HB 323 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

ENGINEER LICENSURE

This bill clarifies exemptions from engineering licensure requirements in New Mexico. It allows licensed architects to perform limited engineering work incidentally (without claiming engineering expertise), provided they don't represent themselves as engineers and only handle work within their qualifications. It also exempts engineers employed by a business from licensure when their work is limited to the employer's own property and not offered to the public. The law, signed in April 2025, updates existing rules to define these exemptions more precisely.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 7, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill amends the Engineering and Surveying Practice Act to create a new exemption for rural electric distribution cooperatives. Previously, engineers employed by business entities were exempt from licensing requirements only when performing work on their own property and not offering services to the public. The new exemption specifically allows rural electric distribution cooperatives to perform engineering services without needing to be licensed, provided the work is done on property they own, lease, or operate and is not offered to the public.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the exemption from general business entities to specifically include rural electric distribution cooperatives, clarifying that their engineering work on their own infrastructure does not require professional engineering licensure.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new exemption category for rural electric distribution cooperatives to perform engineering services without professional licensure, provided services are not offered to the public and are limited to property the cooperative owns, leases, or operates.

Modified the existing exemption for engineers employed by business entities to clarify that engineering on public works projects or within off-premises easements still requires licensure, as these constitute services to the public.

DEFINITION

Reorganized the statute structure by adding subsection C specifically for rural electric distribution cooperatives, separating it from the general business entity exemption in subsection B.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2025 · House Mar 6, 2025

How they voted

24–2

Passed · 14 other

Total votes 40

Mar 18, 2025

D Democratic24

13 Yea 2 Nay 9

54% Yea

R Republican16

11 Yea 5

68% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

floor substitute adopted (1 amendment)

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Commerce & Economic Development Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors