New Mexico Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 3: "NEW MEXICO TRIO PROGRAMS DAY"

HJM 3 is a ceremonial resolution declaring February 21, 2025, as "New Mexico TRIO Programs Day" in the state legislature. It recognizes TRIO programs - which provide federally funded support for low-income, first-generation, and disadvantaged students to access higher education - and aligns with the existing "National TRIO Programs Day." The resolution honors TRIO’s 61-year history, New Mexico’s early adoption of these programs, and their role in serving over 10,000 students annually with $13.5 million in federal funding. As a procedural memorial, it does not create new policies or funding but serves as symbolic acknowledgment of TRIO’s impact.

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 73: CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

HB 73 eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits seeking damages related to childhood sexual abuse in New Mexico, allowing survivors to file claims at any time regardless of when the abuse occurred. It directly affects survivors of childhood sexual abuse - defined as acts violating specific New Mexico criminal laws (e.g., criminal sexual penetration of a minor) - by removing the previous time limits (like the 24th birthday deadline or 3-year window after disclosure to a healthcare provider). The bill applies retroactively, meaning it enables lawsuits for past cases where time limits had already expired. Currently, the bill passed the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 3, 2025, and remains pending.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SJR 11: SCHOOL ELECTIONS TIMING, CA

This bill (SJR 11) proposes amending New Mexico's constitution to allow school board elections to be held simultaneously with partisan elections (like those for governor or Congress), rather than requiring separate voting dates. It directly affects all New Mexico school districts, voters in those districts, and the state's election administration. The key mechanism is a constitutional change requiring voter approval at a general election after legislative passage. If approved, it would remove the current constitutional requirement that school elections "shall be held at different times from partisan elections." The resolution is pending voter approval after passing the Senate and committee stages.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 85: CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHANGES

SB 85 updates New Mexico's campaign finance rules to require more detailed reporting of contributions and expenditures. It mandates disclosure of electronic communications related to campaigns, standardizes reporting for all contributions of $1,000 or more (including during legislative session fundraising bans), and prohibits using campaign funds to repay candidate loans with interest. The bill directly affects candidates, campaign committees, and political committees by tightening transparency requirements for donations and spending. The measure passed the Senate in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the House in June 2025.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 411: PHYSICIAN LOAN REPAYMENT ACT

SB 411 creates a program to repay medical school loans for physicians who commit to working in New Mexico's designated health shortage areas for four years. Eligible physicians must be licensed in New Mexico, reside in the state, and agree to practice in underserved communities. The state would repay up to $75,000 annually (capped at $300,000 total) toward qualifying education loans, excluding scholarships, personal loans, or debts from state aid programs. Physicians who fail to fulfill the service commitment face penalties including repayment of the award plus interest. The program is funded through a new state trust fund administered by the Higher Education Department.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 81: NM PROPERTY INSURANCE PGM. ASSOC. BOARD

SB 81 creates the New Mexico Property Insurance Program Association Board to administer the state's Fair Plan, which provides property insurance to residents and businesses unable to secure coverage in the regular market. The board, composed of nine members representing insurers, consumers, climate science, and risk management, will set actuarially sound premium rates (capped at $1 million for residential properties and $5 million for commercial properties) and establish operational rules. This directly affects property owners in high-risk areas and insurers required to participate in the Fair Plan. The bill also mandates that rates reflect expected losses, expenses, and reinsurance costs while ensuring equitable access to insurance.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 2: PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY INITIATIVES

This bill (SB 2) amends New Mexico's criminal competency law to clarify court jurisdiction when a defendant's competency to stand trial is questioned. It requires metropolitan courts to transfer a case to a district court if they determine a defendant is not competent to stand trial - previously, metropolitan courts could retain jurisdiction in such cases. The bill directly affects criminal defendants in New Mexico who face competency evaluations during trial. The title "Public Health & Safety Initiatives" is misleading, as the bill concerns court procedures, not public health measures. (Note: The bill's emergency designation cites public safety, but the substantive change relates solely to court jurisdiction.)

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 52: PUBLIC OFFICE TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

SB 52 adjusts reimbursement rates for New Mexico public officials traveling on official business using privately owned vehicles or airplanes. It updates existing law to require reimbursement at the U.S. General Services Administration's standard mileage rate for privately owned automobiles and aircraft, rather than previous state-specific rates. This change directly affects legislators and other public officers who use personal vehicles or planes for state business. The bill was passed by the Senate in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the House committees in June 2025. It focuses solely on aligning travel reimbursement calculations with federal standards.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 510: PUBLIC SAFETY CHANGES

This bill removes time limits for prosecuting human trafficking cases (previously capped at six years), raises the age for child sexual exploitation protections from 16 to 18, and creates a new crime for operating "stash houses" (locations used for drug distribution). It also adds human trafficking and stash houses to racketeering definitions, expands mental health evaluation requirements for defendants, and reforms juvenile justice procedures - including extending court discretion for sentencing young offenders and altering detention rules. These changes directly affect victims of trafficking/exploitation, defendants in related cases, and juvenile justice system participants. The bill was passed by the Senate in March 2025 but was later postponed indefinitely.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 230: CANNABIS TESTING CERTAIN EMPLOYEES

HB 230 clarifies when employers in New Mexico can test medical cannabis patients for impairment and protects these employees from unfair treatment. It bans random cannabis testing and requires employers to have reasonable suspicion of impairment (e.g., after an accident or during work hours) before testing. Employers must use a medical review officer to interpret positive tests and cannot penalize employees solely for medical cannabis use or presence of metabolites. The bill also requires the Health and Workforce Solutions Departments to create evidence-based guidelines for assessing impairment, though safety-sensitive roles (like transportation) may still have separate rules.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 179: ELECTRONIC DISCLOSURE FOR RENTAL AGREEMENTS

SB 179 requires landlords and property advertisers to clearly disclose key terms of rental-purchase agreements for properties listed online. It mandates that online listings state whether the agreement is a rental-purchase deal, show the total number and amount of payments needed to own the item, and clarify that renters gain no ownership until all payments are made. This applies directly to online property advertisers and renters viewing such listings, replacing physical tags with electronic disclosures displayed before other required information. The bill aims to increase transparency for consumers shopping for rental-purchase options online.

Topics ✓ Housing

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 242: PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL ACT

HB 242, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow New Mexico psychologists to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer temporary in-person care (up to 30 days yearly) in other participating states without needing full licensure there. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses, requires shared access to disciplinary records via a coordinated database, and creates standardized certifications like the E.Passport for cross-state practice. This bill directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to provide services beyond New Mexico and their clients in states that adopt the compact. The compact aims to expand access to psychological care while maintaining public safety through coordinated licensing oversight among participating states. (Note: The bill is pending, having been postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025.)

Topics ✓ Healthcare