Maddy summaryHB 137 creates the Strategic Water Supply Program to reduce New Mexico's reliance on fresh water by funding projects that reuse treated brackish groundwater (highly salty groundwater) or treated oil/gas "produced water" (a byproduct of drilling). It establishes a dedicated fund financed by a 5-cent fee per barrel on oil/gas produced water, which will support grants and contracts for eligible water reuse projects. To qualify, projects must meet environmental standards, provide financial guarantees, advance economic development goals, and include a community benefits plan detailing public engagement. The program directly affects oil/gas operators (via the fee), state water agencies (DE, EMNRD, State Engineer), and communities where water reuse projects are implemented.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 249 requires New Mexico to reimburse health care providers for state sales taxes paid on Medicaid payments. It directly affects providers who treat Medicaid patients by ensuring they receive back taxes they previously paid on those reimbursements. The law mandates that Medicaid payments include a clear line item showing the exact amount reimbursed for taxes. This bill became law after passing both chambers and being signed in April 2025.
Maddy summarySB 169 creates a framework to certify sites ready for immediate economic development in New Mexico. It requires the economic development department to conduct site characterization studies assessing infrastructure, environment, workforce, and other factors, then recommend sites for certification to a new advisory committee. The committee - comprising state agency representatives and public experts - reviews sites, recommends designations, and advises on funding for pre-development work like environmental remediation, infrastructure upgrades, and permitting. Once certified, sites become eligible for grants or loans from the new "site readiness fund" to cover costs before construction begins, directly supporting developers and local governments preparing land for business growth.
Maddy summarySB 219, the Medical Psilocybin Act, allows regulated medical use of psilocybin (a compound found in certain mushrooms) to treat specific conditions including treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, substance use disorders, and end-of-life care. It removes psilocybin from New Mexico's controlled substances list for medical purposes, creating a program overseen by the Department of Health that requires clinicians and producers to obtain permits and follow safety protocols. The bill establishes an advisory board to help develop treatment guidelines and provides legal protections, exempting authorized use from criminal penalties while prohibiting use while driving under its influence. Qualified patients must be diagnosed with an approved condition by a licensed clinician within an approved setting, with the Department of Health required to implement the program by December 2027.
Maddy summarySB 364 updates New Mexico's law enforcement hiring standards by requiring all new peace officers, police officers, and state police members to either be U.S. citizens or have valid U.S. work authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the time of appointment. This applies to all law enforcement roles covered by the bill, including city police, county sheriffs, and state police. The bill amends existing statutes to replace the previous citizenship-only requirement with this dual standard, while maintaining other existing qualifications like age, education, background checks, and physical exams. It does not change other hiring criteria but adds this new work authorization requirement for eligibility.
Maddy summarySB 410 would align New Mexico's controlled substances law with future federal rescheduling of psilocybin. Specifically, it requires the state board to immediately list crystalline psilocybin in Schedule I under state law *only if* the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reschedules it federally. The bill does not change current state law or legalize psilocybin - it merely ensures state regulations mirror federal action. The bill was tabled indefinitely on February 19, 2025, and is currently inactive.
Maddy summarySB 5 amends New Mexico's Racketeering Act to expand the definition of racketeering by adding specific crimes such as trafficking cannabis products, sexual exploitation of children, and dog fighting. The bill also establishes a new legal definition for a "criminal gang" as a group of three or more people with a common symbol or leadership who regularly commit crimes together. Under these changes, individuals who use illegal profits from a pattern of racketeering to control a business or force others to join the enterprise face felony charges and potential forfeiture of their assets.