Michael Padilla, Majority Whip | Senate Democrats
The New Mexico Senate has made significant legislative progress on March 5, 2025. Among the notable developments is the passage of Senate Bill 88/a, which aims to stabilize Medicaid funding through the creation of a Medicaid Trust Fund (MTF) and a State Supported Fund. The bill received unanimous support with a vote of 37-0. This initiative allows the state to draw from these funds if federal Medicaid money decreases substantially. Beginning in fiscal year 2030, the MTF will distribute 5% of its average year-end balances over three years to support the state's Medicaid program, provided it maintains a balance of at least $500 million.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth noted that approximately 768,000 New Mexicans are currently using Medicaid. Senate Finance Chair George Munoz stated, "Medicaid is our biggest cost to the budget besides education and as state revenues grow, it’s wise for New Mexico to set up contingency options for whatever scenarios might be on the horizon."
In education, Senate Bill 235 was introduced by Senator Bill Soules to improve math education in New Mexico. A report from 2024 ranked New Mexico last in math test scores nationwide. The bill proposes screening tools for educators to identify students struggling with math early on for individualized support. Senator Soules remarked, “As a retired math teacher and elementary principal I know firsthand, New Mexico needs to do better."
Additionally, Senate Joint Memorial 2 passed unanimously with a vote of 39-0. It requests that the governor appoints a task force to study the needs of frontier areas—unincorporated regions that are sparsely populated and isolated from larger population centers.
A charity basketball game named Hoops4Hope is scheduled for tomorrow at Santa Fe Indian School between the Senate Lobos and House Aggies. Since its inception in honor of late NM Rep. Ray Ruiz in 2004, this event has raised over $300,000 for cancer research.
In other business matters: Heather Jordan was confirmed as Director of Workers’ Compensation Administration; Senate Joint Memorial 1/a on forest restoration passed unanimously; and Senate Bill 119 concerning investment in bioscience companies passed with a vote of 26-15.
