Sen. Liz Stefanics

Maddy summaryHB 117 allows physician assistants (PAs) to certify the cause of death on a death certificate when they were the treating provider for the patient's illness or condition, without requiring physician approval. This directly affects PAs, hospitals, and medical facilities by expanding their authority under New Mexico’s death certification rules (amending Section 24-14-20 NMSA 1978). The key change explicitly adds PAs to the list of authorized certifiers alongside physicians and nurse practitioners, removing the prior need for physician oversight in such cases. It does not alter existing timeframes for filing death certificates or medical investigation procedures. The bill became law after being signed in April 2025.

Maddy summarySB 122 expands New Mexico's prescription drug donation program to allow more healthcare providers and facilities to participate in collecting and redistributing unused prescription drugs. It specifically adds licensed health care facilities and practitioners (beyond just clinics) as eligible recipients, permits out-of-state pharmacies to distribute drugs via mail or in-person, and requires safety checks for refrigerated drugs and tamper-evident packaging. The bill establishes rules for inspecting drugs, labeling, storing, and charging only reasonable handling fees to cover costs. It also provides liability protection for donors, recipients, and redistributors who follow safety procedures, while clarifying that manufacturers remain liable for their own products. The law, signed into effect on April 9, 2025, directly affects patients who receive donated medications and participating healthcare entities.

Maddy summarySB 37 creates the Strategic Water Reserve Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, administered by the Interstate Stream Commission. The fund finances water management projects focused on aquifer recharge, reducing groundwater depletion, and supporting endangered species habitat - directly affecting state agencies, water users, and communities in water-stressed basins. Key mechanisms include prioritizing water transactions that offer "supplementary benefits" (like cultural practices or habitat improvement), requiring community input from tribes, counties, and water districts during planning, and limiting aquifer recharge spending to 25% of annual fund use. The bill prohibits acquiring water from acequias or irrigation districts without specific agreements and mandates that all water purchases match market value, with unspent balances over $15 million reverting to the general fund.

Maddy summarySB 376 increases New Mexico state contributions toward employee health insurance premiums for most public employees, effective July 1, 2025. It raises the state's share to 80% for employees earning under $50,000 annually (up from 75%), 70% for $50,000-$60,000 earners, and 60% for those earning $60,000+ - replacing previous salary-based tiers. The bill also authorizes using the Health Care Affordability Fund to further reduce premiums for eligible employees. This directly affects state government workers (excluding legislators) based on their salary level, with no change to school district contribution rules.

Maddy summarySB 33, the Wildfire Prepared Act, creates a state program to help New Mexico homeowners make their primary residences safer from wildfires. It establishes the Wildfire Prepared Program within the energy department, which would provide technical assistance, assessments, and grants to eligible property owners (those living in high-risk wildfire areas) to harden their homes and property using noncombustible materials and defensible space. The bill also creates a Fire Planning Task Force to develop wildfire preparedness standards, identify high-risk areas, and recommend building code changes, while creating a dedicated Wildfire Prepared Fund for program funding. If passed, it would replace outdated wildfire planning laws and directly affect homeowners in wildfire-prone regions seeking to reduce fire risks to their properties.

Maddy summarySB 39 amends New Mexico's Prior Authorization Act to remove specific drug classes from requiring insurance pre-approval (prior authorization). This directly affects patients needing these medications and health insurers, streamlining access by eliminating unnecessary administrative steps. The bill expands the list of drugs exempt from prior authorization requirements, meaning insurers must cover these medications without requiring doctors to seek approval first. It focuses on concrete policy change by updating the law to include new drug categories, reducing delays in treatment for covered patients. The bill passed the House and was signed into law in 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 214 establishes a voluntary credentialing system for doulas in New Mexico, allowing them to enroll as Medicaid providers. It requires the Health Department to create rules for education, training, and ethics standards, and forms a 15-member advisory council to ensure equitable access for underserved communities. The bill mandates hospitals and birth centers to develop policies permitting credentialed doulas to support patients during pregnancy and the first 12 months postpartum. Additionally, it creates a Doula Fund and requires annual reporting on service access and outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 1 creates a permanent Behavioral Health Trust Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, funded by a $1 billion transfer from the General Fund. The Trust Fund will invest money and distribute 5% of its average market value annually (starting July 1, 2026) to the Behavioral Health Program Fund. This Program Fund will finance specific services like mental health/substance abuse treatment, infrastructure, workforce support, and regional health plans. The bill directly affects state-funded behavioral health programs and their recipients by establishing a dedicated, ongoing funding source.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides emergency funding to New Mexico state agencies to address the aftermath of recent flooding and wildfires. It allocates money to support the Mescalero Apache Tribe for fire-related damages, fund wildfire mitigation and infrastructure repair projects, and assist individuals and businesses in navigating federal and insurance claims processes. Additionally, the legislation directs funds to the state courts to expand mental health treatment options and pilot programs for individuals with competency issues. These financial resources are intended to help the state recover from natural disasters and improve access to certain legal and health services.