on resolved concerns and policy improvements.

Maddy summarySM 1 (Senate Memorial 1) requests the Crime Victims Reparation Commission to create a statewide task force to study gun violence in New Mexico and develop recommendations. The task force would include diverse stakeholders like law enforcement, health departments, tribal leaders, schools, gun advocates, and anti-violence groups. It must examine root causes of gun violence, evaluate current gun laws, promote public education on responsible ownership, and develop prevention strategies. The task force would report findings to state legislative committees and the governor, with no direct policy changes proposed.

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 468 proposes appropriating $33 million from the state general fund to create tribal liaison programs in every New Mexico county. The bill directs these programs to provide nonpartisan voter education, translation services, and voter registration drives specifically to improve access to the voting process for Native American communities. Each county would receive funding to support these services, aiming to ensure equal participation in elections. The funding is limited to fiscal year 2026, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund.