Editor’s note: This is a series profiling our local state legislators, their priorities and issues impacting our Sandoval County throughout the 60-day Legislative Session. Read more online.
By Jesse Jones
State Rep. Kathleen Cates, a Rio Rancho Democrat, is fresh off her reelection for District 44 and just began her second term. She said she is ready to address some of Sandoval County’s most pressing issues, including water security, crime reduction and healthcare access.
Cates took office in January 2023 after unseating incumbent Republican Jane Powdrell-Culbert. During her first term, she successfully sponsored seven bills that became law.
Cates now serves as vice chair of the House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Committee and is a member of the House Health and Human Services Committee.
A longtime resident of Sandoval County, Cates said she raised her children in Rio Rancho and graduated from Rio Rancho Public Schools. She ran small businesses and nonprofits that served more than 500 people monthly. She also volunteered — stacking food at pantries, raising scholarships for nurses and supporting local school sports programs.
Cates has sponsored or cosponsored 18 bills so far during this legislative session, addressing issues such as housing, elections, public safety, infrastructure, health care and land management.
“New Mexico has many issues to solve,” Cates said. “Water, crime, health care, education and infrastructure are the key issues. I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve the lives of New Mexicans, and I will always make sure that the constituents of [House District] 44 are represented.”
Cates said addressing New Mexico’s water challenges is her top priority.
“Water is the most critical issue for my district, and the state must lead in water management,” Cates said. “We need to map our aquifers so that we know where the water is located and manage, protect and fund water projects for both drinking water and agricultural water.”
According to Cates, House Bill 41 would provide funding to help local water utilities improve their systems.
The bill proposes appropriations from the Public Project Revolving Fund to three key areas — $6.25 million to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund for state matching funds on federal projects, $2 million to the Local Government Planning Fund to support local planning initiatives, and $5 million to the Cultural Affairs Facilities Infrastructure Fund for cultural facility infrastructure projects. The New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee endorsed it.
Cates said HB 85, which was cosponsored by Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) tackles the issue of excessive water waste in grassy areas. The bill would require outdoor areas on state-owned or state-funded properties to avoid nonessential grass and minimize water waste.
If passed, HB 85 would prohibit the installation of nonfunctional turf on state-owned or state-funded properties by Jan. 1, 2027. By Jan. 1, 2032, existing nonfunctional turf on these properties would only be irrigated with recycled or reclaimed water, and removed turf would need to be replaced with drought- and climate-resilient landscaping.
Another water-related bill Cates introduced is HB 28, which amends New Mexico’s land valuation laws to address the assessment of land used for agricultural purposes during drought conditions. The bill allows drought-affected land to qualify for agricultural use property valuations, helping protect farmers from unfair tax hikes.
“Many farmers in my district have had their land reassessed at higher values due to their inability to farm during drought conditions,” Cates said. “This bill will protect them from extreme property tax increases.”
If moderate drought conditions last for at least eight consecutive weeks in a county, landowners can still claim agricultural valuation for the affected land, provided it was used for agricultural purposes in the prior year.
The bill would allow local authorities, such as the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, to determine drought conditions instead of relying on federal decisions. This change aims to better address local water challenges, particularly in Corrales, where drought conditions can escalate quickly.
Former state representative and current Corrales Village Councilor Rick Miera talked about the bill at a recent council meeting, saying a drought “can happen as soon as our siphon pump breaks down; we have a drought, probably within hours.”
Additional priorities:
Reducing crime
Cates also said she is sponsoring two bills to reduce gun violence.
HB 38 would criminalize the possession or transport of weapon conversion devices, which convert semiautomatic weapons to fully automatic. It would charge those who violate the law with a third-degree felony charge, with each device counting as a separate offense.
According to Cates, this bill mirrors an existing federal law and will allow local law enforcement to enforce it in New Mexico.
HB 39 makes juvenile delinquency records accessible for firearm background checks and bans adults with a history of using firearms in juvenile crimes from having guns or destructive devices. It also changes how juvenile records are sealed.
Healthcare
Cates said she is sponsoring bills to hire and keep healthcare workers and ensure hospitals have enough staff for patient safety.
HB 42 allocates $6.3 million for Medicaid waiver service provider rate increases, HB 119 allows contract adjustments for state-mandated compensation changes and HB 120 creates an Office of Accessibility to enforce state agency compliance with digital and physical standards.
Hearing from constituents
Cates said that with the help of new staff, she can better manage communications.
“I try to talk directly to as many constituents as I can and attend in-person meetings and remote meetings,” Cates said. “During the session, I must attend committee meetings and floor sessions, but I will have my office staffed with people who can answer questions and help people, and schedule in-person meetings with me when the session is over.”
To contact Cates:
Office Phone: 505-986-4254
Email: Kathleen.Cates@nmlegis.gov
For a full list of Cate’s bills, go to nmlegis.gov/Legislation/BillFinder/Sponsor?SponCode=HCATE&YearStart=69&YearEnd=69&Type=BMR