Sen. Liz Stefanics

Maddy summarySB 314 appropriates $250,000 from the state general fund to the Torrance County Farm and Livestock Bureau (via New Mexico State University's board of regents) to develop a high school history curriculum focused on the Lower Estancia Valley's settlement from pre-Columbian times through the modern era. The curriculum would be offered locally at Torrance County high schools, directly affecting students and educators in that district. Key provisions include the specific funding amount, the two-year timeframe (fiscal years 2026-2027), and a requirement that unspent funds revert to the general fund by 2027. The bill does not fund the course's ongoing operation, only the initial curriculum development.

Maddy summarySB 108 appropriates $10 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Department of Environment for fiscal year 2026 to plan, design, and construct projects improving river, stream, and wetland habitats and surface water quality. The bill directly affects the Department of Environment, which will manage the funding, and communities relying on these waterways for ecological and recreational benefits. Key provisions include the specific funding amount, the requirement for projects to focus on habitat and water quality improvements, and a fiscal year deadline with unspent funds reverting to the general fund. This legislation enables concrete infrastructure investments but does not create new regulations or alter existing environmental laws.

Maddy summarySB 544, introduced by Senator Liz Stefanics, is a bill related to public peace, health, safety, and welfare in New Mexico. The provided context does not include specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties, as the bill text only lists its broad title and committee actions. The bill was referred to the Senate Conservation Committee but was not printed and was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025. Without detailed text or policy language in the context, a specific summary of its concrete changes cannot be provided.

Maddy summaryHB 183 adjusts retirement eligibility requirements for magistrate judges in New Mexico. It increases the required years of service from five to eight for magistrates who joined the system on or after July 1, 2014, to qualify for normal retirement at age 65. The bill also updates fund administration rules, requiring investment income to be credited to the Magistrate Retirement Fund and clarifying how different account types (like member contributions and employer funds) are managed. These changes directly affect magistrate judges who joined after 2014, altering their path to retirement benefits. The bill passed the legislature but received a pocket veto on April 14, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summaryHB 182 amends New Mexico's judicial retirement system to adjust service credit requirements for judges retiring under the current plan. It reduces the required years of service for judges joining after July 1, 2014, from eight to five years at age 65 (or fifteen years at age 60), aligning with earlier provisions for other judge groups. The bill also updates how retirement fund income from investments is credited and distributed among different account types (like member contributions and retirement reserves). These changes directly affect current and future New Mexico judges participating in the judicial retirement system.

Maddy summarySB 45 expands the uses of New Mexico county health care assistance funds to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs (like copayments and deductibles) for indigent patients. This directly affects low-income individuals who qualify as indigent and rely on county health care assistance programs. The bill amends existing law to add these specific coverage options while maintaining previous uses like burial expenses, ambulance transport, and hospital care. It does not change eligibility criteria but broadens the types of health care costs counties can pay for using these dedicated funds.

Maddy summarySB 23 changes the royalty rate for future oil and gas leases on certain New Mexico state trust lands. It amends lease terms to set a new royalty rate for "Premium" lands issued on or after July 1, 2025, directly affecting oil and gas companies leasing these lands and increasing revenue for trust beneficiaries (like schools and hospitals). The key provision requires lessees to pay this new rate in addition to the existing lease terms for all new development leases on designated trust lands. This policy change specifically targets future leases, not existing ones, to boost state trust land revenue.

Maddy summarySB 36 prohibits state agency employees from disclosing certain sensitive personal information, including public assistance status, medical conditions, immigration status, sexual orientation, and social security numbers, except in specific circumstances like court orders or with written consent. It directly affects state employees handling such data and amends the Motor Vehicle Code to protect driver's license and vehicle registration details from unauthorized disclosure. Key provisions require written consent for sharing, limit disclosures to necessary agency functions or legal requirements, and impose civil penalties of $250 per violation (up to $5,000 total). The law takes effect July 1, 2025, strengthening privacy protections for New Mexico residents' personal data held by state agencies.

Maddy summarySB 88 creates two new state funds to secure Medicaid financing: the Medicaid Trust Fund (for long-term reserves) and the State-Supported Medicaid Fund (for direct program support). It requires transferring unspent money from general fund appropriations - like leftover capital project funds and reversion balances - to the Medicaid Trust Fund, and directs certain investment income that would normally go to the general fund into this trust. The bill mandates annual distributions from the trust fund to the State-Supported Fund once the trust reaches $500 million, and allows using trust funds if federal Medicaid matching funds drop or general fund balances are insufficient to cover program costs. These changes directly affect New Mexico’s Medicaid program by establishing new mechanisms for funding stability and federal matching.

Maddy summaryHB 78 prohibits New Mexico drug manufacturers and their affiliates from discriminating against entities participating in the federal 340B drug pricing program. It directly affects community health centers, hospitals, and clinics that serve low-income patients and their contracted pharmacies, ensuring they can access discounted drugs without interference. The law specifically bans manufacturers from denying, restricting, or interfering with the acquisition or delivery of 340B drugs to these entities or requiring extra data sharing beyond federal requirements. Signed into law on April 9, 2025, this bill enforces compliance with federal 340B program rules at the state level.