SB 35 New Mexico Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CREATE ADDITION 1ST DISTRICT JUDGESHIP

SB 35 creates an additional judgeship in New Mexico's First Judicial District, increasing the number of district judges from ten to eleven. The bill appropriates $451,400 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2027 to cover the new position's costs, including the judge's salary, benefits, and office equipment. Unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. This change directly affects the First Judicial District court system by expanding its judicial capacity to handle caseloads.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → FC substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The Senate Finance Committee substitute expanded SB 35 to create an additional judgeship in the Second Judicial District, in addition to the First Judicial District judgeship in the original version. The bill now includes an emergency provision to take effect immediately, and the appropriation amount remains the same but is now split between two districts.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from creating one additional judgeship in the First Judicial District to creating additional judgeships in both the First and Second Judicial Districts.

SCOPE

Added a new provision (Section 2) to create an additional district judgeship in the Second Judicial District, increasing the total from 30 to 31 judges in that district.

TIMELINE

Added an emergency provision (Section 3) declaring that the act must take effect immediately for public peace, health and safety reasons.

FISCAL

The appropriation language was modified to reflect funding for two judgeships rather than one, though the total dollar amount of $451,400 remains the same.

REQUIREMENT

Added a declaration of emergency requirement, which allows the bill to bypass normal legislative timing procedures and take effect immediately.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 38

Feb 10, 2026

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican16

13 Yea 3

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Judiciary Committee

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Committees' Committee & Senate Judiciary Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors