Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment proposal (HJR 1) would require New Mexico to establish nominating committees for each public university board of regents. These committees would provide the governor with candidate lists for nonstudent regent appointments, ensuring no more than three appointees are from the same political party and that appointees haven't changed party registration in the six months prior. Student regents would be appointed from lists provided by elected student governing bodies at each institution, except for three specialized schools (New Mexico School for the Deaf, Military Institute, and School for the Blind). The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect, as it would change how regents are selected across all state educational institutions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, requires microgrids (systems generating at least 20 megawatts that can operate independently or connected to the grid) to transition to 100% zero-carbon electricity by 2045 through a renewable portfolio standard. Microgrid owners must report annually on energy generation (by source), water use, and compliance status, while electric utilities cannot raise rates to cover microgrid infrastructure costs. The law directly affects microgrid operators and electric utilities, imposing new reporting obligations and prohibiting rate increases tied to microgrid development. It creates a framework for oversight by the Public Regulation Commission, ensuring microgrids meet renewable energy targets without passing infrastructure costs to customers.
Maddy summarySB 39, the Microgrid Oversight Act, establishes new regulations for microgrids in New Mexico. It requires microgrids to meet renewable energy targets (40% by 2028, 50% by 2030, 80% by 2040, and 100% zero-carbon by 2045) through annual reporting on energy generation and compliance. The bill prohibits electric utilities from raising customer rates when purchasing power from microgrids and grants the Public Regulation Commission oversight authority, including rulemaking and fee collection. This directly affects microgrid operators, electric utilities, and the commission, with compliance deadlines starting in 2027.
Maddy summaryHB 35 requires lobbyists and their employers (who already file expenditure or registration reports) to submit detailed lobbying activity reports within 48 hours of engaging with legislation. The reports must specify the exact bill lobbied on, the lobbyist’s position (support/oppose), and the employer’s name. These reports will be publicly accessible online for 10 years on the legislature’s website, linked to each bill and searchable by the public. The bill directly affects registered lobbyists and their employers by increasing transparency around their advocacy efforts on specific legislation.
Maddy summarySB 157 allows New Mexico residents and businesses to use portable solar devices (under 1,920 watts) that connect to standard home outlets without utility approval or fees. It exempts owners from interconnection rules and net-metering requirements, and specifies that any electricity fed back to the grid during normal use isn’t compensated. The bill also voids property restrictions that block these devices and requires them to include safety features preventing backfeeding during power outages. This directly affects individuals installing small-scale portable solar systems for personal on-site energy use.
Maddy summarySB 33, the "Right to Try Individualized Treatments Act," allows New Mexico residents with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses (after exhausting all FDA-approved treatments) to access individualized investigational treatments based on their genetic profile. The law requires written informed consent from patients detailing treatment options and risks, and permits manufacturers to provide these treatments without charge or require patient payment. It does not mandate insurance coverage for these treatments, but protects patients' heirs from liability for treatment debts after death and shields healthcare providers from disciplinary action for recommending such treatments. The bill also prohibits state officials from blocking patient access to these treatments.
Maddy summarySB 133 creates a tax deduction in New Mexico for healthcare practitioners who sell equipment or non-prescription medication directly to patients during office visits. It allows deductions for items used in patient treatment (like medical devices or saline), excluding standard office furniture and computers. To offset lost local tax revenue, the bill requires municipalities and counties to receive compensation based on the total deductions claimed in their areas. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Maddy summarySB 159 requires the University of New Mexico's Board of Regents to provide $27 million in state funds over fiscal years 2027-2029 to cover unreimbursed costs for eligible healthcare facilities hosting medical residency programs. Eligible entities include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, independent psychiatric facilities, and critical access hospitals that sponsor accredited residency programs in New Mexico. The funding covers resident salaries, supervising physician costs, accreditation, and program administration, with priority given to New Mexico residents. Unspent funds by the end of 2029 will revert to the state general fund.
Maddy summarySB 13 extends and expands a tax deduction for healthcare providers in New Mexico. It postpones the sunset date for this deduction from 2028 to 2031 and adds coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid directly by patients to the list of deductible expenses. The bill affects licensed healthcare practitioners (like doctors, dentists, and therapists) and their associations who provide services through managed care organizations. These providers can now reduce their taxable income by deducting patient-paid portions of their fees, rather than just certain insurance payments. The change applies only to "commercial contract services" under managed care plans, not Medicare or Medicaid services.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $50 million from the state general fund to clean up abandoned uranium mines and other contaminated sites across New Mexico where no responsible polluter exists to fund the work. It directly affects communities near these sites, particularly those impacted by historical uranium mining, by enabling the Department of Environment to conduct assessments and remediation. The funds will be used for cleanup actions during fiscal years 2027-2029, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2029. The legislation focuses solely on addressing existing contamination through state-funded cleanup, without altering liability or creating new regulatory requirements.