New Mexico Bills

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 398: CITIZENS TAX REBATE

SB 398 would provide New Mexico residents who are U.S. citizens and file individual income tax returns with a $500 tax rebate per person, plus $500 per dependent claimed, and an additional $500 for married couples filing jointly. To qualify, residents must have been physically present in New Mexico for at least six months during the tax year and not incarcerated for over six months that year. The rebate reduces tax liability or is refunded if it exceeds the amount owed, applying to tax years starting in 2025. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and has not advanced further.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 150: JUDICIAL RETIREMENT CHANGES

SB 150 would adjust retirement requirements for New Mexico judges by increasing the required years of service for certain judicial retirees. Specifically, judges who joined the system between 2005 and 2014 would need 16 years of service (up from 15) to qualify for retirement at age 55. The bill also modifies fund administration rules, directing investment income to be credited to the Judicial Retirement Fund and clarifying how contributions and pensions are calculated. This bill, which passed committee in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, directly affects current and future judges under the state's judicial retirement system. It does not change retirement benefits but adjusts eligibility criteria for retirement.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 393: GAMING TAX EXEMPTION IN DISASTER AREA

SB 393 provides a temporary exemption from gaming taxes for casinos and gaming businesses operating in areas declared disaster zones due to wildfires (specifically those declared in June 2024 by the governor). This exemption applies to all gaming taxes until July 1, 2029, directly benefiting licensed gaming operators in affected wildfire zones. The bill requires the exemption to be tracked in the state's tax expenditure budget and includes a delayed repeal effective July 1, 2029. It does not create new taxes or alter existing tax rates but temporarily suspends an existing tax for qualifying businesses in declared disaster areas.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 38: POSSESSION OF WEAPON CONVERSION DEVICE

HB 38, introduced by Rep. Kathleen Cates, creates a new third-degree felony offense for knowingly possessing or transporting a "weapon conversion device" - parts designed to convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic weapons. The bill defines key terms, including that a "semiautomatic weapon" fires one round per trigger pull and a "fully automatic weapon" shoots multiple rounds with a single trigger pull. Each device found in violation constitutes a separate offense. The bill was referred to committees and passed their reports but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 149: CRIME OF CYBERBULLYING

SB 149 creates a new crime of cyberbullying in New Mexico, specifically targeting communications directed at public or private school students. It defines cyberbullying as online or written messages that cause a student to fear physical harm, suffer mental/physical health effects, disrupt academic performance, or interfere with school activities. Penalties range from a misdemeanor for basic cases to a second-degree felony if the bullying results in death, with escalating charges based on the severity of harm (e.g., "great psychological harm" requiring professional care). The bill directly affects students in New Mexico schools and establishes clear legal consequences for perpetrators.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 503: DOMESTIC RELATIONS MEDIATION PROGRAM

HB 503 would require that parents participating in New Mexico's domestic relations mediation programs (for cases involving children) have the right to be represented by an attorney during all mediation-related sessions, including advisory consultations, priority consultations, evaluations, and mediation itself. This bill directly affects parents involved in court-ordered child-related mediation, ensuring they can have legal counsel present throughout the process. The key provision amends existing law to mandate this right, replacing previous language that did not explicitly guarantee attorney presence. The bill passed committee approval in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and has not advanced further.

died · 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.)

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 39: JUVENILE RECORD IN FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS

HB 39 modifies New Mexico's firearm possession laws by prohibiting adults with certain juvenile firearm offenses from receiving, transporting, or possessing firearms. It directly affects adults aged 18+ who had a juvenile court disposition involving firearm use that would be a felony if committed as an adult, provided less than 10 years have passed since the disposition and no pardon was granted. The bill adds this category to existing prohibitions under Section 30-7-16 NMSA, expanding background checks to include these juvenile records. This change ensures such individuals remain barred from firearm access even if their juvenile record was later sealed under Section 32A-2-26.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 300: ACCESS TO ADULT LITERACY PROGRAMS

SB 300 appropriates $10 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to expand access to and enrollment in adult literacy programs across New Mexico. The bill directly affects adult learners seeking to improve reading, writing, and communication skills, as well as the state's adult education providers. Key provisions include allocating funds specifically for statewide program expansion and requiring unspent balances by the end of 2027 to revert to the general fund. The legislation focuses on increasing funding availability rather than creating new program requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 415: NOTICE OF USE OF EARNED SICK LEAVE

HB 415 amends New Mexico's earned sick leave law to clarify that employees must notify employers of non-foreseeable sick leave use (e.g., sudden illness) orally or in writing as soon as practicable, following the employer's written policy. This applies to all employers and employees covered by the Healthy Workplaces Act. The bill does not change existing rules for accruing, carrying over, or using sick leave. It specifically addresses communication protocols for unexpected absences without altering core benefits or employer obligations.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 284: FOSTER CHILDREN & HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE

This bill clarifies that foster children are not considered residents of foster homes for homeowners insurance purposes. It directly affects foster children, foster families, and insurance providers by preventing insurers from denying coverage based solely on a child's foster placement status. The key provision adds to New Mexico's insurance code to state that minors in foster care cannot be disqualified from premises liability coverage due to their foster status. This creates a specific policy change to ensure consistent insurance coverage for foster children without requiring additional legal or administrative steps.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 406: VICTIM RECOVERY FOR INCARCERATED

HB 406 would allow people incarcerated in New Mexico jails, prisons, or correctional facilities to apply for victim compensation after their release if they were victims of crimes while incarcerated. It removes a previous barrier (a clause stating "no award shall be made") that prevented incarcerated victims from seeking compensation under the Crime Victims Reparation Act. The bill specifically enables individuals to file claims for crimes committed against them during their time in custody, following their release from confinement. This change directly affects incarcerated individuals who become victims of crimes while in state custody. The bill was introduced by Representative Pamelya Herndon and advanced through committees before being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results