Rep. Rebecca Dow

Maddy summaryHB 281 requires owners of solar and wind energy facilities to provide financial assurance (like bonds or insurance) totaling at least $250,000 per facility to cover future decommissioning costs. This applies to all new facilities starting July 1, 2026, and existing facilities by January 1, 2028. The bill creates a Solar and Wind Decommissioning Fund, which collects forfeited financial assurance if owners fail to comply or if decommissioning costs exceed the provided amount. The fund is used by the state to cover cleanup costs when facilities are shut down, ensuring sites are properly remediated without relying on taxpayer funds.

Maddy summaryHB 274 allows mobile home park owners in New Mexico to sell individual mobile home spaces as separately owned lots without needing to meet standard zoning requirements like minimum lot size or building setbacks. This directly affects mobile home park residents and owners who wish to purchase their specific lot. The bill amends the Mobile Home Park Act to create a new provision enabling this transfer of ownership without requiring infrastructure improvements typically needed for subdivision development. It removes barriers that previously forced park owners to conform to zoning rules when selling spaces, streamlining the process for residents seeking ownership.

Maddy summaryHB 301 authorizes New Mexico's Department of Information Technology to manage and implement information technology projects for the state's judicial branches, including district courts and related entities. The bill allows the department to establish vendor agreements for IT goods/services, provide annual catalogs of available services with approved pricing, and access non-agency data only when necessary to maintain those services. It specifically appropriates $1.2 million from the general fund for district attorneys' technology needs in fiscal year 2027, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund. This legislation directly affects judicial branch operations and district attorneys' offices by streamlining their access to centralized IT resources and funding.

Maddy summaryHB 293 creates a new Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) Investigation Team to handle reports of child safety incidents in licensed childcare programs receiving state funds. The team must investigate critical incidents (threats to child safety) within 24 hours and complete investigations within 60 days, requiring full access to facilities, staff, records, and victims. Childcare programs must cooperate fully, and the team must provide written findings to parents, facility staff, and law enforcement if criminal activity is suspected. The bill requires the department to adopt implementing rules by September 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 308 moves the Substitute Care Advisory Council from administrative oversight by the Regulation and Licensing Department to the Attorney General's office. It transfers all council personnel, funding, property, and contracts between these departments. The bill maintains the council's existing duties - monitoring child welfare systems, reviewing cases, and advising on substitute care policies - but changes its administrative home. This is a procedural reorganization affecting state agency structure, not a policy change for children or families in substitute care.

Maddy summaryHB 307 requires attorneys and law firms to disclose their fees when advertising settlement or judgment amounts in civil cases. If an ad mentions a client received a monetary award (e.g., "$50,000 settlement"), it must also state the fee the client paid for the legal services. Violations incur a $500 civil penalty per ad, enforced by the attorney general or district attorney, with collected fines deposited into the school fund. The law takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Maddy summarySB 220 sets new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rates for personal care services in New Mexico: $23.50 per hour for consumer-delegated services and $19.78 per hour for consumer-directed services. It requires personal care providers receiving Medicaid payments to spend at least 70% of those funds on direct care worker costs, including wages, benefits, training, and supervision. The bill appropriates $51.4 million to update the reimbursement schedule and mandates providers to maintain records proving compliance. This directly affects personal care service agencies that contract with Medicaid to support individuals with daily living needs.

Maddy summaryThis memorial acknowledges New Mexico residents affected by radiation from the Trinity nuclear test and uranium mining, urging state agencies to help eligible individuals apply for federal compensation under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act before its December 31, 2027 deadline. It directs the departments of Health, Aging and Long-Term Services, Veterans' Services, and Indian Affairs to collaborate with community organizations and tribal governments to provide outreach, education, and application assistance. The focus is on supporting downwinders, uranium workers, and their families - particularly elders, rural residents, and tribal members - who may need help navigating the federal process. It does not create new benefits but aims to increase awareness and access to existing federal compensation.

Maddy summaryThis House Memorial (HM 37) requests New Mexico's Energy Department to study the costs of decommissioning solar and wind energy facilities and recommend financial assurance requirements for their owners. It directly affects solar/wind facility operators (who may need to cover removal and land restoration costs) and taxpayers (who could otherwise bear millions in unplanned expenses if facilities fail early). The study will evaluate decommissioning costs, compare state practices, and propose policies to prevent environmental harm or taxpayer burden. Currently, New Mexico lacks such requirements for renewables, despite a 2025 report warning of potential $974 million in unmet costs. The department must report findings by November 2026.

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.