Sen. Pat Boone

Maddy summarySJM 2 is a New Mexico Senate Joint Memorial requesting the Public Education Commission to create a comprehensive plan for the state to take over education programs currently managed by the U.S. Department of Education. The plan must include recommendations for state and federal legal changes, strategies for managing education funding (including potential federal waivers or grants), and identification of unnecessary federal education mandates. The Commission must gather input from local communities, teachers, and families, and submit the final plan to state leaders by December 31, 2026. This is a procedural request, not a law changing current responsibilities.

Maddy summarySJR 2 proposes a constitutional amendment to New Mexico that would limit state legislators to a maximum of 12 years of total service in either the Senate or House of Representatives. It also creates an independent citizen commission (with nine members, no more than four from the same political party) to set and adjust legislative salaries every four years, starting with a report due by October 2029 for implementation in July 2030. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election and would replace current per diem and mileage payments with a salary determined by the commission. This directly affects all current and future New Mexico legislators by changing term limits and compensation structures.

Maddy summarySB 143 updates fee amounts for several New Mexico agricultural regulatory programs. It raises annual license fees for egg dealers (small: $10 to $20, large: $50 to $100), pesticide registrations ($150 to $200), and nursery permits ($75 to $100). These changes directly affect egg producers, pesticide businesses, nursery operators, and fertilizer distributors who must pay these updated fees. The bill amends existing statutes to reflect the new fee schedules under the Egg Grading Act, Pesticide Control Act, and Plant Protection Act.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 6 requests the New Mexico Department of Transportation to consider naming the Roswell Bypass (U.S. Highway 285) in honor of Nancy Lopez, a Roswell native and Hall of Fame professional golfer. The memorial highlights Lopez’s 48 LPGA tournament wins, her role as a pioneering figure in women’s golf, and her lifelong ties to Roswell, where she grew up and graduated from high school.

Maddy summarySB 231 creates the "Beneficial Substances Act" to regulate products that help plants grow better or improve soil (like certain plant growth enhancers and soil amendments), excluding fertilizers and pesticides. It requires manufacturers to register these products with the state (at a $50 fee per product) and follow specific labeling rules showing ingredients, usage instructions, and product purpose. The law preempts local governments from making their own rules about these products, placing sole enforcement authority with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. This directly affects businesses selling such agricultural products in New Mexico, requiring them to comply with state registration and labeling standards.

Maddy summaryNew Mexico's Senate Joint Resolution 5 (SJR 5) requests Congress to call a constitutional convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The resolution seeks to propose amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on federal spending, limit the federal government's power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. This application, formally submitted by New Mexico's legislature, remains active until two-thirds of states apply for the same purpose. The bill directly affects the federal legislative process by initiating a state-level application for constitutional change, though it does not alter current laws or directly impact New Mexico residents.

Maddy summarySB 485 would shorten early voting in New Mexico by reducing the period during which voters can cast ballots before Election Day. The bill requires early voting to start 15 days before an election (down from 28 days) and mandates all locations to close at 7:00 p.m. daily (instead of 9:00 p.m.), reducing daily voting hours from 14 to 12. County clerks would no longer be allowed to adjust hours without written approval from the Secretary of State. This change would directly affect voters relying on early voting access, potentially limiting their opportunities to cast ballots during the shortened window.

Maddy summarySB 415 allocates $350,000 from the state general fund to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for a program to market and promote the state's agritourism industry. This program directly supports farms, ranches, and tourism businesses offering agritourism activities like farm stays, harvest festivals, or vineyard tours. The funding, limited to fiscal year 2026, will cover marketing efforts to attract visitors to New Mexico's agricultural tourism experiences. Any unused funds at year-end must return to the general fund. The bill focuses solely on providing state resources for industry promotion, not on regulatory changes or new business requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Memorial 16 is a non-binding resolution passed by the New Mexico Senate opposing the U.S. Department of Energy's proposed "southwestern grid connector" national interest electric transmission corridor in eastern New Mexico. It specifically targets the federal use of eminent domain (government seizure of private land without consent) to build transmission infrastructure, which would directly affect farmers, ranchers, and small businesses relying on agricultural land for their livelihoods. The resolution calls on federal agencies and New Mexico's congressional delegation to reject eminent domain for this project and instead pursue alternatives that protect private property rights, local economies, and sustainable farming practices. It emphasizes that land seizures could disrupt generational operations, harm soil and water resources, and reduce property tax revenues for rural counties.

Maddy summarySB 285, titled "EXEMPT TIPS FROM INCOME TAX," would exempt tips received by New Mexico residents as compensation for services (e.g., from servers, bartenders) from being included in taxable income. The bill directs that tips earned as part of wages or compensation would not count toward net income for tax purposes. This change would apply to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, directly affecting service industry workers who rely on tips. The bill does not alter minimum wage requirements or tip-sharing rules, focusing solely on tax treatment of tip income.