Sen. Pete Campos

Maddy summarySB 52 (PERA Cost-of-Living Adjustments) changes how cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are calculated for New Mexico public retirement pension recipients. It requires that starting July 1, 2027, pension increases equal the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) COLA rate determined by the federal government each year, instead of the previous method. This directly affects retirees who meet specific duration requirements (e.g., retired for 2 years, or age 65+ for 1 year), as well as survivor beneficiaries. The bill appropriates $50 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to fund these adjustments, with unspent funds carrying forward to future years.

Maddy summarySB 122 appropriates $6 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Department of Environment for fiscal years 2026-2027. The bill directly supports private drinking water well owners by expanding access to well water testing and treatment assistance. Key provisions include funding for these services, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2027. This is a funding measure focused on concrete support for well owners, not a regulatory change.

Maddy summarySB 123 allocates $1.2 million from the state general fund to the Public Education Department to provide grants to public schools for purchasing, installing, testing, or maintaining automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The funding is restricted to schools meeting specific requirements under state law and excludes urban-area schools from 2027 grants, with a maximum of $400,000 spent annually through fiscal year 2029. Unspent funds by 2029 will revert to the general fund. This bill directly affects public schools seeking AED equipment funding, with no new mandates beyond the existing legal requirements for school AED programs.

Maddy summarySB 13 extends and expands a tax deduction for healthcare providers in New Mexico. It postpones the sunset date for this deduction from 2028 to 2031 and adds coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid directly by patients to the list of deductible expenses. The bill affects licensed healthcare practitioners (like doctors, dentists, and therapists) and their associations who provide services through managed care organizations. These providers can now reduce their taxable income by deducting patient-paid portions of their fees, rather than just certain insurance payments. The change applies only to "commercial contract services" under managed care plans, not Medicare or Medicaid services.

Maddy summarySB 108 allocates $2 million from the state general fund to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (administered through New Mexico State University) to fund a regional farm-to-food bank program. This program connects local farms with food banks across New Mexico, helping redirect surplus produce to communities facing food insecurity. The bill ensures the funds remain available for fiscal year 2026 and future years without reverting to the general fund if unspent. It is a funding measure, not a new policy, and directly supports food banks, farms, and food-insecure residents through this specific appropriation.

Maddy summarySB 136 makes it illegal to use drones to secretly capture images of people, private property, or critical infrastructure without permission for surveillance purposes. It creates two offenses: a misdemeanor for general unauthorized drone surveillance, and a felony for drone operations near critical infrastructure (like power plants, water facilities, or government buildings) that disrupt operations or cause contact. Exceptions include drone use with consent, by government agencies, for research, by licensed surveyors, or for insurance purposes. The law aims to prevent privacy violations and security threats while allowing legitimate drone activities under specific conditions.

Maddy summarySB 9 authorizes a $1 billion transfer from New Mexico's general fund to the Medicaid Trust Fund for fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports the state's Medicaid program, which provides healthcare coverage to low-income residents, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The bill establishes a specific financial mechanism to replenish the Medicaid Trust Fund, ensuring stable funding for healthcare services without altering eligibility rules or program structure. It does not create new benefits or change how Medicaid operates, only providing a dedicated funding source. The transfer is scheduled for implementation in the 2027 fiscal year.

Maddy summarySB 4 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the Health Care Authority for Medicaid-directed payments to the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. This funding directly increases salaries for graduate medical education residents and fellows at UNM. The bill specifies that unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2027 must revert to the general fund. The measure focuses solely on providing state funding to support resident and fellow compensation through the Medicaid program.

Maddy summarySB 187 appropriates $222 million from the state general fund to the New Mexico Finance Authority's Water Project Fund for water projects authorized by the 2026 legislature. The funds must be spent by the end of fiscal year 2027, with any unused balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects the state's water infrastructure projects by providing dedicated funding for approved initiatives. It does not change policy but enables specific water-related projects through a one-time budget allocation.

Maddy summarySB 203 allocates $200,000 from the state general fund to the Board of Regents of Northern New Mexico State School to contract for an educational documentary about historical figure Padre Antonio Jose Martinez. The funds must be spent by fiscal year 2027, with any unused balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Board of Regents (as the recipient of funds) and the state budget (through the appropriation and reversion clause). It is a procedural funding measure with no substantive policy changes beyond authorizing the documentary production.