New Mexico Bills

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 271: REVISE LFC MEMBERSHIP

SB 271 revises New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) membership to 16 total members (eight from the House and eight from the Senate), reducing the previous total. It adjusts the appointment process to ensure proportional party representation in each chamber and requires at least one minority member from each house. The bill also clarifies vacancy procedures and alternates leadership roles between the Senate and House every two years. Introduced in the 2025 legislative session, the bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 400: RELEASE OF CERTAIN PEOPLE FROM RENT AGREEMENT

SB 400 allows renters who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assault to terminate their rental agreements without penalty. Victims must provide the landlord with written notice and either a protective order or a letter from a victim services provider. This releases them from future rent payments, early termination fees, and liability for the property, while also permitting other tenants in the agreement to be freed from financial responsibility and enter a new lease. The bill clarifies that the alleged perpetrator may still face civil liability for the violence, regardless of their role in the rental agreement.

Topics ✓ Housing

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 144: AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT FUNDING

SB 144 appropriates $500,000 from New Mexico's general fund annually starting in fiscal year 2026 to the Department of Finance and Administration. This funding directly supports the Mortgage Finance Authority in implementing the Affordable Housing Act, specifically for affordable housing programs. The bill ensures unspent funds at year-end do not return to the general fund, allowing continued use for housing initiatives. As of June 2025, the bill was postponed indefinitely after passing committee review, meaning the funding has not been enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HR 3: ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT

This resolution (HR 3) is a procedural document formally charging Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham with impeachable offenses. It alleges she violated New Mexico's constitution and the U.S. Second Amendment by issuing Executive Order 2023-130 and directing a public health order that restricted firearm possession in certain areas, contrary to constitutional protections. The resolution outlines eight specific articles of impeachment, focusing on her alleged misuse of emergency powers and enforcement of the order. The House referred it to committees but postponed action indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 321: PENALTY FOR CARELESS DRIVING & DEATH

HB 321 increases penalties for drivers whose careless driving causes death or serious injury. It amends New Mexico law to classify such incidents as a misdemeanor (previously unspecified), requiring punishment under existing misdemeanor sentencing rules. The bill specifically defines "great bodily harm" as injuries creating a high risk of death, causing severe disfigurement, or resulting in permanent loss of bodily function. This directly affects drivers convicted of causing fatal or severely injurious accidents through inattention or improper driving.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 391: OFFICE OF CHILD OMBUD ACT

HB 391 creates the Office of Child Ombud in New Mexico to independently review child welfare services and handle complaints. It establishes a nine-member selection committee (with specific expertise requirements, including Indian Child Welfare Act knowledge) to appoint a six-year ombud who will investigate complaints about the Department of Children, Youth, and Families, operate a toll-free hotline, and review systems protecting children's rights. The ombud will investigate cases involving child fatalities or near-fatalities in state custody, provide updates to complainants, and issue annual reports to lawmakers. The office, attached to the administrative office of the courts, will have authority to subpoena witnesses and make referrals while maintaining budget autonomy.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 559: TAX CHANGES

SB 559 is a comprehensive tax overhaul bill that changes New Mexico's tax structure. It reduces rates for several taxes including gross receipts, gaming, and manufacturer transfers while increasing the bingo/raffle tax. The bill repeals 10+ existing tax acts (like estate tax, gasoline tax, and insurance premium tax) and removes tax credits for rural jobs, affordable housing, and renewable energy. It also creates a new gross receipts tax exemption for nonprofit donations and sets sunset dates for remaining tax credits. This directly affects businesses, local governments (through repealed tax distributions), and nonprofit organizations.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✗ Energy ✗ Housing

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 154: MOVING TRAFFIC VIOLATION DEFERRED SENTENCES

SB 154 prevents courts from delaying punishment (deferring sentence) for drivers who had a moving traffic violation's sentence deferred within the past year. It directly affects drivers convicted of specific traffic offenses like speeding, running red lights, reckless driving, or failure to yield, if they have a recent history of deferred sentences for similar violations. The bill adds a new rule to New Mexico's traffic code explicitly banning such deferrals for repeat offenders, listing 7 types of moving violations covered. This change applies only to traffic cases and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 194: CULTURAL EXPRESSION AT GRADUATION CEREMONIES

HB 194 would have prohibited public, private, and charter schools in New Mexico from banning students from federally recognized tribes, pueblos, or nations from wearing culturally significant items like regalia, jewelry, moccasins, beaded caps, or feathers at graduation or promotion ceremonies. The bill directly affects Indigenous students by protecting their right to express cultural identity during school events. Key provisions define "objects of cultural significance" to include specific traditional items, ensuring schools cannot restrict their display. The bill was replaced by a committee substitute and later postponed indefinitely, so it did not become law.

Topics ✓ Education

died · 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

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SJR 7: REGENT NOMINATING COMMITTEES, CA

This constitutional amendment proposal (SJR 7) would require New Mexico to establish nominating committees for each public university. These committees would create lists of recommended candidates for the governor to appoint as nonstudent members to university boards of regents, replacing the current appointment process. The governor would then select appointees from these lists with Senate approval, while maintaining existing rules for student regent appointments and board composition. The change applies to all state universities, including the University of New Mexico.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 493: KANW RADIO STATION

SB 493 allocates $500,000 from the government results and opportunity program fund to the Public Education Department for the KANW educational radio station. The funding is designated for fiscal year 2026 to purchase equipment and expand reporter resources specifically to cover news in rural New Mexico. Any unspent funds remaining at year-end would revert to the original program fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results