Sen. Candy Ezzell

Maddy summarySB 280 adds the New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) to the list of "constitutional special schools" under New Mexico's Public School Capital Outlay Act. This change directly affects NMMI by making it eligible for state funding to support school facility improvements, such as building systems and infrastructure. The bill amends the legal definition of "constitutional special schools" to include NMMI alongside the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the New Mexico School for the Deaf. This is a procedural update to the existing funding law, ensuring NMMI qualifies for capital outlay funding like other designated special schools.

Maddy summarySB 92 creates a permanent insurance fund to cover costs for jockeys and exercise riders in New Mexico horse racing. The fund, managed by the horse racing commission, is financed through money collected from the commission (to offset insurance expenses) and other sources like investments, donations, and grants. This directly affects jockeys and exercise riders by ensuring their insurance costs are covered under state and federal law, specifically to comply with Section 60-2E-47 NMSA 1978. The bill provides a dedicated funding mechanism to maintain insurance coverage without requiring separate annual appropriations.

Maddy summarySB 383 authorizes New Mexico municipalities to issue "flood recovery revenue bonds" specifically for rebuilding, repairing, replacing, or strengthening municipal property damaged by floods. It creates a new "municipal flood recovery gross receipts tax" to fund these bonds, with revenues pledged directly to bond payments. The bill also provides a tax deduction for businesses selling services or property to municipalities for flood recovery work, and delays the repeal of existing tax deductions related to flood repairs. This policy directly affects municipalities impacted by flooding, providing a dedicated funding mechanism for recovery efforts.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 19) requests the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and Public Education to form a work group aiming to develop a plan where 50% of beef, cheese, and milk served in public schools comes from New Mexico producers. The work group must include agricultural associations like the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association and dairy producers, and provide recommendations to legislative committees by September 1, 2025. It directly affects public school food procurement and New Mexico agricultural businesses by promoting local sourcing. As a memorial (not binding legislation), it seeks to encourage state agencies to create a framework for increased local food procurement.