Sen. Cindy Nava

Maddy summarySB 3 requires New Mexico schools and childcare programs to follow immunization rules based on recommendations from the state health department or the American Academy of Pediatrics. It also mandates that adult immunization guidelines align with specific medical associations' guidance. The bill prohibits health insurance plans from charging copays or deductibles for vaccines recommended by the health department and ensures state-purchased vaccines meet those standards. This affects children in schools/childcare, adults seeking immunizations, and health insurers. The bill was declared an emergency to expedite implementation.

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 392 requires New Mexico county hospitals or contracted hospitals to provide standard care for life-threatening conditions (like cancer) and offer affordable payment plans when they are the only local provider and patients meet specific criteria: lacking employer/private insurance, not qualifying for Medicare/Medicaid, being uninsured, ineligible for county indigent programs, or not qualifying for the state medical insurance pool. Hospitals must continue care and payment plans until the patient obtains qualifying coverage. Payments are calculated using the higher of Medicaid or Medicare fee schedules, with monthly payments capped at 5% of the patient's household adjusted gross income. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 294 increases New Mexico's child income tax credit for qualifying children under age six by doubling the existing credit amount for this age group. The bill adjusts the credit tiers (e.g., $600 becomes $1,200 for incomes under $25,000) based on household income, with automatic annual inflation adjustments using the Consumer Price Index. It directly affects New Mexico residents with young children who qualify for the credit under federal guidelines. The policy change applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and requires the state department to report on the credit's implementation and cost.

Maddy summarySB 205 creates a new Office of Housing Planning and Production within New Mexico's Department of Finance and Administration to coordinate statewide housing efforts. The office will develop a strategy to reduce housing costs and increase availability - including for low-income and homeless households - by analyzing zoning rules, building codes, construction costs, and promoting innovative housing solutions like modular homes. It requires annual data collection on housing needs, market conditions, and program impacts to track progress toward state goals and identify geographic gaps. The office will provide technical assistance to local governments, tribes, and regional entities to improve housing regulations and grow local housing capacity. The bill declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation.

Maddy summarySB 404 strengthens privacy protections for patient health records in New Mexico by requiring healthcare providers and institutions to segregate sensitive information, such as reproductive health care and gender-affirming care details, from general health records. It prohibits disclosing this segregated information without explicit consent, repealing a prior requirement to report induced abortions. The bill directly affects healthcare entities, including hospitals, clinics, and insurers, that handle patient data. Key provisions define "health care information" broadly to include mental/physical health records and explicitly protect reproductive and gender-affirming care data from unauthorized sharing.

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 summarySB 250 prohibits New Mexico state and local agencies (including police, sheriffs, and jails) from using public funds, personnel, or resources to enforce federal immigration laws or assist federal agents in immigration enforcement activities. This directly affects law enforcement agencies by barring them from detaining individuals solely based on suspected immigration status or aiding federal immigration investigations. The bill also clarifies that jails holding individuals under federal criminal warrants must be paid for by the federal government, replacing a prior law that allowed state cost-sharing. It repeals outdated references to federal immigration enforcement in state statutes.

Maddy summarySB 441 requires judges and court personnel in New Mexico to complete annual, evidence-based training on domestic abuse starting in 2026. It updates custody standards to mandate courts consider evidence of child or domestic abuse when deciding custody, including protection orders or arrests. The bill also bars courts from ordering reunification programs or psychological evaluations in contested custody cases where abuse evidence exists - unless the evaluator meets specific qualifications. This directly affects family court proceedings, judges, court staff, and families navigating custody disputes involving abuse allegations.

Maddy summarySB 172 creates the Immigrant Health Care Workforce Development Act to support underemployed immigrant health care workers in New Mexico, particularly those with prior foreign health care experience seeking licensure. The bill establishes an Acceleration Program providing training in medical English, health IT systems, and licensing pathways, along with financial support for exam fees, living costs, and career navigation. It also creates a Primary Care Physician Readiness Pathway for qualified international medical graduates, including a 6-12 month clinical readiness program and exam preparation assistance. Participants must be New Mexico residents, commit to working in an underserved community for at least one year post-licensure, and meet specific eligibility criteria like having prior foreign health care experience.