ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION ZONING ACT

HB 88, the Electric Vehicle Charging Station Zoning Act, requires New Mexico counties and municipalities to permit electric vehicle charging stations as a standard use in all zoning districts without needing special variances or public hearings. It mandates an expedited permitting process: applications must be reviewed administratively within 30 business days, focusing solely on code compliance, and automatically approved if not denied in writing. The bill also specifies that parking spaces for EV charging count toward minimum parking requirements (counting as one standard space, or two for accessible spaces). These provisions directly affect property owners installing chargers and local governments managing zoning regulations.