Sen. Jeff Steinborn

Maddy summaryThis Senate Memorial (SM 4) proposes declaring February 18, 2025, as "ALS Awareness Day" in the New Mexico Senate. It symbolically recognizes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease, and acknowledges the impact on patients, families, and organizations like ALS New Mexico that support affected individuals. The bill does not create new policies or funding but aims to raise public awareness and honor local efforts, including the work of ALS New Mexico and the Grange family. As a non-binding resolution, it directly affects awareness efforts for New Mexicans living with ALS and their communities.

Maddy summarySB 94 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting certain sex crimes against minors in New Mexico. It modifies the law to allow criminal prosecution for crimes against minors until the victim turns 35, with exceptions for violent first-degree felonies. The bill also adds a provision that pauses the statute of limitations clock until the victim turns 18 or reports the crime to police, whichever occurs first. This change directly affects victims of sexual offenses under specific New Mexico statutes (Sections 30-6-1, 30-9-11, and 30-9-13) and their ability to seek prosecution years after the crime occurred.

Maddy summaryHB 130, the Public Banking Act, establishes the Public Bank of New Mexico as a state-created financial institution governed by an 11-member board. The board includes members appointed by the legislative council and governor with specific expertise in banking, community development, and state economic roles, while prohibiting conflicts of interest. The bill creates a State Banking Fund to manage the bank’s assets, authorizes lending and investment activities aligned with community development goals, and requires quarterly reporting to legislative committees. It does not directly affect specific residents or businesses but sets the operational structure for a new state-run financial entity. The bill is currently pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 265 allocates $4 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Creative Industries Fund for grants supporting creative businesses and organizations (e.g., artists, filmmakers, musicians). The funds, designated for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, will be administered by the Economic Development Department's creative industries division. Unspent funds will roll over to future years instead of reverting to the general fund, ensuring continued support for the sector.

Maddy summarySB 427 appropriates $60 million from the general fund to the Health Care Authority to create new physician residency programs and positions across New Mexico. The funding is allocated for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, specifically targeting the expansion of medical training opportunities for doctors. Any unspent funds at the end of 2028 must return to the state general fund. This bill directly affects medical residency programs and future physicians by providing dedicated state funding for new training positions.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment proposal (SJR 7) would require New Mexico to establish nominating committees for each public university. These committees would create lists of recommended candidates for the governor to appoint as nonstudent members to university boards of regents, replacing the current appointment process. The governor would then select appointees from these lists with Senate approval, while maintaining existing rules for student regent appointments and board composition. The change applies to all state universities, including the University of New Mexico.

Maddy summarySB 45 expands the uses of New Mexico county health care assistance funds to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs (like copayments and deductibles) for indigent patients. This directly affects low-income individuals who qualify as indigent and rely on county health care assistance programs. The bill amends existing law to add these specific coverage options while maintaining previous uses like burial expenses, ambulance transport, and hospital care. It does not change eligibility criteria but broadens the types of health care costs counties can pay for using these dedicated funds.

Maddy summaryHB 219 would create Slot Canyon Riverlands State Park on land in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, using the Broad Canyon ranch study area. The bill requires the state parks division to develop the park by prioritizing recreation, wildlife habitat, trail connections to the Rio Grande trail, and removing invasive salt cedar, while prohibiting the sale or exchange of park land. It appropriates $9 million from the general fund for park development and operations starting in fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds not reverting to the general fund. The bill passed the House and Senate but was vetoed by the governor on April 11, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.

Maddy summaryHB 143 requires lobbyists and their employers to file detailed reports disclosing which specific bills they lobbied on, their position (support/oppose) on each bill, and whether that position changed. It mandates these reports be submitted before legislative session adjournment or within a defined timeframe after adjournment, and requires the reports to be publicly accessible online for at least ten years. The bill directly affects all registered lobbyists and their employers in New Mexico by creating a standardized, searchable public record of lobbying efforts on specific legislation.

Maddy summaryHB 291 amends New Mexico's Recycling and Illegal Dumping Act to formally establish a "circular economy" framework. It requires the Environmental Improvement Board to adopt rules for public submissions and decide within 60 days whether to hold hearings on proposed rules. The bill creates a statewide "recycling, circular economy and illegal dumping alliance" involving cities, counties, tribes, state agencies, and private businesses to coordinate recycling efforts and foster sustainable resource use. Key provisions include renaming the act to explicitly include "circular economy" and mandating the alliance to develop strategies for reusing materials like tires, e-waste, and construction debris, aiming to reduce waste and support economic development.