[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6291393,"mediaKeyId","2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28","parentId",2530059,"title","Senate committee advances medical psilocybin bill after hours of testimony","audioSeconds",3042,"startMs",696000,"endMs",3738000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28&start=696&end=3738","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28/thumbnail_696000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291393/New-Mexico/Senate-committee-advances-medical-psilocybin-bill-after-hours-of-testimony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291393-cb5c7d27fdbc3aeb9933954fac3531d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749015&Signature=X3oKE0QPMiU0LEwoeEICgE19ALduoMo4pDfhEo58ZHR5QE9lEg4ETpqjKgQqQMcNY~YHHBawiXZMkzuGhUGDmNcWmkv5pZmI79V1xh43bZwGJkrLEU3gnJvJSiAXPY9B5TIfQWuUsZ3FOQwp7Fg9I~A3hy83rJNFPAZGPvN9XRzNU4Y44kwYgtNc4x6WARzUFJxsCslGFsQIKbQS22ze6ybYjMwJVsjkw46-8~ssQbrByrFketRO8W9JWV2RP39m-pQJD-sMCRQMyIfxgS5FUnA74NRyfMzaBAWOIAOqAl8vQaeQz4Hc2tqyZiGOUtosQItoja09iPbc7rfrd0gKKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-08T00:00:00Z","article","Senate Finance Committee members voted to advance the Senate Judiciary committee substitute for Senate Bill 219, a measure to create a state-regulated program to provide medical psilocybin in supervised clinical settings for a limited set of behavioral health conditions.

Senator Joseph Campos, sponsor of the committee substitute, told the panel the bill sets up a medical program that the Department of Health would regulate and license, and that the program would be available only in clinical settings. The bill as written names four initial qualifying conditions: post-traumatic stress disorder, major treatment‑resistant depression, substance use disorder and end‑of‑life anxiety; the secretary of health would be able to add conditions by rule. The bill’s implementation date in bill language is tied to 12/31/2027.

Supporters, including veterans and clinicians, described clinical settings in which trained facilitators and licensed providers guide multi‑hour sessions followed by integration therapy. Retired Army Master Sergeant Crystal C. Romero testified that after trying many other treatments she found lasting relief from psilocybin therapy and urged passage. “Passing SB 2 19 is more than compassion. It’s fiscal responsibility,” Romero said, adding that veterans often travel out of state or out of country and pay thousands for treatment. Clinical witnesses described a small number of sessions with psychotherapy and licensed oversight, and researcher Larry Newman, M.D., told the committee that, in clinical settings, “psilocybin is probably the least of any substance of abuse for addictive potential.”

Why it matters: backers said the bill would create a regulated option for people with treatment‑resistant conditions and a research component; opponents and some senators asked questions about safety, liability, production, licensing, insurance coverage and the potential for recreational diversion. Committee members and witnesses discussed safety protocols, oversight roles for the Department of Health and an equity fund for people who could not afford treatment.

Key details discussed at the hearing
- Funding: The sponsor said House Bill 2 already contains $2,000,000 tied to stand‑up of the program. Campos said he was working to shift $500,000 of that to UNM research and leave $1.5 million with the Department of Health to staff rulemaking and initial implementation. The sponsor described the appropriation as currently handled in the budget rather than the bill language.
- Access and cost: Witness Crystal C. Romero said she received a scholarship to pay for an out‑of‑country retreat she attended; she said retail price for a full course of therapy can be about $6,000. Committee members were told that, presently, insurance and Medicaid do not cover medical psilocybin and patients would have to pay unless coverage changes in the future.
- Licensing and production: The bill directs the Department of Health to set standards for who may provide treatment, the clinical setting, acceptable producers and dosing. Dominic Zirlo of the Department of Health told the committee that the department expects to license in‑state producers and to include travel/per diem for advisory board members in start‑up costs.
- Safety and clinical model: Clinicians described treatment as multi‑hour supervised sessions with preparatory and integration psychotherapy; witnesses cited Oregon and research centers such as Johns Hopkins and UNM as models. Dr. Newman said most risks arise when unsupervised; in a clinical setting, he said, risks are managed.

Action and vote
- Motion: “Do pass on the Senate Judiciary committee substitute for Senate Bill 219” (mover: Senator Campos; second: Senator Bison).
- Vote (as recorded in committee): Senator Brandt — yes; Senator Campos — yes; Senator Lanier — yes; Senator Padilla — no; Senator Steinborn — yes; Senator Tabiason — yes; Senator Trujillo — yes; Senator Woods — no; Senator Shandoh — yes; Senator Muñoz — no. Outcome recorded as: approved (do pass).

What the bill does not do
- The bill does not require insurance or Medicaid coverage at present; committee members were repeatedly told coverage would be a later policy decision.
- The bill does not create a retail or recreational market; sponsors said the program is limited to licensed clinical settings and in‑state licensed producers.

Next steps and outlook
Senate Bill 219 moves forward with a committee recommendation to pass. Committee discussion focused on rulemaking authority for the Department of Health, a research and equity fund, and ensuring the licensing and quality‑control framework would prevent unsupervised use.

Sources and attribution: reporting is based on sworn testimony and exchanges on the Senate Finance Committee hearing where witnesses included Crystal C. Romero (retired Army master sergeant), Jeffrey Holland (clinical therapist), Dr. Joel Rose (family physician), Dr. Larry Newman (UNM physician/researcher) and Dominic Zirlo (Department of Health).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate - Finance Mar 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Finance Committee members voted to advance the Senate Judiciary committee substitute for Senate Bill 219, which would create a state‑regulated medical psilocybin program for four initial behavioral‑health conditions and authorize the Department of Health to set licensing, production and treatment rules.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",78419,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291378,"Children, Youth & Families requests $72.5M to meet Kevin S. remedial orders; lawmakers pressed for details",1975,4463000,6438000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28&start=4463&end=6438","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28/thumbnail_4463000.jpg","/articles/6291378/New-Mexico/Children-Youth-Families-requests-725M-to-meet-Kevin-S-remedial-orders-lawmakers-pressed-for-details","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291378-879844bdda738bec82168b935d43081a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749015&Signature=V1jW30R8WkH1FV0UQLwZtNIZYSxfXeQ0Xsatb6sxZwHbfrANgKBF3CJ1FpUSvA3d5srPWHIOcl8-wwoLhWW9anKPBU~fbArbFcwmAfA9rbViMMXJsrCvzffIhpTuM~nJCdDM0s7LRZAy~hZSvIJCKx0~nlf1ycRZSieLSa10rVQ2CeSelxOyu7bvf76Ds4jii8ZcTXkOpfSB1raP0ERHOn1LQLODKcya63w7JkD8DDg-cbIFZNUFK8KLlBe6HR8uifk-ugXht5sFxhrz112d7mdal5O8C0Al4JAvqPkT2vIXYGMZXVVs2CB9gBjSq9-grjZj9X7g-IExHeVgV8Xs3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Children, Youth & Families Department (CYFD) asked the Senate Finance Committee for $72.5 million to address shortfalls and implement remedial orders arising from the Kevin S. litigation, including investments in staffing, training, foster parent recruitment and data systems.

Secretary Teresa Casals and Legislative Finance Committee analyst Rachel Garcia briefed senators on a package that CYFD described as $40.2 million in recurring requests and $32.3 million in nonrecurring funding to cover a fiscal year shortfall and last year’s deficiency. Casals told the panel the department wants to “draw down what we previously have” in federal funds but that a gap exists between budgeted federal revenue and actual drawdowns, which contributed to the deficit.

Major items requested (as presented to the committee)
- Workforce support: Funding to recruit and retain staff and add support roles, including 50 case aide FTEs to assist caseworkers with administrative tasks ($4.8 million) and 101 caseworker positions included in growth funding (as budgeted).
- On‑call emergency response: Regional evening/weekend teams (five regions, five workers per team) to respond to crises without pulling daytime caseworkers off their caseloads.
- Training and academy staff: Additional trainers (13 FTEs referenced in testimony) and expanded training to improve practice and documentation.
- Foster care: A targeted recruitment and placement worker request (5 FTEs for high‑need counties) and a proposal to increase foster‑parent stipends — testimony described doubling low stipends and capping increases at $900 monthly, with CYFD estimating roughly $9.8 million to fund stipend increases and related supports.
- Data, reporting and compliance: CYFD is building CCWIS and requested funds for data staff (14 FTEs) and a contract (RS21) to develop dashboards and improve reporting to co‑neutrals and the court.

Why it matters: The remedial order in the Kevin S. federal case imposes benchmarks and reporting requirements; the committee focused on whether CYFD’s requested funds were already included in growth funding and how the department will measure the impact of new hires and rate changes. Senators pressed for clearer benchmarks, rate comparisons to other states and how vacancy rates affect the department’s ability to use funded positions.

Committee exchanges and clarifications
- Funding overlap: LFC and CYFD officials said much of the remedial‑order funding was provided through the budget’s growth package, but CYFD requested additional recurring and nonrecurring money to address gaps and prior deficits.
- Foster stipend study: LFC recommended a rate study before a large, recurring stipend increase; CYFD suggested a study to benchmark rates against other states but said higher stipends could help recruitment and retention.
- Vacancies and FTEs: Senators asked about vacancy counts (CYFD reported roughly a 24% vacancy rate in protective services and said some positions are funded but remain vacant), and how many funded but unfilled positions exist.

Next steps: Senators asked staff to gather fiscal‑impact reports for related CYFD legislation and to provide comparisons of foster‑care stipends in peer states. CYFD said the supplemental requests are intended to cover this year’s operational shortfalls and prior‑year deficits and to allow implementation of Kevin S. remedies.","The Children, Youth & Families Department requested $72.5 million (recurring and nonrecurring) to implement remedial orders in the federal Kevin S. case, including new case aides, training, foster‑parent stipend increases and data staffing. Committee members sought comparisons, vacancy details and how federal draws affect the shortfall.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291383,"Senate committee deadlocks on tighter review of structured‑settlement buyouts",1737,3818000,5555000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28&start=3818&end=5555","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28/thumbnail_3818000.jpg","/articles/6291383/New-Mexico/Senate-committee-deadlocks-on-tighter-review-of-structuredsettlement-buyouts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291383-3e388e5d9cc02cc205dcc4e1a81753a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749015&Signature=U4dN1pH8cVC8SdP1jT7907gZKeOXltAkIyPsIi8vAPwKa-Nh90EBAplJlgcZ9BVlZhe-Zp-JDZeulO2oyt05OfGsdtmiF78xmp6783jbF8E2bT-GUMDXACcdtfFMozYet1JKGbTbktCQSTCnsGfhOMjFxErrzak2AZuA8fHVQoovezC1uia2G-J8nhGBk5y3HW2f0UmM-CrltPggT7F3QFGAwTSTW2-NEC0RwZ5yev7DnKHsI0F4iT8e26IFHxqRZeA-FsDtD3MiprmbkXRsuhcOmls5r94YYYOPqhoqRmG3UT4E-H3EVqCeLcrFCX6d9jKDRSBK2VtXl5exBFHONQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee reached a tie on a proposal to strengthen judicial review of structured‑settlement buyouts, leaving the measure without a committee recommendation.

Sponsor remarks explained the bill would require courts, before approving a lump‑sum purchase of a future payment stream, to appoint a neutral financial adviser (often called a guardian ad litem in testimony) to provide an independent present‑value analysis and report to the judge. The sponsor said the court should appoint the adviser and the purchaser would pay the adviser’s fee; the goal is to prevent predatory offers that leave settlement recipients with far less value than the structured stream.

Witnesses in support included disability advocate Nat Dean, who told the committee structured settlements can both protect and reduce long‑term value for recipients depending on the terms. The sponsor gave examples where a multi‑million‑dollar lifetime stream was purchased by firms for a small fraction of the stream’s present value.

Why it matters: Advocates contend that some purchasers advertise heavily to buy structured payments at steep discounts, and recipients—particularly vulnerable people—may accept poor offers. The bill would add a court‑appointed financial review step paid by the purchaser to help judges evaluate fairness.

Action and vote
- Motion to give a due pass (mover: Senator Hills; second: Senator Tobias).
- Recorded votes included: Senator Campos — yes; Senator Lanier — no; Senator Padilla — yes; Senator Steinborn — yes; Senator Tobiasen — no; Senator Trujillo — yes; Senator Woods — no; Senator Shandoh — yes; Senator Muñoz — no. The committee recorded a tie vote and did not issue a majority recommendation.

Questions from senators addressed who would pay the guardian ad litem, how the adviser would be selected and whether the process could unintentionally bias the outcome if the purchasing company funded the adviser. The sponsor said courts would make appointments and should choose advisers they trust; the bill requires the purchaser to pay the adviser’s cost.

Where the measure stands: Committee action ended in a tie on the due‑pass motion; sponsors and some committee members said they would refine language about appointment and neutrality of the adviser before further action.","A proposed bill to require court‑appointed financial advisers to review structured‑settlement buyout offers resulted in a tie vote in the Senate Finance Committee. Sponsors said the measure aims to protect recipients from low‑value lump‑sum offers from purchasers; supporters and disability‑advocates urged court safeguards.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291388,"Committee tables bill for out‑of‑school programming after budget contains funding",130,479000,609000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28&start=479&end=609","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530059-f02fae90826d8b13c21e21b9dec4bd28/thumbnail_479000.jpg","/articles/6291388/New-Mexico/Committee-tables-bill-for-outofschool-programming-after-budget-contains-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291388-c3441f29d8364415b9f6fef8e7bfb21d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770749015&Signature=mXeKqe8h2~T6OdlXHEFBl3P5hxkTCeuecgcXUajFyItrnfzvBbPB~APlYc1Zm~pwZ6R3Oj3QSNKHoQpiZZIAzm1RWnC2wQrRUi4vZW~m7CUmVFGEAXQmkeRm6EtdviSHeFaYaQUzrRkHHx2P3fsuGvUtl9hybWfMBtsrt61i693FCy-gpMl28Aou~oL0k8mqiokSMBdB9EHWBDCETczna1M1jIVA3-ZpYFIpi8DsZRT8X58xoUXaiJ4xcWBOiO1so0BcMOLJDx1b-uvs~zIGFxxxNKnTyl0otpMg0rYQgcTPpfrJ7ZdB-DhQIRqTItZbNjuGbAgHNUACUOcxoV~a8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted to table Senate Bill 93 after sponsors and committee members said budget language already covers the requested funding for out‑of‑school time programming, including tutoring and transportation for youth.

Sponsor remarks during the hearing characterized the measure as legislative notification to committee members that the program described in SB93 is already accounted for in the budget. After asking for public testimony and receiving no opposition, a committee member moved to table the bill and another seconded the motion. The committee recorded a roll‑call and tabled the measure.

Why it matters: The committee’s decision to table SB93 means the specific bill will not proceed because appropriations or program language were carried in the enacted budget, per sponsors’ statements. The topic—supports for after‑school programming and transportation—remains a policy priority but was addressed via the budget process rather than separate statute this session.

Action and vote
- Motion: Move to table Senate Bill 93 (motion and second made on the record; mover/second not specified in transcript).
- Vote (as recorded in committee): Senator Brent — yes; Senator Campos — yes; Senator Gonzales — yes; Senator Lanier — yes; Senator Padilla — no; Senator Steinborn — yes; Senator Tabiason — yes; Senator Trujillo — yes; Senator Woods — yes; Senator Shandoh — yes; Senator Muñoz — yes. Outcome recorded by the committee as: tabled (9 in favor, 1 opposed).

Committee discussion noted the bill was unnecessary because “the money is already in the budget,” and senators used the short hearing to allow public comment though none opposed the measure.","Senate Bill 93, which would have explicitly funded out‑of‑school programs (tutoring, transportation, Boys & Girls Club support), was tabled in the Senate Finance Committee on the grounds that the appropriation language is already in the budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee advances medical psilocybin bill after hours of testimony

Children, Youth & Families requests $72.5M to meet Kevin S. remedial orders; lawmakers pressed for details

Senate committee deadlocks on tighter review of structured‑settlement buyouts

Committee tables bill for out‑of‑school programming after budget contains funding