Sen. Peter Wirth

Maddy summarySB 21, the "Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act," requires permits for any discharge of pollutants from fixed sources (like pipes or ditches) into waters of the United States. It directly affects businesses, industries, and facilities that discharge pollutants, such as factories, wastewater systems, or mining operations. The bill establishes a permit program managed by New Mexico’s Department of Environment, with the Water Quality Control Commission setting rules, fees, and enforcement procedures. It mandates reporting, inspections, and public access to records, while allowing legal challenges to permit decisions through the commission or courts.

Maddy summarySB 72 allows nonprofit condominium associations in New Mexico to conduct meetings and vote remotely using electronic means, such as video conferencing or email. It amends laws to permit electronic notice for meetings (with owner consent), count remote participation toward quorum requirements, and enable voting via remote electronic methods. This directly affects nonprofit condo associations and their members, making it easier for owners to participate without physical attendance. The bill updates meeting, quorum, and voting rules to explicitly include remote electronic participation as a valid option under association bylaws.

Maddy summarySB 37 creates the Strategic Water Reserve Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, administered by the Interstate Stream Commission. The fund finances water management projects focused on aquifer recharge, reducing groundwater depletion, and supporting endangered species habitat - directly affecting state agencies, water users, and communities in water-stressed basins. Key mechanisms include prioritizing water transactions that offer "supplementary benefits" (like cultural practices or habitat improvement), requiring community input from tribes, counties, and water districts during planning, and limiting aquifer recharge spending to 25% of annual fund use. The bill prohibits acquiring water from acequias or irrigation districts without specific agreements and mandates that all water purchases match market value, with unspent balances over $15 million reverting to the general fund.

Maddy summarySB 16 allows New Mexico voters who have not registered with a major political party (or declined to choose one) to participate in primary elections. These voters can now select a major party's ballot on election day without changing their voter registration, simply by requesting it at the polls or on mail-in ballot applications. The bill amends election laws to ensure such voters are provided the option to affiliate with a major party for primary voting purposes, directly affecting those who previously could not vote in partisan primaries. This change applies to both in-person voting and mailed ballot requests for primary elections.

Maddy summarySB 274 raises the value threshold requiring State Board of Finance approval for sales, trades, or leases of property by New Mexico state agencies, local public bodies, and school districts. The bill increases the current resale value threshold from $5,000 to $30,000, meaning transactions under this new limit no longer need Board approval. This change applies to both real and tangible personal property disposal, streamlining processes for lower-value transactions. The policy directly affects state/local entities managing public property by reducing administrative hurdles for routine sales. The bill amends existing statutes (Sections 13-6-1 and 13-6-2 NMSA 1978) to implement this threshold adjustment.

Maddy summarySB 57 amends New Mexico's public records law to exempt from disclosure any record containing personal identifying information or sensitive information related to medical providers who perform abortion services and are employed by a public body (such as a public hospital or government health agency). This means records about a provider's abortion-related practice - like patient details or specific medical documentation - cannot be accessed by the public under the state's open records law. The bill directly affects public health facilities and medical providers offering abortion care, ensuring their practice records remain confidential. It does not change access to records about other medical services or non-abortion-related care.

Maddy summarySB 112 exempts student housing facilities from property tax when they are located on land owned by a New Mexico higher education institution (like a public university) and operated under a lease from the institution to a nonexempt entity (such as a private housing company). The exemption applies specifically to housing for students or medical residents at institutions listed in the state constitution, provided the institution owns the land and leases the housing to the nonexempt entity for operation. This change affects how property taxes are calculated for these facilities, removing tax liability on the housing improvements (not the land) starting in 2026. The bill does not alter tax rules for other housing types or land ownership arrangements.

Maddy summarySB 5 reforms New Mexico's wildlife management structure by renaming the State Game Commission to the State Wildlife Commission and the Department of Game and Fish to the Department of Wildlife. It establishes a new nominating committee for appointments, sets specific qualifications for commissioners (including a rancher, conservationist, hunter/angler, and scientist), and limits commissioners to two terms after 2027. The bill also requires fee adjustments for licenses to account for inflation and provides discounts for residents receiving SNAP benefits. These changes aim to modernize wildlife management governance while expanding conservation-focused representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special property tax valuation method for multifamily housing (defined as residential buildings with five or more units regularly rented for 30+ days) in New Mexico. It limits annual value increases and caps the per-unit tax value at 40% of the total property value divided by the number of units, excluding amenities like pools or gyms from valuation. For newly constructed multifamily housing, the tax value is set at the lower of the market value or actual construction and land costs, requiring owners to provide proof to county assessors. These changes apply to property taxes starting in 2026.

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.