Sen. Pete Campos

Maddy summarySB 262 proposes funding to support citizen science projects in New Mexico, where public volunteers collect wildlife data. It allocates $137,500 each to the State Parks, Environment, and Game & Fish departments for program coordinators, and $200,000 to the University of New Mexico to create web portals tracking these projects. The bill directly affects state agencies, universities, and public volunteers participating in wildlife data collection. It focuses on administrative support (coordinators and digital systems) rather than changing regulations or creating new programs.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 25 requests New Mexico's Office of Superintendent of Insurance, Department of Health, and Health Care Authority to form a joint task force to examine the state's medical malpractice system. The task force would include 10 members representing patients (4 appointed by officials), health care providers (4 appointed by officials), and the malpractice insurance industry (2 appointed by governor/superintendent), plus agency leaders. Its goal is to identify problems like high insurance premiums contributing to provider shortages and recommend solutions. The task force must submit a report to legislative committees by December 1, 2025. This is a procedural request, not a law, to study system issues affecting patients and health care providers.

Maddy summarySB 281 requires New Mexico rural electric cooperatives to create and maintain detailed wildfire prevention plans, including vegetation management, system inspections, and emergency protocols. These plans must be reviewed by the Forestry Division and approved by the Public Regulation Commission within 45 days, with public posting required. If approved, cooperatives gain liability protections in wildfire-related lawsuits, including limits on damage awards and a two-year deadline for filing claims. The law directly affects rural electric co-ops by mandating proactive safety measures while balancing service continuity and public safety.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 8 requests the State Auditor to convene a work group to study the causes of increasing state agency "deficiency appropriation requests" (funds requested mid-year to cover budget shortfalls). The bill cites a $137.5 million rise in these requests from 2014-2024, noting issues like inadequate justifications, bypassed processes, and root causes including over-expenditures and hidden deficits. The work group would examine the State Auditor’s recommendations to improve transparency, strengthen audit procedures, clarify budget laws, and modernize oversight - focusing on better accountability and preventing future shortfalls. This study aims to inform potential legislative reforms, not directly change current laws.

Maddy summarySB 210 increases penalties for violating New Mexico's water laws, raising the maximum daily civil fine from $100 to $2,000 for most violations (and to $10,000 per day for groundwater violations involving illegal recovery or use). It directly affects water users, including agricultural and municipal entities, who breach water rights or permits. Key mechanisms include requiring repayment of overdiverted water (up to double the amount) as a preferred remedy before fines, and mandating annual inflation adjustments to penalty amounts starting July 2027 using the U.S. Consumer Price Index. The bill amends Sections 72-2-18 and 72-5A-12 of the New Mexico Statutes to implement these changes.

Maddy summarySB 558 requires New Mexico's Health Care Authority to apply to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by August 1, 2025, for a Medicaid waiver program. This program would provide home-based health care services - including skilled nursing, therapy, and palliative care - to seniors aged 65 or older diagnosed with a chronic debilitating disease (defined as a long-term condition significantly impairing daily life). The bill appropriates $2 million from the state general fund for fiscal years 2025-2026 to develop the waiver application, with unused funds reverting to the general fund by 2026. If approved, the program would enable qualifying seniors to receive covered services in their homes instead of institutional care.

Maddy summarySB 385 revises how the New Mexico Attorney General charges state agencies for legal services in noncriminal cases. It requires the Attorney General to use fee rates from a current contract between the risk management division and outside legal counsel, rather than setting separate rates. This affects all state agencies, including departments, boards, and commissions, by standardizing their legal service costs to match existing rates used by the state's risk management division. The bill does not create new services but changes the fee calculation method for existing legal support. The bill was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summarySB 162 sets a $700 million cap on investments from New Mexico's severance tax permanent fund into New Mexico private equity funds or New Mexico businesses. It replaces a previous percentage-based limit with this fixed dollar amount, requiring that such investments must support the state's economic development goals. The bill defines "New Mexico business" as having its principal office and majority of employees in the state, and "New Mexico private equity fund" as meeting specific criteria like investing primarily in NM businesses and requiring accredited investors. This change directly affects how the state allocates its oil and gas revenue fund to support local economic growth, while maintaining existing commitments of $500 million to the New Mexico Finance Authority and a 2% investment target for small business initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-year pilot program to deliver preventive health care services at public schools in underserved areas of New Mexico. It establishes a "hub-and-spoke" model where a central health center (hub) in San Miguel County partners with five or more school districts (spokes), using cooperative care teams (including school nurses, primary care providers, and mental health specialists) to provide screenings, checkups, sports physicals, and counseling. The program, funded with $1.75 million from the general fund (2026-2030), requires the Department of Health to collect data on student health, academic outcomes, and public health impacts, with final reports due by 2030. It directly affects students in participating schools within the state's northeast region.

Maddy summarySB 469 appropriates $15 million from the state general fund to Mora County for removing trees near power lines operated by the Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative, specifically targeting trees posing fire hazards. The funds are designated for fiscal year 2026, with any unused balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects Mora County and the electric cooperative by providing state funding to address a known fire risk near critical infrastructure. It does not create new regulations but allocates existing state resources for a specific, immediate safety need.