Maddy summaryThis Senate Joint Memorial (SJM 3) requests the New Mexico Higher Education Department to develop a joint bachelor's degree in elementary bilingual multicultural education across four public universities (UNM, Western NM, NM Highlands, NM State). It also proposes scholarships for students and educators pursuing advanced degrees in bilingual education, increased faculty positions for bilingual programs, and college credit recognition for students with New Mexico’s "state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy." The memorial aims to address a shortage of bilingual teachers, aligning with state and federal mandates like the Martinez/Yazzie court ruling and the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act. It is a non-binding request to state agencies, not a law.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySB 350 appropriates $6 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Health Care Authority for a housing stabilization program targeting people transitioning from incarceration or homelessness back into community housing. The funding, effective in fiscal year 2026, will directly support housing needs for this reentry population through a dedicated program administered by the Health Care Authority. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2026 must revert to the general fund. The bill was referred to committees, passed committee review, but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
Maddy summarySB 480 would require New Mexico's Public Education Department to create an annual report by July 15 each year listing all students who have not graduated from high school within four years of entering ninth grade. This report would be shared with adult education providers, workforce development programs, and school districts that help students earn high school diplomas or equivalency credentials (like a GED). The bill defines "out-of-cohort students" as those not graduating within four years of ninth grade. The goal is to provide targeted data to help these programs better support students who fall behind.
Maddy summarySB 41 creates a "Turquoise Alert System" to rapidly share information about missing enrolled members or eligible members of federally recognized American Indian tribes, pueblos, or nations in New Mexico. The bill requires the Department of Public Safety to develop a plan for issuing these alerts, including notifying law enforcement, media, and cellular providers through existing emergency alert systems. It mandates specific record-keeping for each alert, tracking details like the person's age, gender, and recovery date. This system directly affects tribal communities and law enforcement agencies responsible for implementing the alerts, while distinguishing this category from existing "Silver" (elderly/dementia) or "Brittany" (developmental disability) alerts.
Maddy summaryHB 192 allocates $2.8 million from the general fund to cover subscriber fees for New Mexico's digital trunked radio communications system, directly benefiting municipal, county, and tribal public safety agencies providing law enforcement, fire, medical, or emergency services. The bill requires the Department of Information Technology to submit an annual report by December 1 starting in 2026, detailing projected fees and users for the following fiscal year. This ensures transparency in funding allocation for the public safety radio system, which agencies rely on for critical communications. The appropriation is non-reverting, meaning unspent funds carry over to future years.
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 66 exempts specific New Mexico state agencies - including law enforcement, early childhood education departments, child care facilities, child welfare services, and public schools - from the state's general criminal background check rules for employment. Instead, these agencies must create their own criminal history screening rules to determine applicant eligibility. The bill directly affects job applicants seeking positions in these exempted agencies and requires the agencies to establish their own screening procedures rather than using the standard state process. It does not change existing background check requirements for other employers.
Maddy summarySB 57 amends New Mexico's public records law to exempt from disclosure any record containing personal identifying information or sensitive information related to medical providers who perform abortion services and are employed by a public body (such as a public hospital or government health agency). This means records about a provider's abortion-related practice - like patient details or specific medical documentation - cannot be accessed by the public under the state's open records law. The bill directly affects public health facilities and medical providers offering abortion care, ensuring their practice records remain confidential. It does not change access to records about other medical services or non-abortion-related care.
Maddy summarySB 163 prohibits New Mexico public and charter schools from banning students enrolled in or eligible to enroll at federally recognized tribes, pueblos, or nations from wearing tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies and other school events. The bill amends existing school discipline policies to explicitly state that schools cannot restrict "tribal regalia" - defined as traditional dress, symbols, jewelry, beading, or feathers - along with graduation attire or as part of cultural expression. It directly affects Native American students in New Mexico public schools by protecting their right to display cultural items during formal school activities. The law clarifies that such protections are part of broader anti-discrimination policies already in place for students' cultural and religious expression.