HB 70, the "Behavioral Health Medicaid Waiver Act," aims to create a new Medicaid waiver program in New Mexico for residents with behavioral health disabilities, including serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries. The bill requires the Health Care Authority to develop and submit a federal application for this waiver by December 2025, using $1.1 million in state funds to hire staff and retain consultants. It mandates the authority to coordinate services through individualized plans, establish advisory councils, and align reimbursement systems with existing home- and community-based waiver programs. The bill does not change current Medicaid coverage but seeks to expand access to community-based behavioral health services. Note: This bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not advance to law.
SB 230 increases maximum fees that notaries in New Mexico can charge for specific services. It raises the cap from $5 to $12 per acknowledgment, oath, or jurat, and from $0.50 to $1.20 per page for copy certifications (with a $12 minimum total). The bill also raises the maximum technology fee from $25 to $60 per electronic notarial act. These changes would directly affect notaries and individuals needing notarization services, effective July 1, 2025. The bill was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
SB 49 would transfer $340 million from New Mexico's Community Benefit Fund to support economic development, renewable energy, transportation infrastructure, conservation, and workforce training. The funds would be allocated to state departments for non-fossil fuel economic development (including aerospace, biosciences, and green industries), energy efficiency projects, bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, conservation efforts, renewable energy technology grants, and training programs to help workers transition from extractive industries. All funds must be spent by 2028, with unspent balances reverting to the Community Benefit Fund. The bill's implementation depends on the prior creation of the Community Benefit Fund and sufficient funding for it.
Topics
✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $340M from Community Benefit Fund to fund renewable energy, infrastructure, and workforce training programs, increasing targeted budget allocations.95% confidence
✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill allocates $340M to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green industries, explicitly supporting non-fossil fuel development.95% confidence
✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly allocates $340M for conservation efforts, renewable energy grants, and green industries per summary and ENVIRONMENT subject classification.95% confidence
✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly allocates funds to 'workforce training programs to help workers' under economic development, directly advancing employment standards and skill development.90% confidence
✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly funds 'renewable energy technology grants' for green industries, directly advancing technology development in the renewable energy sector.95% confidence
✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates $340M to transportation infrastructure, including bicycle/pedestrian projects, directly funding sustainable transit development as specified in the summary.95% confidence
HB 499 provides $2.55 million in state funding from the general fund to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) to cover operational costs for a new STEM-focused Student Success Center. The center will support students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields at NM Tech during fiscal years 2026 through 2028. Any unspent funds by the end of 2028 must be returned to the general fund. This bill directly affects NM Tech students and its Board of Regents, establishing a specific funding mechanism for the center's operations.
SB 243 creates a new "All Cities and Counties Fund" to redirect 8% of New Mexico's gross receipts tax revenue (previously allocated to the state general fund) to local governments. Starting July 1, 2025, the state will transfer this revenue into the fund, with annual distributions to all cities and counties based on a formula considering population size and each area's share of the state's gross receipts tax revenue. The first distributions are scheduled for November 1, 2026, with subsequent annual payments thereafter. This policy ensures all municipalities and counties receive funding proportional to their population and tax contribution.
HB 543 clarifies that New Mexico's Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act does not override existing laws requiring parental consent for minors seeking reproductive or gender-affirming health care. The bill amends the Act to explicitly state that it does not allow minors to access such care without parental consent in any manner not already permitted by current law. This maintains current consent requirements, directly affecting minors, parents, and health care providers. The bill was introduced in the 2025 New Mexico legislature and was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
HJR 20 proposes a constitutional amendment in New Mexico to create a $5,000 property tax exemption for eligible first responders. It would apply specifically to certified police officers, deputy sheriffs, and active firefighters who are members of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and have earned at least 95% of their final average salary in pension benefits. The exemption requires claimants to prove their eligibility and ownership of the property. This proposal must be approved by voters before taking effect, as it amends the state constitution.
SB 153 creates a new crime called "home invasion" for unlawful entry into a dwelling while an occupant is present, with intent to commit a felony or theft. It specifically targets intruders who are armed with a deadly weapon, become armed after entering, or commit threatening acts causing reasonable fear of immediate harm. The bill amends existing aggravated burglary law by removing "dwelling" as a specific category, meaning aggravated burglary now applies to vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, or other structures (not just homes). This law directly affects individuals entering homes unlawfully and will guide prosecutors and courts in classifying such offenses as a second-degree felony.
SB 130 creates a new funding calculation for career technical education (CTE) programs in New Mexico public schools. It specifies that CTE program units equal 0.25 multiplied by the number of students enrolled in state-approved CTE programs. This new unit is added to the existing formula used to determine school funding under the Public School Finance Act. The bill directly affects public schools offering CTE programs and the state's school finance system.
This bill updates New Mexico's rules for off-highway vehicles (like ATVs, snowmobiles, and recreational vehicles) to reflect industry changes and improve registration processes. It clarifies vehicle definitions (e.g., weight limits for recreational vehicles), increases registration fees to $17 per vehicle (with up to $40 in user fees), and allocates funds to the trail safety fund. The changes directly affect off-highway vehicle users who must pay updated fees for registration, renewal, or nonresident permits. Safety requirements remain largely unchanged, including prohibitions against operating recklessly near people or livestock. The bill also establishes a $1 fee per registration for litter control.
SB 329 creates a new criminal offense for recruiting children under 18 into criminal street gangs or threatening to coerce a child into joining. It imposes penalties of a fourth-degree felony for targeting children aged 13-18 and a third-degree felony for children under 13. The law directly affects adults who attempt to involve minors in gang activities, with the goal of protecting children from gang recruitment. It defines a "criminal street gang" as a group of three or more people whose primary purpose is committing crimes.
This constitutional amendment (SJR 12) proposes to change New Mexico's legislative session rules by setting all regular sessions to 60 days (currently 30 days in even-numbered years), removing restrictions on bills considered during even-numbered years, and allowing veto overrides for bills from any session type (regular, special, or extraordinary) within the same legislative biennium. If approved by voters, it would standardize session lengths and expand the scope of bills lawmakers can address during even-numbered years. The proposal requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending before committees after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.
