Sen. Angel Charley

Maddy summarySB 41 eliminates the statute of limitations for specific sex crimes in New Mexico, including second, third, and fourth degree criminal sexual penetration and contact with minors, as well as related attempts, conspiracies, and solicitations. Prosecutors can now file charges for these crimes at any time, regardless of when they occurred. The bill also tolls the statute of limitations for child abandonment or abuse cases until the victim turns 18 or reports the abuse to law enforcement, whichever happens first. This change directly affects victims of these crimes and allows for prosecution without time constraints.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 17 requests the Secretary of Public Safety and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to form a task force to study sexual assault exam kit processing and backlog issues in New Mexico. The task force, including representatives from law enforcement, rape crisis centers, forensic labs, and survivor services, will examine current kit processing timelines and challenges. It must report by 2027 to legislative committees on progress, survivor service adequacy, and potential solutions. This memorial does not create new law but directs state agencies to address delays in processing evidence from sexual assault cases.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 27) acknowledges New Mexico residents affected by radiation from the Trinity nuclear test and uranium mining, urging state agencies to help eligible individuals apply for federal compensation before December 31, 2027. It directly supports downwinders, uranium workers (post-1971), and their families who qualify for a one-time $100,000 federal payment under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The memorial directs state departments (Health, Aging, Veterans, Indian Affairs) to collaborate with tribal governments and community groups to provide outreach, education, and application assistance. As a non-binding memorial, it does not create new law but emphasizes state coordination to ensure affected residents access existing federal benefits.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 22) requests the Legislative Finance Committee to form a working group to study how New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) administers state and federal funds for domestic violence services. The study would examine fund accounting, distribution methods, recipient entities, and funding gaps, with a focus on identifying unmet needs reported by domestic violence providers. It does not allocate new funds but aims to improve transparency and accountability in current funding. The working group must include CYFD, finance officials, domestic violence providers, and the New Mexico Coalition against Domestic Violence. This procedural request passed the Senate in February 2026 and is now pending further committee review.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 14 (SM 14) is a non-binding resolution requesting New Mexico's Indian Affairs Department and Commission on the Status of Women to study the historical forced or coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color in the state. The study will identify past cases, gather survivor testimony using culturally safe methods, assess current reproductive healthcare access, and recommend actions to address harm. It aims to inform a state truth and reconciliation commission, a public memorial, and a Native American-led reproductive justice program, culminating in a 2027 report to the legislature. The resolution focuses on documenting historical violations and planning healing measures, not implementing new laws.

Maddy summarySB 18 establishes legally binding statewide greenhouse gas emissions targets for New Mexico, requiring a 45% reduction from 2005 levels by 2030, 75% by 2040, and net zero emissions (100% reduction) by 2050. The bill mandates that the Environmental Improvement Board track and report emissions, allowing states to meet targets through direct reductions or carbon removal projects within New Mexico, including initiatives on tribal lands. It updates key definitions in environmental law to clarify terms like "greenhouse gas," "statewide emissions," and "carbon intensity" for consistent reporting and enforcement. These provisions directly affect state agencies, businesses, and industries contributing to emissions within New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 392 requires New Mexico county hospitals or contracted hospitals to provide standard care for life-threatening conditions (like cancer) and offer affordable payment plans when they are the only local provider and patients meet specific criteria: lacking employer/private insurance, not qualifying for Medicare/Medicaid, being uninsured, ineligible for county indigent programs, or not qualifying for the state medical insurance pool. Hospitals must continue care and payment plans until the patient obtains qualifying coverage. Payments are calculated using the higher of Medicaid or Medicare fee schedules, with monthly payments capped at 5% of the patient's household adjusted gross income. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 294 increases New Mexico's child income tax credit for qualifying children under age six by doubling the existing credit amount for this age group. The bill adjusts the credit tiers (e.g., $600 becomes $1,200 for incomes under $25,000) based on household income, with automatic annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index. It directly affects New Mexico residents with young children who qualify for the credit under federal guidelines. The policy change applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and requires the state department to report on the credit's implementation and cost.

Maddy summarySB 258 requires New Mexico public schools to include comprehensive human sexuality education in health courses for middle and high school students starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It makes one-half unit of health education a graduation requirement for students entering ninth grade that same year. The bill mandates school districts to submit implementation plans, requires the Public Education Department to develop academic standards and model curricula for grades 6-12, and allows parents to excuse their child from the sexuality portion of health education. This bill directly affects all public and charter schools in New Mexico, their students, and school districts responsible for curriculum planning.

Maddy summarySB 260 appropriates $50 million from the state general fund to New Mexico's Department of Environment for assessing and cleaning up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including former uranium mines, where no responsible party exists to pay for cleanup. The funding is available for use over fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. This bill directly affects state taxpayers through the funding mechanism and communities near contaminated sites by enabling cleanup actions that lack private funding. The key provision is the dedicated state funding to address environmental hazards at sites with no viable cleanup funding source.