Sen. Jeff Steinborn

Maddy summarySB 4 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Health Care Authority for Medicaid-directed payments to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. This funding directly increases salaries for graduate medical education residents and fellows at UNM. The bill specifies that unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2027 must revert to the general fund. The measure focuses solely on providing state funding to support resident and fellow compensation through the Medicaid program.

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 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 summaryHB 164 requires lobbyists and their employers to file detailed reports disclosing specific legislation they lobbied on, their position (support/oppose/neutral), and any changes to that position. These reports must be submitted within 48 hours of starting lobbying activity and include the employer's name. The reports will be preserved publicly online for at least ten years, searchable and downloadable on the legislature's website. This bill directly affects all registered lobbyists and their employers who engage in lobbying activities in 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 295 creates tax deductions for healthcare providers on specific income streams. It allows deductions for sales of medical equipment/supplies/drugs, payments from patients for services not provided through insurance plans (like direct billing), and out-of-pocket patient payments (copayments/deductibles) excluding Medicaid services. The bill also removes an expiration date for existing copayment/deductible deductions and requires the state to reimburse healthcare providers for taxes paid on Medicaid reimbursements. These changes directly affect doctors, clinics, and other healthcare practitioners who bill patients or insurers, reducing their taxable income for qualifying services.

Maddy summaryHB 392, the Single-Use Plastic Bag Act, would prohibit New Mexico retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags for carrying purchased items, with exceptions for bulk products, takeout food with leakage risk, medical items, and other specific cases like live animal transport. Retailers could offer paper bags at a minimum 10-cent fee per bag (exempting low-income customers using SNAP or similar benefits), with 7 cents of each fee funding local waste reduction education programs. Local governments would enforce the ban, imposing penalties of up to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for third or subsequent violations.

Maddy summaryHB 222 requires oil and gas operators in New Mexico to disclose all chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and downhole operations before receiving drilling permits or conducting such activities. It specifically prohibits the use of any hydraulic fracturing fluid, drilling fluid, or proppant containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals (like those found in non-stick coatings or firefighting foam). Operators must provide detailed disclosures including chemical names, suppliers, and intended uses for each additive, with existing operators required to file disclosures by August 1, 2025. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $5,000 for first offenses and $10,000 for subsequent violations, with fines deposited into the state school fund. The bill directly affects oil and gas operators, service companies, and chemical suppliers operating in New Mexico's oil and gas sector.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Uranium Mining Reclamation Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2026 and beyond. The funds would directly support uranium mine and mill reclamation activities, such as cleaning up abandoned sites and restoring land. Unspent funds would remain in the revolving fund rather than returning to the general fund. The bill aims to provide ongoing funding for environmental cleanup of historic uranium mining operations.