Sen. Bobby Gonzales

Maddy summarySB 171 appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund to the Board of Regents of Northern New Mexico State School for producing an educational documentary about historical figure Padre Antonio Jose Martinez. The funds must be spent by fiscal year 2027, with any unexpended balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Northern New Mexico State School and the state budget, providing specific funding for a historical documentary project. It does not change existing laws or create new programs, but allocates resources for a defined educational media project. The bill is currently under review by Senate committees.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (not a bill) requests the Water Quality Control Commission to prioritize a petition from Taos County regarding the reuse of treated oil/gas wastewater (produced water) for industrial uses, including supporting data centers. It asks the Commission to review the petition within 90 days and hold hearings in Questa, Taos County, to enable this reuse. The memorial aims to protect freshwater resources by reducing demand on them for growing industries, while acknowledging rural communities' leadership in water stewardship. It does not create new law but urges state agencies to act on the petition. The focus is on using treated produced water instead of freshwater for economic development in rural areas.

Maddy summarySB 172 extends New Mexico's Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Tax Credit, allowing national laboratories operating in the state to claim tax credits for costs incurred while helping registered New Mexico businesses mature technologies developed at those labs. The credit covers qualified expenses like lab staff salaries, travel, and supplies, up to $150,000 per business annually and with annual limits per laboratory (starting at $2 million in 2026-2027 and rising to $5 million by 2029). To qualify, businesses must be registered in New Mexico and have licensed technology from the lab or participate in a cooperative research agreement with it. National laboratories must submit annual reports detailing program activities, business progress, and economic impact studies to the state tax department.

Maddy summarySB 241 creates a state-run child care assistance program administered by New Mexico's Early Childhood Education and Care Department. It provides funding to licensed child care facilities for eligible children under 13 (or under 19 if disabled or under court supervision), primarily benefiting low-income families where parents or guardians are employed, in school, homeless, or participating in approved programs like job training. Eligibility requires household income below 600% of the federal poverty level, with income documentation and proof of New Mexico residency. The program excludes children enrolled in Head Start, early pre-K, or pre-K programs during those hours, and allows temporary eligibility for up to 90 days while seeking employment.

Maddy summaryHB 4 adjusts how funds from New Mexico's health insurance premium surtax are distributed to the Health Care Affordability Fund. It changes the percentage of surtax revenue sent to the fund over time: 55% before July 2024, 30% from July 2024 to September 2025, 55% from September 2025 to September 2026, and 100% after September 2026. The bill directly affects the allocation of state revenue generated by the health insurance surtax, which supports healthcare affordability programs. This policy change modifies existing distribution rules without altering the surtax rate itself. The fund's purpose is to assist New Mexicans with healthcare costs, though the bill does not specify new eligibility criteria or program expansions.

Maddy summarySB 2 increases funding for New Mexico's highway projects by raising fees on vehicle registrations and commercial truck taxes. It raises weight-distance tax rates for commercial trucks (affecting freight companies), increases standard passenger vehicle registration fees, and adds new annual fees for electric vehicles ($70-$90) and plug-in hybrids ($35-$45) starting in 2027. All new revenue from these changes goes directly to the State Road Fund to support highway improvements. The bill specifically targets commercial truck operators, all vehicle owners, and electric vehicle owners, with fee amounts varying by vehicle type and registration year.

Maddy summarySB 19 adjusts New Mexico's public school funding calculation for fiscal year 2026 by resetting the "unit value" used to determine state education funding. It requires the Secretary of Public Education to adjust this value by February 27, 2026, based on statewide unit counts after consulting with finance departments and legislative committees. This change directly affects all public schools in New Mexico by altering the formula for calculating their state funding allocation for that fiscal year. The bill is a temporary adjustment for FY2026, not a permanent change to the school finance system.

Maddy summarySB 194 requires suppliers (manufacturers, wholesalers, or distributors of farm tractors, construction equipment, or related parts) to provide dealers (businesses selling that equipment) with specific notice before terminating a franchise agreement. It mandates 180 days' written notice for most terminations, detailing all "good cause" reasons and granting dealers 60 days to fix issues before termination. For terminations based on failure to meet performance standards, suppliers must provide a 2-year notice period. The bill also requires suppliers to approve or deny dealer business transfer requests within 60 days or deem the request approved, with clear written justification for denials. This directly affects dealers in New Mexico's farm and construction equipment sectors by strengthening their notice and appeal rights.

Maddy summarySB 464 creates a dedicated "University School of Medicine Fund" to support construction and reconstruction projects at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. It redirects 1% of governmental gross receipts tax revenue (specifically from hospital-licensed facilities) into this fund and requires the UNM School of Medicine to deposit $4 million annually from 2025-2034 - using non-state funds - to the new fund. The fund, administered by the Health Care Authority, will be available for legislative appropriation toward building projects at the medical school. This bill establishes a structured funding mechanism but does not guarantee specific spending; it only creates the fund and mandates deposits. The bill was postponed indefinitely by the legislature on June 3, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 394 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the University of New Mexico-Taos (UNM-Taos) for constructing the Cielo Centro observatory. The funds cover site preparation, building, equipment, furnishings, and landscaping from fiscal years 2026 through 2029, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2029. This bill directly provides funding for a specific campus infrastructure project at UNM-Taos. It is a straightforward appropriations measure with no broader policy changes or public impact beyond the university's development.