Sen. Angel Charley

Maddy summaryHB 289 clarifies how New Mexico allocates transportation funding to school districts and state-chartered charter schools, requiring that funds cover the full route cost - including miles traveled to pick up the first student and return the bus after dropping off the last student. It establishes a new calculation method using a base amount for all districts plus a variable amount based on historical transportation costs, site characteristics, and operational days. If a district’s allocation exceeds required transportation costs, 50% of the excess must go to a transportation emergency fund, and at least 25% must be used for transportation services (excluding salaries). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySB 230 allocates $450,000 from the state general fund to the Cultural Affairs Department to expand and continue the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program through fiscal year 2029. The program places markers honoring significant women in New Mexico history, directly benefiting the department and the public through historical recognition. Unspent funds by 2029 must revert to the general fund. This is a funding bill, not a policy change.

Maddy summarySB 11, the Nurse Loan Repayment Act, creates a state fund to repay student loans for New Mexico nurses working in designated underserved areas or as nursing educators. It directly affects licensed registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who commit to four years of service in areas identified by the state as lacking sufficient nursing staff. The program provides up to $35,000 in total loan repayment ($7,500 annually for two years and $10,000 for the next two), with payments made directly to lenders. Nurses must meet eligibility criteria (NM license, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, and service in designated areas or as faculty/preceptors), and non-compliance requires repayment of the award plus 15% interest. The bill excludes state loan-for-service programs, scholarships, and personal loans from eligibility.

Maddy summarySB 135 revises the membership structure of New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee (LFC). It reduces the total committee size from 16 to 15 members, adjusts the appointment process for house members (from six to five), and clarifies rules for minority representation and vacancy fills. The bill requires appointments to maintain proportional party representation within each chamber and specifies that committee chairs alternate between the Senate and House every two years. This procedural bill affects only the committee's composition and appointment procedures, with no substantive policy changes.

Maddy summarySB 148 designates April 30 of each year as "Miguel Trujillo Day" in New Mexico to honor Miguel Trujillo, a marine veteran and Pueblo of Isleta member who secured voting rights for Native Americans on tribal lands. The bill appropriates $75,000 from the general fund to the Indian Affairs Department for fiscal year 2027 to develop educational materials, coordinate community events with tribes and schools, and create digital/print resources about Trujillo's life and achievements. This funding supports public awareness and community observances of the day through education and reflection on voting rights. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 will revert to the general fund.

Maddy summarySB 138 repeals a state law that has prohibited New Mexico cities and towns from enacting rent control on privately owned housing. This bill directly affects local governments, removing a legal barrier that has prevented them from creating rent control policies since 1991. The key mechanism is the repeal of Section 47-8A-1 NMSA 1978, which previously banned municipalities from passing such ordinances. If passed, this would allow cities and towns to develop their own rent control rules for private rental properties.

Maddy summarySB 134 creates a permanent joint legislative committee focused on health and human services in New Mexico. It establishes a 10-member committee (4 Senate, 6 House) with specific party representation rules, appoints a director, and requires the committee to study state health/human services systems, recommend policy changes, and report findings before each odd-year legislative session. The bill appropriates $500,000 for initial staffing and operations in fiscal year 2027. This procedural bill directly affects the legislature and state agencies, which must provide requested information to the committee.

Maddy summarySB 139 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to the Commission on the Status of Women for fiscal year 2027. The funding directly supports the commission's operations by covering contractor assistance, additional office space, and an agency database. Any unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. This bill provides specific financial resources to enhance the commission's capacity without changing existing laws or policies.

Maddy summarySB 180 limits strip or cavity searches in New Mexico juvenile detention facilities to situations where there is a reasonable belief that dangerous contraband is present and cannot be found by other means, requiring authorization from the facility superintendent. The bill mandates that such searches be conducted in the least intrusive manner possible and requires detailed incident reports - including the child's name, search rationale, and results - to be submitted within one business day. It also prohibits cameras or recording devices in shower and toilet areas of detention facilities. These provisions directly affect juvenile detention facilities and the children held in them in New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 5 appropriates $3 million from the state general fund to the University of New Mexico Board of Regents over fiscal years 2027-2029. The funding directly supports hospitals in New Mexico’s medically underserved rural communities to develop and expand physician residency programs in family practice, internal medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, and pediatrics. This aims to address physician shortages by creating training opportunities in critical specialties where healthcare access is limited. Unspent funds will revert to the general fund by the end of 2029. The bill focuses on concrete funding for residency expansion, not new regulations or long-term policy changes.