Sen. Natalie Figueroa

Maddy summaryHB 338 extends the expiration date for a tax deduction that health care practitioners can use to reduce their taxable gross receipts by certain patient payments, changing the deadline from 2028 to 2031. It expands the deduction to include coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid by patients for commercial health insurance plans (excluding Medicare and Medicaid services). This affects licensed health care professionals like doctors, dentists, nurses, and therapists who provide services under commercial contracts with insurers. The deduction must be reported separately and is only applied after other allowable tax deductions are taken.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 32 requests the Legislative Finance Committee to study transportation barriers for students in foster care. It specifically examines current challenges school districts face in funding transportation to keep these students in their schools of origin, including unclear reimbursement processes and gaps in state and federal funding. The study will analyze existing barriers, review recent proposals (like reimbursing travel costs for foster families), and identify how to ensure consistent funding. This memorial does not create new law but aims to inform future policy decisions by the committee. It affects foster care students, school districts, and child welfare agencies by addressing a key factor in their school attendance.

Maddy summarySB 14 creates a Health Professions Advisory Committee to select recipients for loan repayment awards under New Mexico’s existing health professional loan program. The committee, composed of state health and education officials, evaluates applicants who must be licensed health professionals currently practicing in New Mexico or agree to relocate and begin practice in the state. Award recipients must work in designated underserved areas, with the Higher Education Department determining award amounts and disbursing funds. The bill amends prior laws to formalize this committee structure and streamline the selection process for loan repayment.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 7, introduced by Senator Natalie Figueroa, requests the New Mexico Legislative Council to create a 13-15 member redistricting task force to improve the state’s redistricting process. The task force must include diverse representation - four legislators, political party chairs, and public members reflecting New Mexico’s demographics, with specific requirements for tribal representation and non-partisan members - to study past issues like court costs ($9M), lack of diversity in past committees, and non-binding maps. It will examine other states’ approaches and propose concrete changes, including potential legislation, by December 2027. This memorial does not change current law but aims to enhance public input and fairness in redrawing voting districts.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 1, introduced by New Mexico Senators Natalie Figueroa and Harold Pope, is a non-binding request urging the U.S. Congress to establish federal rules for congressional redistricting. It specifically asks Congress to require all states to use consistent criteria when drawing district lines and to ban midcycle redistricting (changes between census years) unless ordered by a court. The memorial aims to reduce partisan gerrymandering and prevent frequent boundary changes that deepen political polarization, though it does not create new law. This resolution will only take effect if Congress passes the proposed legislation.

Maddy summarySB 6 appropriates $546.6 million from New Mexico's general fund to the University of New Mexico's board of regents for constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new School of Medicine facility. The funds are allocated for fiscal years 2027 through 2030, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2030. This bill directly affects the University of New Mexico by enabling the physical development of its medical school infrastructure. It is a funding measure, not a policy change, and specifies concrete financial and timeline details for the construction project.

Maddy summarySJM 1 is a non-binding memorial from the New Mexico legislature urging the U.S. Congress to establish uniform redistricting criteria for congressional districts and prohibit states from redrawing congressional maps mid-cycle (outside of court orders). It does not directly affect New Mexico residents or create new state law, as it is a request directed at federal lawmakers. The memorial argues that partisan gerrymandering violates constitutional rights and worsens political polarization, citing Congress's authority under the Constitution to set rules for congressional elections. New Mexico's legislature asks Congress to pass legislation requiring states to follow consistent redistricting standards and banning midcycle map changes without judicial approval. This is a procedural request, not a policy change enacted by New Mexico.

Maddy summaryHB 201 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Attorney General's office for fiscal years 2026-2027. This funding will hire staff to support a task force studying the state's Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), which governs public access to government records. The bill specifically directs the Attorney General to convene and staff this task force to examine IPRA implementation. Any unspent funds at the end of 2027 must return to the general fund. The bill does not change IPRA itself but provides resources for a review study.

Maddy summarySB 13 extends and expands a tax deduction for healthcare providers in New Mexico. It postpones the sunset date for this deduction from 2028 to 2031 and adds coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid directly by patients to the list of deductible expenses. The bill affects licensed healthcare practitioners (like doctors, dentists, and therapists) and their associations who provide services through managed care organizations. These providers can now reduce their taxable income by deducting patient-paid portions of their fees, rather than just certain insurance payments. The change applies only to "commercial contract services" under managed care plans, not Medicare or Medicaid services.

Maddy summaryHB 120 limits the use of physical restraint and seclusion in New Mexico public schools. It bans chemical, mechanical, prone restraint, and unsupervised seclusion, allowing physical restraint or seclusion only when a student poses imminent serious harm and less restrictive options fail. Schools must train staff in de-escalation and positive behavior strategies, document all restraint/seclusion use, and create safety plans with input from special education experts. The bill directly affects all public school students in New Mexico by restricting potentially harmful interventions and requiring staff to prioritize safer alternatives.