Bills passed

In his six terms over 11 years serving in the New Mexico House of Representatives, Matthew sponsored or co-sponsored many important pieces of legislation that affects New Mexicans:

HJR 2: Constitutional Amendment on Governor Veto Procedures
A constitutional amendment requiring veto explanations and allowing bills not acted on by the governor to become law.
Passed: 2025

SB 5: State Wildlife Commission Reform Act
Renames the Game Commission and Game and Fish Department, reforms the commissioner appointment process, expands management authority, and adjusts licensing fees with inflation indexing and SNAP discounts.
Passed: 2025

SB 23: Higher Royalty Rates for Oil and Gas Leases
Sets increased royalty rates for future oil and gas development leases on specific state trust lands to generate more revenue for beneficiaries.
Passed: 2025

SB 37: Strategic Water Reserve Fund
Creates a dedicated fund to support New Mexico’s strategic water reserve and prioritizes water purchases for environmental and compact compliance purposes.
Passed: 2025

HM 36: City of Santa Fe Day
Proclaims February 1, 2024 as "City of Santa Fe Day" in celebration of the city’s cultural, civic, and historical significance.
Passed: 2024

HB 195: Forest Conservation Act Expansion
Expands the Forestry Division’s authority to include fire suppression, restoration, and post-fire recovery activities; updates references to federal laws.

Passed: 2023

SB 53: Radioactive Waste Storage and Disposal Restrictions
Prohibits construction or operation of radioactive waste facilities without state consent and an operational federal repository, and strengthens oversight by a state task force.
Passed: 2023

SB 58: Interstate Stream Commission Membership Changes
Reforms the composition of the Interstate Stream Commission to ensure diverse water expertise and political balance.
Passed: 2023

SB 206: Procurement Code Exemption for Forestry Grants
Exempts certain federal forestry-related grants from the state Procurement Code to expedite distribution to selected non-governmental recipients.
Passed: 2023

HB 8: Land Grant-Merced Assistance Fund
Creates a dedicated assistance fund for land grants, with annual distributions based on audited compliance and revenue needs.
Passed: 2022

HB 55: Capital Outlay Expenditure Allocations Transparency
Requires public disclosure of how legislators and the governor allocate capital outlay funds for projects.
Passed: 2021

HB 57: Prescribed Burning Act
Authorizes private landowners to conduct prescribed burns under regulated conditions, establishes certification and liability guidelines, and expands uses of forestry funds.
Passed: 2021

HB 185: Jury Service Exemption for Seniors
Permits individuals aged 75 or older to request permanent exemption from jury duty without submitting an affidavit.
Passed: 2021

HB 200: New Mexico Unit Fund Project Restrictions
Prohibits use of the New Mexico Unit Fund for construction of the “New Mexico Unit” and redirects funds toward other regional water utilization projects.
Passed: 2021

HB 291: Income Tax and Property Valuation Reforms
Implements higher income tax brackets, expands low-income and working families tax credits, and limits property valuation increases for non-owner-occupied homes.
Passed: 2021

SB 2: Waiving 2021 Liquor License Fees
Waives 2021 liquor license fees for businesses regulated under the Liquor Control Act due to economic hardships.
Passed: 2021

SB 32: Wildlife Conservation and Public Safety Act
Bans the use of traps, snares, and poisons on public lands with limited exceptions for safety, research, and tribal ceremonial use.
Passed: 2021

HB 93: Utility Rate Adjustment Mechanism for Energy Efficiency
Allows utilities to adopt rate mechanisms ensuring stable revenue per customer regardless of energy consumption, to support energy efficiency goals.
Passed: 2020

SB 29: New Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit
Establishes a personal income tax credit of up to $6,000 for residential, business, or agricultural installation of certified solar systems.
Passed: 2020

HB 433: Home Inspector Licensing Act
Establishes a licensing system for home inspectors in New Mexico, including ethics standards, training requirements, and penalties for unlicensed practice.
Passed: 2019

HB 592: Inclusion of La Merced del Manzano in Land Grant Law
Adds the La Merced del Manzano land grant to those governed by general land grant-merced statutes.
Passed: 2019

HM 11: New Mexico National Board Certified Teachers Day
Declares February 8, 2019 as a day to honor National Board Certified Teachers for their service and achievement.
Passed: 2019

HM 39: National Museum of New Deal Art
Requests New Mexico’s congressional delegation to explore establishing a national museum of New Deal art in Santa Fe.
Passed: 2019

HM 42: Prescribed Fire Expansion Working Group
Requests creation of a working group to study and expand the use of prescribed fire as a forest and land management tool.
Passed: 2019

HM 55: New Mexico Historic Hotels Trail Study
Requests the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments to study the feasibility of creating a trail of historic hotels in New Mexico to promote tourism.
Passed: 2019

HJM 1: Cristobal de la Serna Land Grant-Merced Map Study
A study and recommendations to address issues with the 1941 plat map that divided the Cristobal de la Serna land grant into impractical strips.
Passed: 2018

HM 2: Max Coll Corridor Naming
Requests naming a section of the U.S. Highway 285 the "Max Coll Corridor" in honor of the longtime Santa Fe legislator.
Passed: 2017

HM 19: Valencia County Day
Commemorates February 10, 2017 as "Valencia County Day" in recognition of the county’s heritage and traditions.
Passed: 2017

HM 106: Medal of Honor Day
Declares March 16, 2017 as "Medal of Honor Day" to honor New Mexico's Medal of Honor recipients and their sacrifices for the nation.
Passed: 2017

HM 112: New Mexico Museum of Art Centennial Day
Recognizes the history and legacy of the New Mexico Museum of Art and requests the governor declare November 25, 2017 as its centennial celebration day.
Passed: 2017

HM 58: Task Force on Sexual Assault Kit Backlog
Requests the Secretary of Public Safety and the Statewide Coalition to End Sexual Violence to convene a task force to study and report on processing backlogged sexual assault examination kits.
Passed: 2016

HM 59: Study on Financial Literacy Education
Requests the Public Education and Workforce Solutions Departments to study and recommend ways to increase high school student participation in financial literacy classes.
Passed: 2016

HM 76: Bicycle Awareness and Safety Day
Declares February 13, 2016 as "Bicycle Awareness and Safety Day" in honor of injured cyclist Nathan Barkocy and calls for increased safety for bicyclists in New Mexico.
Passed: 2016

HM 77: First Serve-New Mexico Day
Declares February 6, 2016 as "First Serve-New Mexico Day" to honor the after-school program that combines academics, life skills, and tennis for Santa Fe students.
Passed: 2016

HM 38: Study on Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol
A study on the potential impacts of setting a minimum retail price for alcoholic beverages based on alcohol content.
Passed: 2015

HM 45: Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout Watershed Restoration
Encourages restoration of watersheds that support or could support Rio Grande cutthroat trout populations.
Passed: 2015