Photo: nmlegis.govNM · Officeholder
DState Representative · District 21
On the ballot Nov 3, 2026: New Mexico House District 21
Debbie Sariñana, listed by Ballotpedia as Debra Sariñana, is a Democratic state representative from New Mexico House District 21 who took office in 2017 and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1][2]
Sariñana's professional experience includes working as a math teacher at Manzano High School, and she also served in the U.S. Air Force.[1] In the 2025-2026 session, Sariñana serves on the Appropriations and Finance Committee and the Commerce & Economic Development Committee, and is vice chair of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.[1]
Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.
Debbie Sariñana is on the Nov 3, 2026 ballot for New Mexico House District 21 as D. Not researched in depth — candidate list only.
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
Most contested
Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
As passed by the House, creates the Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act: up to six weeks of paid family or medical leave within a 12-week limit per rolling 12 months, funded by employee and employer contributions, plus a $9,000 payment per child at birth or adoption.
Feb 28, 2025 · Passed 38–31 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Ticket Resale at State and Nonprofit Events
Extends the ban on ticket scalping, now limited to college athletic events, to events presented by the state, local governments or 501(c)(3) nonprofits; the penalty stays a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, jail under one year, or both.
Feb 18, 2025 · Passed 41–26 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires projects funded by industrial revenue bonds issued by cities or counties to pay prevailing wages and fringe benefits set by the Workforce Solutions Department, for projects over $60,000.
Feb 17, 2025 · Passed 41–26 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Reporting of Induced Abortions
Repeals the requirement that induced abortions performed in New Mexico be reported to the state registrar within five days.
Feb 16, 2026 · Passed 39–27 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
As passed by the House, creates the Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act: up to six weeks of paid family or medical leave within a 12-week limit per rolling 12 months, funded by employee and employer contributions, plus a $9,000 payment per child at birth or adoption.
Feb 28, 2025 · Passed 38–31 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Medical Provider Patient Ipra Info
Exempts from the Inspection of Public Records Act records containing personal identifying or sensitive information about the practice of public-body-employed medical providers who perform abortion-related services.
Mar 18, 2025 · Passed 42–25 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Bars New Mexico public bodies from entering, extending or renewing agreements to detain people for federal civil immigration violations or to let local officers perform federal immigration functions, and requires existing such agreements to end at the earliest permitted date.
Jan 30, 2026 · Passed 40–29 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Requires lobbyists or their employers to file a report with the Secretary of State within 48 hours of starting to lobby on legislation, disclosing the bill, the employer's position on it, and the employer's name.
Feb 14, 2026 · Failed 32–32 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Proposes a constitutional amendment setting legislators' pay at New Mexico's annual median household income, adjusted as that income changes, effective for members of the Fifty-Ninth Legislature if voters approve.
Feb 13, 2026 · Passed 41–26 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Renames the Department of Game and Fish the Department of Wildlife, changes how Game Commission members are chosen and removed, and raises most hunting and fishing license fees, including a $90 nonresident hunting license and a new $200 nonresident shed-antler license.
Mar 12, 2025 · Passed 42–26 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Storm Water Service as Municipal Utility
Lets municipalities set up and run storm water systems as municipal utilities and charge reasonable fees to benefiting property owners, with a deposit required if the municipality chooses.
Mar 18, 2025 · Passed 46–18 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Repeals the scheduled July 1, 2026 end of the spay and neuter program fee on registered pet food, so the fee continues to be collected.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 53–11 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Limiting Student Restraint & Seclusion
Changes school restraint and seclusion rules, including barring timeout as a disciplinary response to code of conduct violations and requiring school boards and charter governing bodies to report restraint and seclusion use, with notices to parents, to the Public Education Department.
Feb 11, 2026 · Passed 40–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Regulated Child Care Zoning Requirements
Bars local zoning rules, fees and taxes that treat child care homes differently from private residences, allows licensed child care centers by right in commercial, mixed-use and multifamily zones, and limits homeowner association rules and fees that apply only to child care homes.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 41–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Higher Ed. Major Projects Fund
Creates a higher education major projects fund, run by the Higher Education Department, for instruction and general, Division 1 athletics, and student housing and student life projects; institutions must match with non-state funds.
Feb 6, 2026 · Passed 45–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Motor Vehicle Code "Personal Info
Adds sex, gender identity, immigration status and national origin to the Motor Vehicle Code's definition of personal information, making them confidential.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 37–24 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Sets rules for automated license plate readers, barring sharing of data a user reasonably believes may be used for immigration enforcement or to investigate or prosecute protected health care activity, requiring use reporting, and allowing civil enforcement by the attorney general and district attorneys.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 42–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Authorizes the Transportation Commission to issue up to $1.5 billion in additional highway bonds, capped at $290 million a year, and raises the weight-distance tax 35 percent and vehicle registration fees 25 percent, with a new fee on electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Jan 30, 2026 · Passed 44–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Regulated Child Care Zoning Requirements
Bars local zoning rules, fees and taxes that treat child care homes differently from private residences, allows licensed child care centers by right in commercial, mixed-use and multifamily zones, and limits homeowner association rules and fees that apply only to child care homes.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 41–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
New Homes for New Mexico Program
Creates the New Homes for New Mexico Program, in which the Mortgage Finance Authority makes loans to buyers of starter homes of up to 1,800 square feet, with assistance up to $50,000 per household outside high-cost counties.
Feb 12, 2026 · Passed 52–15 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Limit Restrictions on Certain Fences
Limits county and municipal regulation of battery-charged alarm fences outside exclusively residential zones, and sets standards including a 12-volt battery limit, a nonelectric fence at least 5 feet high in front, and warning signs every 30 feet.
Feb 13, 2026 · Passed 48–16 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Most contested
Motor Vehicle Code "Personal Info
Adds sex, gender identity, immigration status and national origin to the Motor Vehicle Code's definition of personal information, making them confidential.
Feb 18, 2026 · Passed 37–24 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Sensitive Personal Information Nondisclosure
Bars state agency employees from disclosing sensitive personal information to outsiders except in listed cases, and bars Taxation and Revenue Department and Traffic Safety Bureau employees from disclosing driver and vehicle records to enforce the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, except its felony provisions.
Mar 18, 2025 · Passed 42–23 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Sets rules for automated license plate readers, barring sharing of data a user reasonably believes may be used for immigration enforcement or to investigate or prosecute protected health care activity, requiring use reporting, and allowing civil enforcement by the attorney general and district attorneys.
Feb 17, 2026 · Passed 42–22 · with most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Voted with most of their party on all 33 party-divided votes on file.
The votes in their chamber that came out closest and most divided by party, among those they voted on. How we rank
Reporting of Induced Abortions
With most of their party · Passed 39–27 · Yes 39–No 27 · Democrats 39–1, Republicans 0–26
Feb 16, 2026Official record ↗
Motor Vehicle Code "Personal Info
With most of their party · Passed 37–24 · Yes 37–No 24 · Democrats 37–0, Republicans 0–24
Feb 18, 2026Official record ↗
Paid Family & Medical Leave Act
With most of their party · Passed 38–31 · Yes 38–No 31 · Democrats 38–5, Republicans 0–26
Feb 28, 2025Official record ↗
Public Peace, Health, Safety & Welfare
With most of their party · Passed 41–26 · Yes 41–No 26 · Democrats 41–0, Republicans 0–26
Feb 17, 2026Official record ↗
Ticket Resale at State and Nonprofit Events
With most of their party · Passed 41–26 · Yes 41–No 26 · Democrats 41–0, Republicans 0–26
Feb 18, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 41–26 · Yes 41–No 26 · Democrats 41–0, Republicans 0–26
Feb 17, 2025Official record ↗
With most of their party · Passed 40–29 · Yes 40–No 29 · Democrats 40–3, Republicans 0–26
Jan 30, 2026Official record ↗
Contributions to Apprentice & Training Pgms.
With most of their party · Passed 41–25 · Yes 41–No 25 · Democrats 41–0, Republicans 0–25
Feb 14, 2026Official record ↗
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Defines "structure" for burglary and aggravated burglary as a protected space enclosed enough to confine people or property and carrying an expectation of privacy, which may include a partially enclosed extension of a dwelling.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Appropriates about $11.9 million in FY27 to local governments, including Torrance County and Estancia, for revenue lost under the law barring local governments' new contracts with private immigration detention facilities, plus $9.7 million (FY26) and $24 million (FY27) to state agencies.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Requests the Legislative Finance Committee to study options for extending health insurance to all public higher education educators and graduate student employees, with results requested by October 1, 2026.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Invites state agencies, including Game and Fish, the State Land Office and Agriculture, to join an insect identification and education workshop run by UNM's Wild Friends Program and the Xerces Society, and share insect education materials.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Repeals the scheduled July 1, 2026 end of the spay and neuter program fee on registered pet food, so the fee continues to be collected.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Decouples corporate income tax from three 2025 federal provisions from 2027, creates credits for local news organizations, local news printers and physicians, adds a gross receipts deduction for affordable multifamily housing construction, extends the high-wage jobs credit, and funds a 1 percent pay raise.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Authorizes the State Fairgrounds District to issue revenue bonds with up to $92 million in net proceeds, repaid from state gross receipts and gaming tax revenue attributable to economic activity within the district.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Bars prior authorization and step therapy for drugs treating serious mental illness, bars repeat prior authorization for chronic maintenance drugs for three years, deems drug requests approved if not decided within three business days, and covers certain pharmacy benefit managers, starting Jan. 1, 2027.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Requires approved driver's education courses, starting Jan. 1, 2027, to include at least three hours on driving around vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, roadside workers, people riding or leading animals and riders of less-protected vehicles, with the Transportation Department setting standards.
Motion: FINAL PASSAGE
Proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the requirement that school elections be held at different times from partisan elections, for voters to decide.
Showing 10 of 222 votes in this collection. Coverage may be incomplete; each entry links to the official record.