Rep. Cynthia Borrego

Maddy summaryHB 290 extends the property tax exemption period for redevelopment projects in New Mexico's metropolitan areas from 10 to 20 years. It applies to properties acquired by municipalities on or after January 1, 1986, under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code. During this extended exemption, lessees and owners with substantial beneficial interest must pay annual "payments in lieu of taxes" based on the property's historical value before acquisition. These payments ensure local governments receive revenue equivalent to what would have been collected as property taxes during the exemption period.

Maddy summaryHB 310 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Cultural Affairs Department for a fiscal year 2027 feasibility study, planning, and implementation of a lowrider museum in Espanola. The bill directly affects the Cultural Affairs Department, which will use the funds to assess the museum's viability and develop plans. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but allocates specific funding for preliminary research. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 would revert to the general fund. This is a procedural bill focused solely on funding a study, not on museum operations or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe Accessibility Act requires all New Mexico state agencies to make their websites, mobile applications, and physical facilities compliant with accessibility standards by April 1, 2027. It mandates adherence to digital standards (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA) and physical standards (based on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act) to ensure services are accessible to people with disabilities. The bill creates an Office of Accessibility within the governor’s commission on disability to oversee compliance, provide technical assistance, and develop reporting mechanisms. State agencies must post accessibility statements on their websites and submit biennial reports detailing progress, barriers, and corrective actions to the governor and legislative committees.

Maddy summaryHB 122 would expand a current restriction on municipal annexation by adding counties with over 300,000 residents (class A counties) to the list of areas where cities need county commission approval to annex land. This change directly affects municipalities in New Mexico's largest counties, requiring them to seek county permission before expanding their boundaries into those areas. The bill modifies existing law (Section 3-7-3 NMSA 1978) to broaden the scope of annexation restrictions beyond previously specified counties. It does not create new annexation rules but extends an existing requirement to additional counties.

Maddy summaryHB 41 provides a temporary, additional 2% payment to eligible retired public employees under New Mexico's Public Employees Retirement Act (PERA) for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. It directly affects retirees who meet specific criteria, such as having retired for at least two years (or one year if over 65), disability retirees with one year of retirement, or survivor beneficiaries with two years of payments. The bill appropriates $70 million from the general fund to cover these payments, which are calculated as 2% of each recipient’s current pension amount (not compounded), with special provisions for retirees receiving under $25,000 annually or aged 75+.

Maddy summaryHB 22 makes it illegal to distribute non-consensual "sensitive deepfake images" in New Mexico - defined as digitally altered images depicting private body parts (like uncovered genitals or a woman's breast below the areola) or intimate acts. It expands existing privacy laws to cover these deepfakes, creating new criminal penalties (misdemeanor for first offense, felony for repeat offenses) and threatening to distribute such images. Victims can now sue for libel, slander, or invasion of privacy in civil court, recovering actual damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and profits gained by the perpetrator. The law specifically targets non-consensual distribution, excluding platforms from liability for user content and clarifying that consent to create a deepfake doesn’t cover its distribution.

Maddy summaryHB 159 establishes a two-year pilot program using $1 million in state funds to provide free, evidence-based mental health support for K-12 students and families in New Mexico. The program will offer mental health education, self-management tools, and care navigation services through a dedicated platform. It requires the Public Education Department to contract implementation services and submit an impact report to the legislative education committee by 2028. The bill directly affects all public school students and families in New Mexico, with funding limited to fiscal years 2027-2028.

Maddy summaryHB 40 provides a temporary 2% additional payment to retired members receiving annuities under New Mexico's Educational Retirement Act for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This payment, calculated as 2% of each retiree's current annual benefit amount (including prior cost-of-living adjustments), is non-compounding and separate from standard annual adjustments. It applies to all retired educators under the Act, excluding those on disability status or under specific retirement provisions. The bill does not alter existing cost-of-living adjustment rules but adds this short-term benefit for two years.

Maddy summaryHB 131 establishes a new Planning Bureau within New Mexico's Economic Development Department to coordinate state land, facility, and resource use for growth and development. The bureau must create a comprehensive state development plan every three years, focusing on job/housing/transportation needs and collaboration with agencies like Transportation, Environment, housing authorities, and Native nations (upon request). It requires ongoing coordination with local governments and regional planning bodies, and includes a $1 million annual appropriation for staffing. The bill directly affects state agencies, local governments, and Native nations by mandating structured planning collaboration.

Maddy summaryHB 243 creates an Equine Welfare Trust Fund and amends the Equine Shelter Rescue Fund to better support registered equine rescue and retirement facilities in New Mexico. It transfers $5 million from the state’s General Fund to the new Trust Fund, which will invest the money and annually transfer 4% of its average value to the Shelter Fund starting in 2027. The Shelter Fund will then provide annual grants to eligible facilities (such as tax-exempt organizations not breeding horses) for costs like shelter, veterinary care, adoption programs, and basic equine welfare services. Facilities must apply for funding and report on their use of funds, and the state must submit annual reports to the legislature on fund distribution and outcomes.