Sen. Joshua Sanchez

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15 million from the state general fund to the Interstate Stream Commission for riverfront forest (bosque) management projects in the middle Rio Grande valley. The funds will cover planning, implementing, and maintaining these projects during fiscal years 2027 and 2028. Any unspent balance by the end of 2028 must revert to the general fund. The bill directly affects the commission and communities relying on the Rio Grande valley's ecological and recreational resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax deduction for businesses selling dyed diesel fuel (used for non-highway purposes like farming) instead of the current tax credit system. It allows businesses to reduce their state gross receipts tax bill by the amount of dyed diesel sales, effective July 1, 2026, and requires separate reporting of this deduction. The deduction applies to all dyed diesel sales until July 1, 2031, replacing the existing credit for agricultural use. This change directly affects businesses selling dyed diesel fuel in New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 4 establishes a mandatory "best interests of the child" standard for New Mexico courts handling abuse and neglect cases. The bill requires judges to consider 14 specific factors, including the child's safety, family history of harm or substance abuse, the family's willingness to participate in services, and the child's own fears about returning home. This standard directly affects judges, child welfare agencies, and families involved in these legal proceedings. The key mechanism is a formalized checklist ensuring courts systematically evaluate child safety, family circumstances, and service compliance rather than relying on subjective judgment alone. The policy change aims to create more consistent, child-centered outcomes in these sensitive cases.

Maddy summarySB 8 changes venue rules for medical malpractice lawsuits, requiring them to be filed only in the county where the patient received the treatment at issue. It limits recovery from New Mexico's Patient's Compensation Fund, requires fund payments to be made as expenses occur (not all at once), and caps attorney fees in malpractice claims. The bill also creates a new Patient Safety Improvement Fund and removes a requirement for surcharges intended to fund the compensation fund's solvency. These changes directly affect patients filing medical malpractice claims, healthcare providers, and the administration of the Patient's Compensation Fund.

Maddy summarySB 6 redefines child abuse to include knowingly exposing a child to Schedule I or II illegal drugs (like opioids or meth) at birth, making this a criminal offense. Parents or caregivers who allow newborns to test positive for these drugs due to prenatal exposure face felony charges, with penalties increasing for repeat offenses or serious harm. The bill also allows hospitals or healthcare providers to temporarily place newborns showing drug withdrawal symptoms into protective custody without a court order, for up to 24 hours, to ensure immediate safety. This directly affects parents/caregivers with substance use issues and newborns exposed to drugs prenatally, prioritizing infant safety through clearer legal consequences and emergency custody protocols.

Maddy summarySB 9 enacts New Mexico's participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, creating a streamlined process for physicians licensed in one participating state to obtain licenses in other member states. The compact requires physicians to hold a full and unrestricted license in a "state of principal license" (where they reside, practice 25% of the time, or are employed) and mandates that they be licensed in the state where the patient is located during any encounter. Eligible physicians must meet specific criteria, including no criminal convictions for certain offenses and no prior disciplinary actions on their license. This does not alter existing state medical practice laws but provides a new pathway for multi-state licensure to improve healthcare access.

Maddy summarySB 7 amends New Mexico's Delinquency Act to change how youth aged 14 and older are handled in the juvenile justice system. It expands definitions of "serious youthful offender" and "youthful offender," removes the requirement for a detention risk assessment before placing a child in detention, and allows 14+ year olds to waive their right to an amenability hearing. The bill also changes court procedures by eliminating restrictions on sentencing options, requiring courts to weigh all amenability factors equally, and permitting the use of sealed juvenile records in pretrial detention or sentencing hearings. These changes directly affect youth facing delinquency charges and alter how courts process cases and manage juvenile confinement.

Maddy summarySB 5 creates a five-member nominating commission to select the Secretary of New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). The commission, appointed by legislative leaders and the attorney general, must recommend 3-5 qualified candidates to the governor within 30 days of a vacancy or the secretary's term ending. To qualify for the secretary role, applicants must have a master's degree or law degree, 10+ years of executive-level management experience (including budget oversight), and personnel recruitment expertise. The commission also evaluates the secretary's performance annually and reports to the governor and legislature. This bill directly affects the appointment process for the CYFD leadership position.

Maddy summarySB 351 allocates $13.5 million from the state general fund to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District for a correctional reentry workforce program. The bill directly provides funding to create job training and employment support services for formerly incarcerated individuals in North Central New Mexico. Key provisions include requiring the program to operate during fiscal year 2026, with any unspent funds reverting to the state treasury by year-end. This legislation establishes a concrete funding mechanism to support reentry workforce development, focusing on practical job placement assistance for this specific population.

Maddy summarySB 194 requires suppliers (manufacturers, wholesalers, or distributors of farm tractors, construction equipment, or related parts) to provide dealers (businesses selling that equipment) with specific notice before terminating a franchise agreement. It mandates 180 days' written notice for most terminations, detailing all "good cause" reasons and granting dealers 60 days to fix issues before termination. For terminations based on failure to meet performance standards, suppliers must provide a 2-year notice period. The bill also requires suppliers to approve or deny dealer business transfer requests within 60 days or deem the request approved, with clear written justification for denials. This directly affects dealers in New Mexico's farm and construction equipment sectors by strengthening their notice and appeal rights.