Sen. George Muñoz

Maddy summarySB 265 increases penalty assessments for numerous motor vehicle and boat code violations in New Mexico. It raises fines for offenses like speeding (e.g., increasing penalties for 31-35 mph over the limit from $125-$200 to $150-$225), failure to wear seat belts, improper lane changes, and pedestrian violations. The bill directly affects drivers and boat operators convicted of these misdemeanor violations by imposing higher financial penalties. Key provisions amend sections of the Motor Vehicle Code to establish updated penalty schedules, with most common violations seeing increases from $25-$100 to $50-$125.

Maddy summarySB 131 prohibits the state board from adopting rules requiring vehicle manufacturers to produce or deliver a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles for sale. It directly affects automakers and the state environmental agency by blocking a specific regulatory mandate that was part of earlier clean transportation legislation. The bill amends Section 74-1-18 to explicitly state the board "shall not adopt or continue in effect a rule that requires a manufacturer to produce or deliver for sale a certain percentage of zero-emission vehicles." The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the Senate committees on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 268 allocates $2.5 million from the state general fund to fund athletics for the University of New Mexico (UNM) and New Mexico State University (NMSU) for fiscal year 2026. UNM receives the full amount directly, while NMSU’s funding is contingent on hiring an athletic director with at least five years of experience in name, image, and likeness (NIL) policy. Any unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2026 will revert to the state general fund. This bill directly affects UNM and NMSU athletics departments through targeted budget allocations with specific conditions for NMSU.

Maddy summarySB 492 proposed creating a centralized online enrollment hub at New Mexico State University (NMSU) to manage online course access for all public colleges and universities in New Mexico. The hub would provide services like admissions support, faculty training, and technology assistance to participating institutions through annual agreements. It allocated $40 million (2026-2028) for setup and required annual performance reports to the legislature. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 266, the "Higher Education Accountability Act," requires New Mexico's State Board of Finance and Attorney General to review and approve certain agreements involving university administrators (like presidents or senior leaders) before they take effect. It specifically covers employment contracts, retention deals, separation terms, and settlement agreements, plus release of liability and indemnification clauses. The bill mandates annual reports from the State Board of Finance to the Attorney General on reviewed agreements and creates a legal cause of action against board members who breach fiduciary duties (like failing to act in the institution's best interest). It also requires boards to hire separate legal counsel if a breach occurs. These provisions aim to increase oversight and accountability for high-level compensation and contract terms at state universities and community colleges.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines which specific funds constitute New Mexico's state reserves, listing five named funds: the appropriation contingency fund, general fund operating reserve, government results and opportunity expendable trust, state-support reserve fund, and tax stabilization reserve. It affects how the state government categorizes its financial reserves but does not change how these funds are managed or used. The bill is procedural, formally codifying existing reserve funds into law without introducing new policy changes or affecting specific groups or programs.

Maddy summarySB 121 establishes a Patient Compensation Fund to handle medical malpractice claims in New Mexico, directly affecting hospitals, outpatient health care facilities, and insurers who pay annual surcharges. The bill requires health care providers to pay surcharges based on actuarial studies of the fund's claims data, with the threshold for fund claims rising from $200,000 to $250,000. It grants liability immunity to the private company administering the fund (third-party administrator) and mandates prorated payments if the fund is exhausted. The bill was referred to committees in January 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 29 appropriates $222 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Water Project Fund for authorized water projects during fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The funding supports existing water infrastructure projects approved by the legislature, with any unspent balance at the end of 2026 remaining in the fund rather than returning to the general fund. This bill directly affects state water projects and agencies managing infrastructure, as it provides dedicated funding for their implementation. It is a straightforward funding measure without new policy requirements or eligibility changes.

Maddy summarySB 119 authorizes the New Mexico Bioscience Authority to invest in bioscience companies operating in New Mexico or relocating to New Mexico, requiring each company to maintain a minimum of five in-state employees with an average annual salary of $60,000. The bill establishes assessment criteria for investments, including market opportunity, financial stability, and projected economic benefits over five years, and mandates co-investing with qualified external organizations where the state provides no more than one-third of the total investment. Investment contracts require companies to either fully reimburse the state if they fail to meet obligations or demonstrate that their economic benefits to New Mexico exceeded the state's investment cost. The bill also creates a Bioscience Development Fund to manage these investments, with repayment priority in bankruptcy scenarios. (Note: Bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.)

Maddy summarySB 134 creates a zero-interest loan program for New Mexico local governments (cities, counties, etc.) that have received federal disaster funding approval from FEMA for a federally declared natural disaster. The state provides loans to cover immediate recovery costs before federal funds arrive, requiring repayment within 30 days using the federal funds themselves - late repayment triggers interest penalties. All repayments and penalties flow into a "Natural Disaster Revolving Fund," which receives an annual $100 million transfer from the state’s contingency fund until the fund reaches $100 million in balance. The bill mandates regular reporting to the legislature on loan usage, repayments, and enforcement actions to ensure transparency.