Rep. Mark Duncan

Maddy summaryHB 324 requires all New Mexico public school districts and charter schools to provide annual firearm safety training to students in grades 6-12 starting in the 2027-2028 school year, with optional inclusion of grades K-5. The training must cover safe firearm storage, school safety protocols related to firearms, and specific steps for students who find a firearm (like not touching it and telling an adult), all developed by the Public Education Department and Public Safety Department. It mandates the training be age-appropriate, non-shooting (no live ammunition or firearms), viewpoint-neutral on gun rights, and prohibits branded commercial content. Schools must incorporate the approved training into their curriculum without requiring live firearm demonstrations.

Maddy summaryHB 304 would provide monthly cash payments to New Mexico parents whose children are not enrolled in state-funded child care or pre-K programs. Parents would receive $2,500 monthly for infants (0-24 months), $1,975 for toddlers (24-36 months), and $1,375 for preschoolers (3-5 years), based on submitted documentation verifying the child's age, parent-child relationship, residency, and non-enrollment in state programs. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department must process applications within 60 days and issue payments upon approval, with fraud prevention measures for false documentation. This direct financial support targets families with young children not accessing existing state early education services.

Maddy summaryHB 83 requires New Mexico's Health Care Authority to set minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services: $23.50 per hour for consumer-delegated care and $19.78 per hour for consumer-directed care. It mandates that personal care service agencies using Medicaid funds must spend at least 70% of the reimbursement on direct care worker costs, including wages, benefits, training, and supervision. The bill defines "direct care workforce expenditures" to cover all employee-related expenses and requires agencies to maintain records for audits. A $51.4 million appropriation from the general fund supports this fee schedule update for fiscal year 2027. This directly affects agencies providing Medicaid-covered personal care services to individuals needing assistance with daily living activities.

Maddy summaryHB 106 creates a New Mexico income tax credit for parents who provide home-based child care for children under age 5, instead of enrolling them in state-funded or private child care or pre-kindergarten programs. The credit provides $1,000 per month per child for months the child is not eligible for public school, with annual inflation adjustments starting in 2027. Parents must apply for certification through the state's early childhood department to claim the credit, and any unused portion can be refunded. This policy directly affects New Mexico taxpayers with young children who choose home-based care over licensed facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 235 requires medical examiners to conduct detailed autopsies and report specific sudden unexpected deaths of people under 20 to state and national health registries. It applies to sudden cardiac deaths in apparently healthy young people without known heart disease, unexplained natural deaths under 20, and infant deaths under one year (whether explained or unexplained). Autopsies must include toxicology, microscopic studies, and a review of medical and immunization records, with a focus on vaccines given within 90 days of death. The findings will be submitted to the New Mexico state registrar and a national CDC/NIH registry to standardize data collection for public health research.

Maddy summaryHB 148 creates a temporary 5% annual cap on increases in property tax valuations for nonresidential properties (like offices or stores) from 2026 through 2036, affecting commercial property owners. It also updates requirements for residential property transfers, mandating that sellers or buyers submit an affidavit with specific details (names, sale price, property description) to county assessors within 30 days of a transfer, but excluding many common transactions like family transfers, government deals, or leases. The bill explicitly states these affidavits are for statistical use only and cannot be used in property valuation. Exceptions to the valuation cap include new properties, expansions after disasters, or changes in property zoning.

Maddy summaryHB 264 creates new tax deductions for New Mexico taxpayers earning tips (based on federal Section 224), overtime pay (federal Section 225), and Social Security income (federal Section 151). It replaces the Working Families Tax Credit with a state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) modeled after federal rules, adds a new Foster Parent and Guardian Income Tax Credit, and expands the medical expense deduction to apply to taxpayers of all income levels. The bill also extends tax deductions for healthcare practitioners to include patient coinsurance payments. These provisions directly affect low-to-moderate income earners, tip-based workers, retirees, and foster care providers by modifying how their income is taxed under New Mexico law.

Maddy summaryHB 177 allocates $150,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Veterans' Services Department to support veterans who need temporary separation from their service or companion animals for housing, medical care, or homelessness services. The bill funds contracted animal boarding, veterinary care, kennel facilities at veteran housing sites, and pet food to prevent veterans from losing access to essential services due to animal separation. This funding is available for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. The policy directly affects veterans requiring shelter, housing, or medical care that would otherwise require parting with their service animals.

Maddy summaryHB 246 appropriates $62 million from the state general fund over fiscal years 2027-2029 to provide matching state funds for political subdivisions (like counties or municipalities) that have received federal approval to acquire and rehabilitate floodplain land. The bill directly affects local governments seeking to address flood risks by restoring floodplain areas to their natural state, reducing threats to life, safety, and public infrastructure. Key provisions require state matching funds to be used only for land already approved for federal assistance, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund by 2029. This policy change enables local flood risk mitigation projects through combined federal-state funding.

Maddy summaryThis memorial (HM 31) requests New Mexico's Health Care Authority to reevaluate its rule limiting home health agencies to serving patients within 100 miles of their licensed location. The current rule creates barriers for rural, frontier, and tribal communities - especially those facing geographic isolation and workforce shortages - by restricting agency service areas. The memorial asks the Authority to align home health service rules with existing personal care services policies, which allow broader service areas, to improve access to medically necessary home care. It specifically prioritizes communities impacted by radiation exposure (e.g., uranium miners) and those on Navajo Nation lands. As a memorial, it does not change law but urges regulatory review to address access gaps.