New Mexico Bills

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 241: HWY CONSTRUCTION AUTO SPEED ENFORCEMENT

SB 241, the "Highway Construction Zone Automated Speed Enforcement Act," authorizes New Mexico's Department of Transportation to use automated cameras in highway construction zones to detect speeding violations and issue civil fines directly to vehicle owners. It imposes strict liability on owners (who remain responsible even if not driving), with fines of $50 for 6-10 mph over the limit, $100 for 11-15 mph over, and $200 for 16+ mph over. Owners receive 30 days to pay the fine or request a hearing to contest the violation based on specific defenses like vehicle theft or ownership transfer. The bill requires annual calibration of enforcement devices by independent labs and outlines a streamlined hearing process for disputes. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Transportation

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 244: UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF FIREARM TO A MINOR

SB 244 creates a new crime in New Mexico for knowingly giving a firearm to someone under 19, unless specific exceptions apply. These exceptions cover supervised activities like hunter safety courses, legal hunting, target shooting at authorized ranges, or transfers from parents/guardians. Violating this law would be a second-degree felony, with each firearm transferred counting as a separate offense. The bill also adds "unlawful transfer of a firearm to a minor" to New Mexico’s definition of racketeering offenses. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 144: CHAPARRAL RIDING CIRCUIT COURT

HB 144 establishes a regular riding circuit for Otero County magistrates to hold court sessions in Chaparral, amending the statute to require the two magistrates in Otero District to rotate court operations to Chaparral on a scheduled basis. This procedural bill directly affects the Otero County magistrates' court system by formalizing court visits to Chaparral, which is a community currently served by the Alamogordo-based court. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the legislature on June 3, 2025. It does not change substantive law but adjusts court scheduling logistics.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 193: WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS INSURANCE COVERAGE

SB 193 requires health insurers in New Mexico to cover at least one injectable weight loss drug (specifically a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) for adults with obesity who need long-term weight management. It applies to all group health plans, individual insurance policies, HMOs, and nonprofit health care plans delivered or renewed after January 1, 2026. The law directly affects insured adults with obesity by mandating coverage for these medications and insurers who must add this coverage to their plans. It does not specify which drug must be covered, only that at least one such injectable option must be included in prescription drug coverage.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 455: HEALTH PRACTITIONER COINSURANCE GRT

This bill (SB 455) would allow health care practitioners - such as doctors, dentists, therapists, and nurses - to deduct coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid directly by patients (out-of-pocket costs) from their taxable income. Currently, practitioners can only deduct payments from insurers for services, not patient-paid amounts. It applies specifically to commercial health insurance plans (excluding Medicare/Medicaid) and requires the tax department to report annually on how many practitioners use the deduction and its total cost. The bill does not change insurance coverage or patient costs, only the tax treatment for providers.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 524: ADVANCE PURCHASE COMMITMENTS PROGRAM

HB 524 creates a state program requiring New Mexico's Department of Transportation to award binding agreements (3+ years in advance) to private companies producing low-emission cement, concrete, asphalt binder, or asphalt mixtures. It directly affects construction material producers who must provide environmental data (like product declarations or life-cycle assessments) proving emissions reductions meeting federal thresholds. The department prioritizes awards based on verified emissions cuts, material suitability, market availability potential, and carbon mineralization (if net emissions remain negative). The program aims to boost demand for cleaner construction materials, with a July 2025 effective date, though the bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 200: STATE HOLIDAY TO VOTE

SB 200 designates the first Tuesday in November (election day) as a new public holiday called "State Holiday to Vote" in New Mexico. This would require state government offices and public institutions to close on that date, directly affecting state employees and public services operating on legal holidays. The bill amends New Mexico's legal holidays statute to add this designation as a specific holiday. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the Senate on June 3, 2025, and is not yet law.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 364: FEDERAL BENEFITS FOR CYFD CUSTODY

HB 364 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to determine eligibility for federal benefits (like Supplemental Security Income) for children in its legal custody within 60 days of placement and annually thereafter. The bill mandates CYFD to apply for these benefits on the child’s behalf, manage them as the child’s "representative payee" if no other suitable person is available, and ensure funds are used only for the child’s unmet needs - not to cover CYFD care costs. It also requires CYFD to provide annual financial reports to the child and their legal representatives, and to return any remaining funds to the child (or parent/guardian if under 18) upon termination of custody. This law directly affects children in CYFD custody by ensuring they access available federal benefits while protecting those funds from being used for state care expenses.

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 225: FOSTER PARENT TAX CREDIT

HB 225 creates a $100 weekly tax credit for each child a foster parent cares for in New Mexico, directly benefiting licensed foster parents who are state residents and not dependents of another person. To claim the credit, foster parents must obtain certification from the Children, Youth and Families Department, which will issue a certificate specifying the credit amount and eligible taxable years. Any credit exceeding a taxpayer's income tax liability will be refunded, and the credit must be claimed within three years of certification. This policy applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2025, and will be tracked in the state's tax expenditure budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 544: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

SB 544, introduced by Senator Liz Stefanics, is a bill related to public peace, health, safety, and welfare in New Mexico. The provided context does not include specific provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties, as the bill text only lists its broad title and committee actions. The bill was referred to the Senate Conservation Committee but was not printed and was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025. Without detailed text or policy language in the context, a specific summary of its concrete changes cannot be provided.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 500: DETRANSITIONER PROTECTION ACT

This bill, misnamed as the "Detransitioner Protection Act" but actually focused on restricting care for minors, prohibits health care providers and public bodies from providing gender transition procedures or related information to minors under 18. It requires providers to give specific written and verbal notices to minors or parents about risks of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, citing unproven benefits and potential harms like reduced bone density and sterilization. Violations could lead to license revocation for providers. The bill does not address detransitioners, as defined in its text, but centers on preventing gender transition care for minors.

Topics ✗ Healthcare

died · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 563: NO CODES REQUIRING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING

HB 563 prohibits state building codes or rules from requiring electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in new residential or commercial construction. It directly affects developers and builders by removing mandates for minimum EV charging spaces, electrical infrastructure in parking areas, or EV-capable parking in new projects. The bill establishes that no standards under New Mexico's Construction Industries Licensing Act can compel the installation of EV charging equipment or related electrical capacity. This policy change eliminates specific requirements for EV infrastructure in building codes, focusing on removing prescriptive mandates rather than promoting or restricting EV adoption.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Technology ✗ Transportation

Bill results