Sen. Mimi Stewart

Maddy summaryHB 91 amends New Mexico's public utility law to allow utilities to propose new rate structures for specific purposes. It specifically permits the Public Regulation Commission to approve rates designed for economic development, retaining existing customers, reducing energy costs for low-income households, decreasing outstanding bills (arrears), and increasing payment frequency to improve service continuity. These changes directly affect utilities (like electricity and gas providers) and low-income customers who may benefit from more affordable service options. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and was signed into law after passing both legislative chambers.

Maddy summaryHB 6 requires contractors working on municipal or county projects funded by industrial revenue bonds to pay workers the local prevailing wage and benefits, directly affecting construction workers on these projects over $60,000. It mandates that wage rates be based on collective bargaining agreements for similar work in the area, with the director determining rates annually by October 1. The law requires contractors to post wage rates publicly, withhold payments if underpaid, and allows workers to file complaints for unpaid wages, with investigations completed within 75 days. This amendment to New Mexico’s Public Works Minimum Wage Act ensures fair pay standards for workers on publicly funded construction projects.

Maddy summaryHB 63 updates New Mexico's public school funding formula to provide more resources for schools serving students from extremely/very low-income families and students learning English. It increases base funding for grades 6-12, creates a new funding unit specifically for English Learner programs, and adjusts how schools with high at-risk student populations are calculated. The bill includes a "hold harmless" provision to prevent funding cuts during implementation. These changes directly affect all public school districts and charter schools in New Mexico, particularly those with significant populations of low-income students or English Learner students.

Maddy summarySB 83 creates a dedicated $10 million "Innovation in State Government Fund" (transferred from the General Fund) to help New Mexico state agencies advance climate and sustainability goals. The fund directly supports seven agencies - including the Environment Department, Energy Department, and Transportation Department - with specific allocations to develop climate action plans, achieve net-zero emissions, and implement sustainable economic policies that diversify revenue beyond natural resource extraction. Agencies must submit annual reports detailing fund use, and unspent balances after fiscal year 2027 revert to the fund. This law, signed into effect in April 2025, provides concrete financial mechanisms for agencies to address climate policy implementation without altering existing tax structures.

Maddy summarySB 481 creates the State Fairgrounds District, a new political subdivision governing the state-owned fairgrounds property in Albuquerque and adjacent land. The district can issue up to $1 billion in bonds to fund projects like facility development and public infrastructure, using revenue from gross receipts tax and gaming tax distributions from businesses on the fairgrounds. It establishes a five-member board (including the governor, mayor, and county commissioner) to manage the district’s finances and operations. This bill directly affects the state fairgrounds’ development, local businesses operating there, and the allocation of tax revenues to fund improvements.

Maddy summarySB 39 amends New Mexico's Prior Authorization Act to remove specific drug classes from requiring insurance pre-approval (prior authorization). This directly affects patients needing these medications and health insurers, streamlining access by eliminating unnecessary administrative steps. The bill expands the list of drugs exempt from prior authorization requirements, meaning insurers must cover these medications without requiring doctors to seek approval first. It focuses on concrete policy change by updating the law to include new drug categories, reducing delays in treatment for covered patients. The bill passed the House and was signed into law in 2025.

Maddy summarySB 417 establishes a new legal process called "confirmatory adoption" for parents of children born through assisted reproduction, such as in vitro fertilization or donor eggs/sperm. This allows intended parents to formally confirm their parentage and obtain a court-ordered adoption judgment without the typical requirements of a standard adoption. The bill amends New Mexico's Adoption Act and Uniform Parentage Act to create this specific procedure, directly affecting intended parents who used assisted reproduction services. It streamlines the legal recognition of parental rights for these families by providing a dedicated pathway to formal adoption.

Maddy summarySB 3, the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, creates a statewide system for coordinating behavioral health services across New Mexico. It requires each geographic region to develop a collaborative regional plan (with input from providers, patients, and agencies) outlining a four-phase expansion of services, prioritizing underserved communities and including performance measures. The law establishes statewide standards for care, mandates annual reporting on plan implementation, and allocates state funds to support regional priorities - such as expanding non-acute care for uninsured patients - while requiring managed care organizations to eliminate patient caps. This directly affects behavioral health providers, patients, and state agencies like the administrative office of the courts and the health care authority, aiming to improve service coordination and access.