New Mexico Bills

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 112: CANNABIS LICENSURE CHANGES

HB 112 requires cannabis business license applicants in New Mexico to undergo state and national criminal background checks and sign their applications as part of eligibility. It updates the Cannabis Regulation Act by adding specific definitions (like "cannabis producer microbusiness" and "cannabis consumption area") to clarify licensing terms. The bill directly affects businesses seeking to operate cannabis cultivation, retail, manufacturing, or related activities under New Mexico's commercial cannabis program. These changes aim to standardize application requirements and background screening for license holders.

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 2: COMBINE STANDING & INTERIM COMMITTEES

HJM 2 is a procedural request asking the New Mexico Legislative Council to create a task force to study combining the state's standing committees (active during sessions) and interim committees (active between sessions) into unified year-round committees. The task force would examine how to merge these committees, including staffing, funding, implementation timelines (with a 2027 target), and reducing overlap. It would include legislative members and public experts, and must submit a report by November 2025. This request directly affects how New Mexico's legislature organizes its committee structure, not specific policy outcomes.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 443: NO CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG COST SHARING

SB 443 prohibits health insurance plans in New Mexico from requiring patients to pay copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for cholesterol-lowering drugs. It applies to all group health coverage, individual health insurance policies, HMOs, and nonprofit health care plans delivered, issued, or renewed in the state. The bill defines "cost sharing" broadly to include any out-of-pocket payment beyond premiums, ensuring these medications are covered without financial barriers. The law would take effect on January 1, 2026, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SM 23: TAOS WATER IMPOUNDMENT STUDY

This memorial requests the State Engineer to study building an earthen water storage site in Taos County for wildfire suppression and structure protection, including cost analysis and water rights requirements. It directly affects Taos County, tribal communities (Pueblo of Taos and Pueblo of Picuris), and emergency responders who would use the water during fires. The study would evaluate feasibility and costs, but the request was postponed indefinitely in June 2025. (Note: This is a procedural memorial, not a bill authorizing construction.)

passed both · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 305: QUALITY FOSTER PARENT TASK FORCE

SB 305 creates a 13-member task force to address challenges in New Mexico's foster care system, specifically focusing on recruiting and retaining foster parents. The task force includes appointed officials, foster family representatives, youth, tribal members with lived experience under the Indian Child Welfare Act, and other stakeholders like service providers and juvenile justice experts. It must study successful models from other states (citing Utah's 1998 bill as an example), conduct research with a university, and submit a final report by July 2026. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to support this work.

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 258: HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION

SB 258 requires New Mexico public schools to include comprehensive human sexuality education in health courses for middle and high school students starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It makes one-half unit of health education a graduation requirement for students entering ninth grade that same year. The bill mandates school districts to submit implementation plans, requires the Public Education Department to develop academic standards and model curricula for grades 6-12, and allows parents to excuse their child from the sexuality portion of health education. This bill directly affects all public and charter schools in New Mexico, their students, and school districts responsible for curriculum planning.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 342: PROPERTY TAX CHANGES

HB 342 limits annual increases in property tax valuations for residential properties to 3% (capping at 103% of prior year's value or 106.1% of value from two years prior), excluding new homes, certain improvements (like solar systems), and properties with ownership changes or zoning shifts. It also imposes a temporary 12-year cap (2025-2037) on valuation increases for nonresidential property (businesses). The bill requires homeowners to file affidavits for specific property transfers (with exemptions for family transfers or disasters), updates veteran tax exemption rules to align with recent voter-approved changes, and removes the requirement to mail residential property declarations to owners. Administrative penalties are added for late affidavit filings, and county valuation protest board pay is adjusted for inflation.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 8: TRINITY SITE REST STOP

HJM 8 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Department of Transportation to create a rest stop and memorial at the Trinity Site entrance on Highway 380 near Bingham. It aims to honor "downwinders" - residents of Socorro and Otero counties affected by the 1945 atomic bomb test - by installing an informational plaque, holding a dedication ceremony on July 16, 2025 (the 80th anniversary), and inviting surviving downwinders to attend. The memorial would acknowledge their unacknowledged sacrifices despite federal recognition efforts. The proposal was referred to a committee but postponed indefinitely in June 2025. This is a symbolic request, not a binding law.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 55: LINCOLN COUNTY HOMEOWNER RELIEF

HM 55 (House Memorial 55) is a non-binding resolution urging New Mexico's Office of Superintendent of Insurance to approve proposed changes to the state's FAIR plan property insurance program. The resolution seeks to increase residential coverage limits under the FAIR plan to $750,000 for homeowners in high-risk wildfire areas like Lincoln County, where recent fires destroyed homes. This change would provide higher coverage than the current actual-cash-value basis, helping affected residents secure insurance to rebuild. The memorial does not create new law but formally requests timely approval of these specific coverage adjustments.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 40: STUDY OFFICE OF PEACE

This memorial (HM 40) requests the New Mexico Legislative Council to form a 7-member study group to examine whether creating a state Office of Peace is feasible. The group, appointed by the University of New Mexico School of Law, would include experts from peace-building, restorative justice, education, military/law enforcement, legal studies, labor, and community relations. The study must be completed by November 2025, with findings and recommendations submitted to the legislature. It does not create the office but assesses its potential impact on conflict resolution and safety efforts across New Mexico.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 553: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

SB 553, introduced by Senator Shannon D. Pinto, addresses public peace, health, safety, and welfare but lacks specific provisions in the provided context. The bill was withdrawn from the Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee and later postponed indefinitely by the Senate Rules Committee. Without the full text of the bill, no concrete policy changes or affected parties can be identified. The legislative process for this bill has stalled, with no further action taken as of the latest update.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 39: STUDY HIGHER EDUCATION COMPENSATION

This House Memorial (HM 39) requests the New Mexico Higher Education Department to study compensation for both temporary and non-tenure-track instructional staff at public colleges and universities. The study will examine current salaries, benefits, workloads, and institutional policies, while gathering input from faculty, administrators, and staff. It aims to assess issues like low pay (with 25% earning under $26,500 annually) and job insecurity, and will propose funding solutions if compensation changes are recommended. The Higher Education Department must submit findings by December 1, 2025. (Note: This is a procedural memorial requesting a study, not a law changing policy.)

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill results