Catherine Cullen’s first term has included work on education, public safety, healthcare, workforce issues, and capital investments directed to communities across Rio Rancho and Sandoval County.
A look at legislation Catherine sponsored or co-sponsored during her first term.
Catherine’s first-term education work has focused on literacy, teacher requirements, retirement provisions, and student reporting.
2026 SB 29
Sponsor • Signed into law
Updates requirements related to mathematics instruction and teacher licensure.
2026 SB 37
Sponsor • Signed into law
Addresses literacy instruction and evidence-based approaches to teaching students to read.
2025 HB 251
Sponsor • Signed into law
Updates provisions involving beneficiaries under the Educational Retirement system.
Practical legislation modernizing first-responder communications and closing loopholes in organized crime statutes.
2025 HB 192
Sponsor • Signed into law
Addresses subscriber fees involving New Mexico’s statewide digital public-safety radio system.
2025 SB 70
Co-sponsor • Signed into law
Adds specified offenses to New Mexico’s racketeering laws.
Stabilizing regional healthcare capacity and making professional licenses portable between states.
2026 HB 99
Co-sponsor • Signed into law
Changes portions of New Mexico’s medical malpractice system, one of the major healthcare bills considered during the 2026 legislative session.
2026 HB 50
Co-sponsor • Signed into law
Allows New Mexico to participate in an interstate compact designed to make professional social-work licensing more portable between participating states.
Bills Catherine sponsored that did not become law, and where each one stopped.
The 2026 session was a 30-day budget session. Bills outside the budget need a message from the Governor to be heard, and most 2026 bills below were ruled not germane for that reason.
HB 32
Counseling Licensure Compact
Passed House 63-0. Died in Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee.
HB 33
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact
Not heard in Senate Judiciary. Session ended.
HB 44
Dental & Dental Hygienist Compact
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not heard.
HB 45
Physician Assistant Licensure Compact
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not heard.
HB 107
Medical Malpractice Claim Changes
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not printed.
HB 144
Crime of Unlawful Squatting
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not printed.
HB 192
No Foreign Corporation Purchase of Homes
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not printed.
HB 263
School Math & Science Changes
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not printed.
SB 71
PERA Changes
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not heard.
SB 74
Cockfighting Penalties
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not heard.
SB 102
“Search & Rescue Dog” Definition
Ruled not germane to the budget session. Not heard.
HB 238
Middle & High School Professional Work Hours
Passed House 64-0. Not heard in Senate Finance.
HB 332
Unlawful Squatting
Tabled in House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee.
HB 513
Organ Donor Public Assistance & Registry
Session ended in House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee.
HJR 4
State Board of Education Constitutional Amendment
Tabled in House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee.
SB 18
Crime of Swatting
Passed Senate 36-0. Session ended before a House floor vote.
SB 64
School Career Development Success Project
Not heard in Senate Finance.
SB 116
Math Lab Pilot Project
Not heard in Senate Finance.
SB 118
Organ Donor License Box & Registry
Passed Senate 37-0. Not heard in House Tax & Revenue.
SB 130
School Career Tech Ed. Program Units
Not heard in Senate Finance.
SB 480
Student Graduation Reporting
Passed House and Senate. Pocket vetoed by the Governor.
During her first term, Catherine directed $5 million in capital funding to 39 projects supporting schools, public safety, infrastructure, community facilities and other needs across Rio Rancho and Sandoval County.
$5M
Total First-Term Capital Allocation • 39 Projects Across 2025 & 2026
$2.5M in 2025
•
$2.5M in 2026
$400,000
Loma Colorado Main Library: Children’s Area Construction
2025
$350,000
Vista Grande Elementary: Intercom System Replacement
2026
$250,000
Rio Rancho Police Department: Vehicle Purchases
2026
$200,000
Rio Rancho Fire Station 3: Construction
2025
$200,000
Mountain View Middle School: Library System Replacement
2026
$200,000
Cleveland High School: Gym Floor Replacement
2025
$2.5 Million • 19 Projects
$2.5 Million • 20 Projects
Two-Year Total Capital Outlay
$5,000,000
Catherine’s priorities remain focused on the issues that affect Rio Rancho families every day.