2025 legislative recap

REP. SILVA’S ASSIGNED COMMITTEES:

  • House Appropriations and Finance Committee

  • House Tax and Revenue Committee

STATEWIDE HIGHLIGHTS

HB2, General Appropriations Act (State Budget)

  • $25 million to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to expand healthcare in rural areas

  • Directs $110 million to targeted housing development, including transitional housing, with a focus on Bernalillo and Doña Ana counties

  • Provides a 4% average salary increase for public school and higher education staff

  • Raises minimum teacher salaries by $5,000 per license level

  • Dedicates $10 million to building the capacity of local law enforcement agencies

  • Allocates $4 million to law enforcement recruitment and retention

  • $500,000 for crime victim reparations

  • $2 million to support victims and survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence

LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS

  • $4.125 million Otero County Public Safety Facility

  • $100,000 Chaparral Governance Study (HB288)

  • $160,000 Amparo Road natural gas lines construction

  • $500,000 Las Cruces Mobile Integrated Healthcare and Crisis Intervention response station construction

  • $500,00 East Mesa Recreational Complex

  • $300,000 Las Cruces Real Time Crime Center

SPONSORED BILLS - PASSED!

Doula Credentialing Act

House Bill 214 establishes a voluntary credentialing process for doulas, who provide prenatal, childbirth, and postpartum care, enabling them to enroll as Medicaid providers.

Lobbyist Activity Report

House Bill 143 requires lobbyists to report on who their employers are and what bills they are working to shape and influence during a legislative session.

Student Graduation Reporting

Senate Bill 480 creates a list of students who haven't graduated in four years so public schools and career technical programs can access those individuals directly to re-enroll in school or workforce training.

Use of State Devices for CYFD Business

House Bill 203 requires CYFD workers to retain and back up all electronic records, which is critical for transparency and oversight, particularly in cases where a child is harmed, so processes can be reviewed and potentially improved going forward.

ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS AND BILLS

Forest Restoration through Economic Development

SJM1 pairs forest clean up with industry investment and job creation. PASSED

RLD Cannabis Enforcement

HB10 establishes an Enforcement Bureau within the Cannabis Control Division at the Regulation and Licensing Department to investigate criminal violations of state cannabis laws, to protect consumers and ensure reputable businesses can thrive. PASSED

Hospital Price Transparency Act

HB263 would require hospitals to post information on their public websites to disclose pricing, billing codes, and other detailed information for all items and services provided in inpatient and outpatient settings. DID NOT ADVANCE

College Board of Regents Changes

HJR12 would allow the Legislature to “provide for additional duties for a board of regents and may define the scope of a board of regent's control and management of an institution that the board serves." DID NOT ADVANCE

County Sheriff Inmate Transport Reimbursement

HB414 enacts a new section of Chapter 4, Article 44 NMSA 1978 to provide for reimbursement to county sheritts, deputy sherifts, and guards tor expenses incurred while transporting inmates, individuals charged with a crime, or persons in the custody of a law enforcement agency. WAS INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET

Medical Malpractice Changes

SB176 proposes ending medical malpractice lump-sum payouts from the patient's compensation fund and instead require payments be made as treatment expenses are incurred. The bill would cap attorney fees in medical malpractice lawsuits at 25 percent of the money awarded if a case is settled and 33 percent if the case goes to trial. DID NOT PASS