Sen. Pete Campos

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 21) proposes that New Mexico study adopting "Chile Verde Rock" by Uvaldo Olonia as the state's official chile song. It requests the legislative council to examine the recommendation and encourages state tourism and cultural agencies to promote the song, which celebrates New Mexico's chile culture through lyrics referencing local regions and traditions. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and does not create binding law.

Maddy summarySB 326 amends New Mexico's Delinquency Act to change how youth offenders are handled in court. It expands definitions of "serious youthful offender" and "youthful offender," removes requirements for children's court attorneys to consult probation before filing petitions, and eliminates the need for a detention risk assessment before placing a child in detention. The bill also allows 14+ serious youthful offenders to waive an amenability hearing, changes the standard of proof in probation revocation to "preponderance of evidence," and gives courts more flexibility in sentencing and facility placements for youth. These changes directly affect youth aged 14+ involved in the juvenile justice system, courts, and child welfare departments.

Maddy summarySB 494 appropriates $150,000 from the government results and opportunity program fund to the New Mexico Public Education Department. The funds will contract a national organization to provide defibrillator training for school staff in rural districts, helping them respond to heart emergencies. This training focuses on using defibrillators during cardiac events, targeting educational personnel in rural schools. Unspent funds by fiscal year 2026 must revert to the original fund.

Maddy summarySB 393 provides a temporary exemption from gaming taxes for casinos and gaming businesses operating in areas declared disaster zones due to wildfires (specifically those declared in June 2024 by the governor). This exemption applies to all gaming taxes until July 1, 2029, directly benefiting licensed gaming operators in affected wildfire zones. The bill requires the exemption to be tracked in the state's tax expenditure budget and includes a delayed repeal effective July 1, 2029. It does not create new taxes or alter existing tax rates but temporarily suspends an existing tax for qualifying businesses in declared disaster areas.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 18 recognizes New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) for its educational mission, accreditation, and response to the 2022 wildfires that impacted its campus. It encourages the New Mexico Legislature to support NMHU’s request for $100,000 to develop a master plan for modernizing its main campus. This non-binding resolution does not allocate funds but aims to promote legislative backing for campus improvements, including facility upgrades, student housing, and enhanced academic services. The bill directly affects NMHU and the legislature, focusing on symbolic support rather than policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 408 increases the maximum contract limits for architectural/engineering services and construction projects that New Mexico state agencies and local public bodies can award. It raises the four-year cap for design services from $7.5 million to $15 million per contractor, and the ten-year cap for construction from $12.5 million to $30 million. The bill also allows individual purchase orders under these contracts to reach up to $7 million (up from $4 million). These changes aim to streamline procurement for large-scale projects while maintaining oversight through annual reporting requirements. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 20) is a non-binding resolution urging New Mexico leaders to create a statewide dam rehabilitation program. It highlights that most of the state’s dams are over 50 years old (average age 65), many face high hazard risks due to aging and recent severe storms, and the current dam safety bureau lacks resources to rehabilitate them. The resolution specifically calls for a coordinated effort to identify dam needs, prioritize projects, secure funding, and assist dam owners with planning and grant applications. It directly affects dam owners/operators and state agencies like the Office of the State Engineer.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 5 (SM 5) designates February 11, 2025, as "Acequia Day" in the New Mexico Senate to honor acequias - traditional community-managed irrigation systems central to New Mexico's agricultural heritage, water governance, and cultural identity for centuries. The resolution recognizes acequias' role in sustaining rural livelihoods, preserving water-sharing traditions, and supporting local food production across New Mexico's over 700 community water systems. This symbolic memorial does not create new laws or alter policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of acequias' historical and ongoing contributions to the state's water management and economy.

Maddy summarySB 493 allocates $500,000 from the government results and opportunity program fund to the Public Education Department for the KANW educational radio station. The funding is designated for fiscal year 2026 to purchase equipment and expand reporter resources specifically to cover news in rural New Mexico. Any unspent funds remaining at year-end would revert to the original program fund.

Maddy summarySB 354 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 Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, described as a significant New Mexico historical figure. The funds are intended for fiscal year 2026, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. The bill directly affects the Board of Regents, which would contract with a production company to create the documentary. This is a funding measure with no additional policy provisions beyond the documentary production. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not become law.