Rep. Andi Reeb

Maddy summaryHB 273, the Women's Safety & Protection Act, requires domestic violence shelters, public schools, and juvenile detention facilities in New Mexico to designate separate sleeping quarters and restrooms for males and females. It mandates that these facilities provide reasonable accommodations (like single-occupancy spaces) for individuals who cannot use facilities matching their sex, but prohibits access to opposite-sex areas when others of that sex are present. The bill explicitly allows exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, maintenance, and ADA accommodations, while ensuring facilities remain compliant with federal disability law. It directly affects residents of these facilities, staff, and students in New Mexico's public schools and shelter systems.

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 334 requires courts to obtain specific competency evaluations for children facing delinquency charges, detailing whether a child can understand proceedings and assist in their defense. If a child is deemed incompetent, the evaluation must also assess if they meet criteria for involuntary placement, with courts mandating community-based competency restoration for non-dangerous children. The bill adds a 90-day review hearing requirement after involuntary placement and specifies that competency evaluations must include a qualified professional's opinion on three key criteria: understanding proceedings, ability to consult with a lawyer, and capacity to assist in their defense. This applies to all children in New Mexico delinquency cases, directly affecting youth accused of crimes who may have developmental or intellectual disabilities.

Maddy summaryHB 314 provides zero-interest loans to New Mexico local governments (cities, counties) in Chaves County that received federal disaster funding for repairs after the October 19, 2024 storm. The loans, funded by $150 million from the state general fund, must be repaid within 30 days using the approved federal disaster funds, with failure to repay triggering market interest rates. Political subdivisions must sign reimbursement contracts detailing repayment terms and reporting requirements. The bill appropriates funds for fiscal years 2027-2028, with unused funds reverting to the general fund by 2028. It takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 125 amends New Mexico's juvenile justice laws by expanding the definitions of "delinquent act," "youthful offender," and "serious youthful offender" in the Delinquency Act and Criminal Sentencing Act. The bill adds specific offenses to the list of delinquent acts, including driving under the influence, alcohol and cannabis possession by minors, graffiti, and violating an order of protection. It also adjusts criteria for youthful offender status, such as including 14-year-olds convicted of first-degree murder and minors with three prior felony adjudications. These changes directly affect minors in New Mexico who commit these offenses, altering how their cases are classified under juvenile justice.

Maddy summaryHB 78 allows parties to reference sealed juvenile records in specific legal proceedings. It permits referring to the existence and contents of sealed juvenile records in written pleadings for pretrial detention hearings, release condition hearings, or sentencing hearings related to felony charges. This exception applies only when the court has prior notice and is limited to those exact proceedings. The bill does not change the general rule that sealed records should be treated as if they never existed. It directly affects prosecutors, defense attorneys, and courts handling felony cases where a defendant has a sealed juvenile history.

Maddy summaryHB 105 allows New Mexico courts to extend juvenile commitments or probation for delinquent children up to age 25, instead of the previous maximum age limits. This directly affects minors adjudicated delinquent under specific provisions of state law, particularly those found guilty of certain offenses (like those listed in Section 32A-2-3). The bill amends court procedures to grant judges discretion to set dispositions lasting until the child turns 25, rather than ending at age 21 or earlier. It does not change the types of dispositions (like short-term or long-term commitments) but expands the maximum duration for court-ordered supervision or placement. The bill is currently pre-filed and awaiting committee review.

Maddy summaryHB 163 designates specific felony offenses, including murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, and firearm-related crimes, as "dangerous or violent" for bail hearings. For defendants charged with these offenses, the court must presume that releasing them would not protect the community, requiring the defendant to prove by more likely than not that they can be safely released. The bill lists 15 categories of offenses, such as first-degree murder, certain sexual penetrations, and aggravated assault on peace officers, directly affecting individuals charged with these crimes. It would take effect only after a constitutional amendment is approved by voters, which must be enacted to implement the bail presumption.

Maddy summaryHB 25 prohibits adults who received a juvenile disposition for a firearm-related offense (that would be a felony if committed by an adult) from possessing firearms or destructive devices. It treats such juvenile dispositions as criminal convictions for the purpose of firearm background checks, requiring law enforcement to access these juvenile records during background screenings. The bill directly affects adults with these specific juvenile court records, preventing them from legally obtaining or possessing firearms. Key mechanisms include amending firearm possession laws to include this category of individuals and mandating access to juvenile delinquency records during background checks. The law does not change juvenile sentencing but alters how past firearm-related juvenile cases impact adult firearm rights.

Maddy summaryHB 179 allows legal parties (like prosecutors or defense attorneys) to reference sealed juvenile records in specific court proceedings, including pretrial detention hearings, conditions of release, and sentencing. This change applies to individuals whose juvenile records were legally sealed under New Mexico law, meaning their sealed records can now be considered in these limited contexts. The bill amends existing sealing rules to permit the use of a sealed juvenile record's existence and contents in written pleadings for these proceedings, while maintaining confidentiality for all other purposes. It does not alter the criteria for sealing juvenile records or the general confidentiality protections for sealed files.