New Mexico Bills

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 43: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

Based solely on the provided context, SB 43 has no available bill text or substantive details beyond its title and committee actions. The bill was introduced by Senator Peter Wirth for the 2025 New Mexico Legislature but was "not printed" by the Senate Judiciary Committee and later "postponed indefinitely" on June 3, 2025. Without the actual bill text, its specific provisions, who it affects, or its mechanisms cannot be described. The current status indicates it has stalled in committee with no further progress noted.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 356: PROTESTS FOR REPLACEMENT WELLS

HB 356 (New Mexico, 2025) removes the requirement for public protest when drilling replacement wells within 100 feet of an original well, provided the new well uses the same water source, same water amount, and an emergency justifies skipping standard review. Well owners must notify the state engineer before drilling and apply for a permit within 30 days. Adjacent water right holders can no longer block the well via injunction but may sue later for damages if harmed. The bill was referred to committees and later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✗ Environment

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 533: SOLITARY CONFINEMENT CHANGES

HB 533 would update New Mexico's rules on solitary confinement (termed "restricted housing") by expanding protections for vulnerable inmates and limiting its duration. The bill prohibits placing individuals under 21 or over 55 in restricted housing, bans its use for pregnant people in the first eight weeks postpartum, and prevents involuntary placement for LGBTQ+ individuals or in protective custody. It also caps restricted housing at 15 consecutive days or 90 days total in a year for state facilities and requires quarterly public reporting of who is held in such conditions, including reasons and dates. These changes directly affect inmates in New Mexico prisons and jails, aiming to reduce solitary confinement's use and improve transparency.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 188: EXPAND DONA ANA MAGISTRATE RIDING CIRCUIT

HB 188 would expand the Dona Ana magistrate court's service area to include Sunland Park and Chaparral, adding them to the regular schedule of locations where magistrates hold court. This procedural change directly affects residents of Sunland Park and Chaparral by providing closer access to magistrate services through scheduled visits. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include these communities in the court's rotating circuit, which currently covers Anthony, Sunland Park, Chaparral, and Hatch. The bill is currently pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 125: LIABILITY WAIVERS FOR CONSERVATORS

HB 125 would have prohibited conservators (people managing estates for others who cannot manage their own affairs) and their agents or representatives from accepting liability waivers. The bill specifically banned requesting, procuring, or receiving any waiver that would release conservators from financial responsibility for mistakes made while managing an estate. This would have required conservators to remain personally liable for errors in estate management, rather than allowing waivers to limit that liability. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 147: EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES ACT

SB 147, the Exclusionary Practices Act, prohibits early childhood programs (like pre-K and licensed childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years) from expelling or suspending children for behavioral or disciplinary reasons. Exceptions allow suspensions only if a child causes bodily injury to others (not in self-defense), limited to three school days per incident. The bill requires programs to report any suspensions or expulsions to the early childhood department and bans "soft expulsions" - practices making programs unwelcoming to force parental withdrawal. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and aligns with federal disability laws for children with individualized education plans.

Topics ✓ Education

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 306: VALENCIA COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS

SB 306 appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to support new police departments in Valencia County communities with populations under 5,000. The funds cover start-up costs like officer salaries, training, and equipment for these small-town departments during fiscal year 2026. Any unspent funds at year-end must return to the state general fund. This bill directly affects Valencia County communities meeting the population threshold by providing dedicated state funding for local law enforcement infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 565: GUN WAITING PERIOD FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

HB 565 modifies New Mexico's firearm sale waiting period law by exempting certified and commissioned law enforcement officers (with arrest powers) from the standard 7-day waiting period when purchasing firearms. This means law enforcement officers can immediately take possession of firearms they buy, unlike most other buyers who must wait seven days. The bill amends existing law (Section 30-7-7.3 NMSA 1978) to add this exception, specifically targeting officers performing official duties. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 505: LAW ENFORCEMENT USE OF BODY CAMERAS

SB 505 requires all New Mexico law enforcement agencies - including campus police departments at public colleges and universities - to mandate body-worn cameras for officers during public interactions. It sets specific rules: cameras must activate during calls or encounters, cannot be turned off until after the encounter ends, and recordings must be kept for at least 120 days. Officers who fail to comply face a legal presumption of "bad faith" and potential liability for failing to preserve evidence. The bill is currently pending, having been postponed indefinitely in June 2025 after committee amendments.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 60: STUDY SPACEPORT ISSUES

This House Memorial requests legislative committees to study financial and governance issues related to New Mexico's spaceport laws (the Regional Spaceport District Act and Spaceport Development Act). It specifically examines whether counties that contribute funds to spaceport development have fair representation in decision-making and whether current rules allow counties to avoid financial responsibility without consent. The study would assess imbalances in contributions versus control, potentially leading to future legislative changes. It does not change existing laws but aims to ensure fairer cost-sharing and governance for affected counties and the spaceport authority.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 611: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

HB 611, titled "PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE," is a New Mexico legislative bill introduced by Representative D. Wonda Johnson in the 2025 session. The provided context does not include the bill's specific provisions, policy changes, or affected parties. The bill was referred to the House Rules and Order of Business Committee and was later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, indicating it did not advance to further consideration. Without substantive text or summary details in the context, no concrete policy description can be provided.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 263: HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY ACT

HB 263, the Hospital Price Transparency Act, requires all New Mexico hospitals to publicly post detailed pricing information online. Hospitals must provide a machine-readable digital file showing standard charges (including gross rates, average negotiated rates with insurers, and cash prices) for all services, plus a consumer-friendly list of at least 300 "shoppable" services (like MRIs or lab tests), including the 70 services mandated by federal Medicare. This directly affects hospitals by mandating transparency on costs for both insured and self-pay patients, with penalties for non-compliance including restrictions on debt collection actions during violations. The bill aims to give consumers clear, accessible pricing data to make informed healthcare decisions.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results