Sen. Pat Woods

Maddy summarySB 296 creates a $50,000 annual tax credit for physicians in New Mexico who have completed medical residency, practice full-time in the state, and hold outstanding medical student loans. The credit applies to up to five consecutive taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and can be used to offset state income tax liability or refunded if it exceeds the tax owed. Physicians must obtain eligibility certification from the state's higher education department and claim the credit within three years of receiving certification. This policy directly supports medical professionals by reducing the financial burden of student debt while encouraging retention in New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 471 creates a one-year rainfall enhancement pilot project administered by the Roosevelt Soil and Water Conservation District in New Mexico, testing cloud-seeding technology to increase natural precipitation and help mitigate drought. The project, funded with $1.2 million from the state general fund, requires collaboration with New Mexico State University to analyze data and report results to the legislature, while ensuring any additional water counts as natural supply under existing water rights. It explicitly states that state-funded rainfall enhancement activities cannot form the basis for liability claims. The bill mandates annual reporting on project outcomes and recommendations for future use, with all water derived from the project managed under current water rights laws.

Maddy summarySB 15 creates a $1,000 income tax credit for New Mexico residents who volunteer at least 52 times yearly with a certified emergency medical services (EMS) agency. To qualify, volunteers must provide proof of service and obtain certification from the Emergency Medical Systems Bureau. The credit is limited to $4 million total annually across all claimants, and applicants must not also claim the separate volunteer firefighter tax credit for the same year. This policy directly supports unpaid EMS volunteers by reducing their state tax liability.

Maddy summarySB 188 creates a new website link on the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's site that directs consumers to the State Department of Justice's page displaying complaints against rooftop solar panel installers. It also provides clear instructions for consumers to file their own complaints. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to fund this website feature for fiscal year 2026. This directly affects homeowners who purchase solar installations and the installers who may face consumer complaints through this centralized resource.

Maddy summarySB 189, titled "PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ELIGIBILITY," proposed amendments to New Mexico's public assistance application and eligibility process for cash assistance and SNAP benefits. It required departments to process applications faster (e.g., expedited SNAP within 7 days), mandate resource planning sessions within 30 days, and create individual responsibility plans focused on employment goals for applicants. The bill directly affected households applying for state assistance programs, requiring them to develop work plans and comply with participation standards. However, the bill was replaced by a committee substitute and later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

Maddy summarySB 298 exempts specific licensed health care practitioners in New Mexico from state income tax on income earned from providing health care services within the state. The bill applies to 9 professions, including chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, physicians, and physical therapists, who must practice full-time in New Mexico. The exemption covers taxable years ending before January 1, 2035 (effectively 2025-2034). It does not create new taxes but removes an existing tax liability for qualifying professionals.

Maddy summaryNew Mexico's Senate Joint Resolution 5 (SJR 5) requests Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution seeks to propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, limit the federal government's power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. This application, formally submitted by New Mexico's legislature, remains active until two-thirds of states apply for the same purpose. The bill directly affects the federal legislative process by initiating a state-level application for constitutional change, though it does not alter current laws or directly impact New Mexico residents.

Maddy summarySB 28 redirects all revenue from New Mexico's corporate income tax to the state road fund instead of the general fund. This bill directly affects businesses paying corporate income tax and changes how that revenue is allocated, shifting it from general state funding to road maintenance and construction. The key provision, effective July 1, 2026, mandates that "net receipts attributable to the corporate income tax" be distributed to the state road fund per Section 7-1-6.1 of the Tax Administration Act. This is a concrete policy change in revenue allocation with no tax rate adjustments.

Maddy summarySB 27 changes how motor vehicle excise tax revenue is allocated in New Mexico. It eliminates the current 59.39% distribution to the general fund and increases the allocation to the State Road Fund from 21.86% to 81.25%, with the remaining 18.75% going to the Transportation Project Fund. This policy shift directly affects state budget priorities by redirecting tax revenue toward road infrastructure. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 424 expands New Mexico's rural health care practitioner tax credit to include respiratory care practitioners and polysomnographic technologists. Eligible professionals in these fields can claim a tax credit of up to $3,000 per year (or $1,500 for those working 792-1,583 hours) if they provide services in designated rural health care underserved areas. To qualify, they must apply to the New Mexico Department of Health for a certificate, which they then submit with their state income tax return. The credit applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and mirrors existing provisions for other health care professionals like nurses and therapists.