New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 484: GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY TO TAXPAYER ACT

SB 484 creates a new Government Accountability to Taxpayer Office within New Mexico's executive branch to improve state agency efficiency. The office will conduct performance audits of state agencies and programs, identify waste or inefficiencies, and recommend improvements for implementation. It must issue an annual report to the legislature by November 1 each year, detailing findings and monitoring how agencies act on its suggestions. The office, led by a governor-appointed executive director (confirmed by the Senate), can access non-confidential agency records and subpoena witnesses for audits.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 492: HUB FOR ALL COLLEGE ONLINE ENROLLMENT

SB 492 proposed creating a centralized online enrollment hub at New Mexico State University (NMSU) to manage online course access for all public colleges and universities in New Mexico. The hub would provide services like admissions support, faculty training, and technology assistance to participating institutions through annual agreements. It allocated $40 million (2026-2028) for setup and required annual performance reports to the legislature. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and did not become law.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 432: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH GRANT PGM. & FUND

SB 432 creates a new Behavioral Health Grant Program to fund community-based mental health services for counties and municipalities. It establishes a dedicated fund financed by 2% of liquor excise tax revenue and 5% of cannabis excise tax revenue, which will be distributed to local governments for prevention, treatment, and screening programs. To qualify, applicants must submit adopted behavioral health plans and prioritize evidence-based or research-based approaches, with special attention to children's services and equitable geographic distribution. The program requires grantees to report annually on program outcomes and effectiveness, administered by the state's local government division.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 91: PRIVATE COLLECTION OF SPEEDING CAMERA FINES

SB 91 prohibits New Mexico municipalities that use automated speed cameras to detect speeding violations from contracting with private companies to collect unpaid fines for those violations. It also bans impounding vehicles solely due to unpaid fines from automated speed camera detections. Municipalities must collect these fines directly and cannot report unpaid fines to credit reporting agencies for such violations. This bill amends New Mexico's traffic law (Section 66-8-130) to restrict how municipalities handle fines from automated speed enforcement.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 140: CERTAIN INCOME TAX EXEMPTIONS

SB 140 would exempt certain New Mexico residents from state income tax based on their annual income levels. Specifically, it would eliminate state income tax for single individuals earning $40,000 or less, married individuals filing separately earning $30,000 or less, and married couples filing jointly earning $60,000 or less. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, directly affecting low-to-moderate income earners in the state. This policy change modifies the state's income tax structure by creating new thresholds for tax liability.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 381: CRIMINAL CODE DEFINITION OF "LIVESTOCK"

SB 381 defines "livestock" in New Mexico's criminal code to include farm animals like cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, and exotic species (e.g., ostriches), but explicitly excludes dogs and cats. It changes larceny penalties for stolen livestock, making it a third-degree felony regardless of value (with higher penalties for values over $2,500 or multiple animals), and treats each stolen animal as a separate offense. This directly affects ranchers, farmers, and livestock owners by increasing legal consequences for thefts of their animals. The bill also modifies related provisions for firearm theft but focuses the key changes on livestock-specific penalties.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 454: PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICE CREDIT CHANGES

SB 454 modifies retirement credit requirements for New Mexico public safety employees. It increases credited service by 20% for qualifying state police, correctional officers, probation officers, and fire members who were employed or retired by June 30, 2013, to help them meet retirement eligibility. The bill adjusts age and service requirements for municipal police retirement plans (Plans 1-4) to align with these changes. Effective dates vary: probation officers saw adjustments starting July 1, 2021, while fire members' changes apply from July 1, 2024. The bill is pending before the Senate committees after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 343: CYFD PLANS OF SAFE CARE FOR CERTAIN CHILDREN

HB 343 requires hospitals and birthing centers to create written "Plans of Safe Care" for newborns affected by prenatal substance exposure (e.g., drugs or alcohol in utero). These plans must be shared with the child’s doctor, a care coordinator (if insured), and the parent/guardian at discharge, outlining needed services like substance use treatment, mental health support, or early intervention. The bill updates reporting rules to ensure hospitals share data about these cases with the Children, Youth and Families Department without triggering child abuse investigations. It directly affects hospitals, newborns with prenatal exposure, and their families by coordinating healthcare and social services post-discharge.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 162: REPEAL FIREARM SALE WAITING PERIOD

HB 162 would repeal New Mexico's current seven-day waiting period for firearm purchases, directly affecting firearm sellers and buyers in the state. The bill removes Section 30-7-7.3 NMSA 1978, which required a mandatory seven-day delay between a buyer's application and firearm transfer. This change would allow immediate firearm sales without the waiting period, altering the standard purchasing process. The bill was introduced in the 2025 legislative session but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 204: REFUSAL OF CERTAIN PRETRIAL STATEMENTS

HB 204 allows child victims/witnesses (under 18) to refuse pretrial statements or interviews in criminal cases, with no compulsion permitted. Adult victims gain the right to decline such interviews, though parties may seek court-approved written questions if needed for trial preparation - courts must deny irrelevant or duplicative questions. The bill requires defendants to contact victims only through prosecutors, who must inform victims of their refusal rights and protect their privacy. It also mandates victim presence of advocates during interviews and prohibits defendants from commenting on refusal during trial. The bill was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and has not become law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 234: TRIBAL EDUCATION TRUST FUND

SB 234 creates a permanent "Tribal Education Trust Fund" in New Mexico's state treasury to provide annual funding for tribal education programs. Starting in fiscal year 2027, the fund will disburse at least $12.5 million each year (or 5% of its five-year average value) directly to New Mexico tribes with approved agreements, with funds carrying over annually for tribal use. Tribes must submit annual budget plans and impact reports to the Public Education Department, while the department develops a disbursement formula with a task force. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 169: PUBLIC EXPRESSION PROTECTION ACT

HB 169, the Public Expression Protection Act, creates a legal shield to dismiss civil lawsuits targeting speech on public issues by allowing defendants to file a "special motion" within 60 days of being sued, which pauses all other legal proceedings until the motion is resolved. The law applies to communications in government proceedings, speech on public matters, or exercise of free speech rights, but excludes government employees acting officially, public safety enforcement, and business sales communications (while protecting creative works like journalism). If the court rules the speech is protected and the plaintiff fails to show the law doesn’t apply, the case is dismissed without trial. This bill directly affects individuals, journalists, activists, and organizations engaging in public discourse by making it easier to end lawsuits that could suppress such speech.

Bill results