HB 409 establishes energy and water efficiency standards for specific products, including commercial dishwashers, computers, faucets, showerheads, and certain lighting fixtures, affecting businesses that sell, lease, or install these items in New Mexico. By July 2026, the state must adopt rules prohibiting the sale or lease of non-compliant products, with enforcement beginning January 1, 2027 for sales and January 1, 2028 for installations. The bill also bans the sale of general-purpose compact and linear fluorescent lamps starting in 2027. Exemptions apply to products made for export, mobile homes, or recreational vehicles. Violations may result in civil penalties of up to $250 per offense.
SB 470 requires livestock owners (not others) to apply directly to New Mexico's State Engineer for permits to store surface water for watering livestock, effective July 1, 2025. It limits this simplified application process to small impoundments (10 acre-feet or less) and excludes uses like fishing, recreation, or aesthetic purposes, which still require standard water permits. Applicants must prove legal access to land for livestock and demonstrate the water is solely for livestock watering, not other activities. The bill clarifies that only livestock owners may apply for these specific permits, streamlining the process for small-scale livestock water needs.
SB 228 (FELONY FOR CERTAIN THEFTS) amends New Mexico's burglary law to create a new fourth-degree felony charge. It specifically targets individuals who enter a retail store after being explicitly told they are not allowed to enter, and then intend to commit theft or another felony inside. This directly affects people who have received formal notice (like a ban) from a retail business but return to commit crimes. The bill adds this provision to the existing burglary statute, making such entry a distinct felony separate from general burglary offenses. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
Based solely on the provided context, SB 534 has no substantive text or policy details available. The bill's title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is broad but does not specify any concrete provisions or affected groups. Committee actions (withdrawn, postponed indefinitely) indicate it did not advance, but these do not describe the bill's content. Without legislative text or a summary of its provisions, a factual description of what the bill does cannot be provided.
This bill creates a new criminal offense for knowingly possessing or transporting a firearm that was stolen (or believed to be stolen), unless the person intends to return it to the owner or participate in a buyback program. It directly affects individuals who possess stolen firearms, defining each firearm as a separate offense. The law specifies that "firearm" includes weapons designed to expel projectiles, and clarifies that a person charged under this bill cannot also be charged under a separate law for the same act if they are a convicted felon. Violating this law would be punishable as a fourth-degree felony.
SB 103 requires Medicaid personal care service providers (including agencies and self-directed programs) to submit detailed workforce data to New Mexico's Health Care Authority by March 1, 2026, and annually thereafter. This data includes staffing numbers, wages, benefits, demographics, and overtime hours for direct care workers providing services to Medicaid recipients. The Health Care Authority must analyze this data and publish annual reports, including a 2030 study to recommend reimbursement rates that aim to stabilize the workforce and ensure wages reach 150% of the state minimum wage. The bill directly affects agencies administering Medicaid personal care services and seeks to address workforce challenges through data-driven policy recommendations.
SB 478 would create a new State Aviation Commission to oversee New Mexico's aviation policy. The commission, composed of five members (including two airport managers and two FAA-certified pilots appointed by the governor), would determine all policy for the Aviation Division and appoint its director. It would administratively attach the Aviation Division to the Department of Transportation and require quarterly public meetings with advance notice. This bill directly affects New Mexico's airport operations, aviation division staff, and federal aviation regulations governing state airports. The commission's key role would be setting policy for airport funding and operations, replacing current administrative structures.
HB 43 requires landlords in New Mexico to adjust income screening for rental applicants by subtracting federal, state, local, or tribal housing assistance payments from the total rent before calculating the income-to-rent ratio. This means landlords must evaluate an applicant’s income against the remaining rent amount after housing assistance is applied (e.g., if rent is $1,500 and housing assistance covers $500, the screening uses $1,000). The bill specifies that valid income sources for screening include wages, pensions, alimony, or child support, provided applicants document these. It directly affects landlords performing tenant screenings and applicants receiving housing assistance, aiming to make rental eligibility more accessible for those using government aid. The bill is still pending after being postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
The Immigrant Safety Act prohibits New Mexico state and local government agencies - including police departments, jails, schools, and universities - from entering into or continuing agreements that allow federal immigration authorities to detain people for civil immigration violations. It requires immediate termination of any existing such agreements and bans the use of public property for this purpose. The law does not affect law enforcement's ability to detain individuals for criminal investigations under state law. Violations can be addressed through civil lawsuits filed by the attorney general to obtain court orders halting the practice.
HB 447 temporarily exempts gaming operators licensed in areas declared disaster zones due to wildfires (specifically those declared in June 2024) from paying gaming taxes until July 1, 2029. The bill applies directly to licensed gaming businesses operating in these affected wildfire zones. Key provisions include requiring the exemption to be tracked in the state's tax expenditure budget and setting a fixed repeal date of July 1, 2029. This policy change removes a specific tax obligation for affected businesses during the recovery period.
SB 324 prohibits private employers from requiring employees or contractors to sign secrecy or non-disparagement clauses in settlement agreements related to workplace sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims. The bill allows limited confidentiality only for settlement amounts or if requested by the employee to protect their identity or specific facts. Employers cannot enforce non-compliant secrecy clauses, and courts may consider such clauses when awarding punitive damages. This law applies to agreements entered into on or after June 20, 2025, directly affecting employers and workers in cases involving workplace misconduct.
SB 468 proposes appropriating $33 million from the state general fund to create tribal liaison programs in every New Mexico county. The bill directs these programs to provide nonpartisan voter education, translation services, and voter registration drives specifically to improve access to the voting process for Native American communities. Each county would receive funding to support these services, aiming to ensure equal participation in elections. The funding is limited to fiscal year 2026, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund.
