New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 16: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY ACT

SB 16, the "Health Professional Autonomy Act," protects health care providers (like doctors and nurses) by prohibiting health care entities (such as hospitals, staffing companies, and management organizations) from interfering with clinical decisions. It specifically bans entities from controlling or directing providers' choices about diagnostic tests, referrals, patient care plans, or patient volume. The bill allows affected providers to sue for damages or seek court orders if their autonomy is violated, and the Attorney General can also enforce the law. This law directly affects providers and entities in New Mexico’s health care system, excluding federally qualified health centers and independent practices, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 46: CRIME OF DIGITAL SABOTAGE OF A BUSINESS

HB 46 creates a new criminal offense called "digital sabotage of a business" under New Mexico's Computer Crimes Act. It prohibits unauthorized interference with a business's digital resources - including redirecting customers, damaging operations, or spreading false information to harm reputation - with penalties based on the financial damage caused. Penalties range from a petty misdemeanor for damage under $250 to a second-degree felony for damage over $20,000, including enhanced penalties for repeat offenses. The law directly affects businesses (defined broadly as corporations, partnerships, or individuals) and anyone committing such acts against them.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 33: PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT

HB 33, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow licensed psychologists in New Mexico to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer up to 30 days of in-person practice annually in another participating state without needing a separate license. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses between states that adopt the compact, enabling psychologists to serve clients in other states while ensuring public safety through shared disciplinary records. The compact directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to expand practice across state lines and clients in states with limited local mental health providers. Key mechanisms include standardized telepsychology authorization, temporary in-person practice limits, and a coordinated system for sharing license and disciplinary information among participating states.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 45: PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT

HB 45, the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact, would allow physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. It creates a shared data system for states to track license status and disciplinary actions, and requires that physician assistants follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care. The bill directly affects physician assistants, particularly military families who can more easily practice across state lines with one license, and state licensing boards that must adopt the compact's standards. If enacted, it would streamline licensure for medical professionals while maintaining patient safety through mutual recognition of licenses.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 32: COUNSELING LICENSURE COMPACT

HB 32 creates the Counseling Licensure Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors in participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed counselors and their clients in member states, enabling them to provide in-person or telehealth counseling services where the client is located. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary records between states, and requiring counselors to follow the practice laws of the state where the client is located. The compact also specifically supports military spouses relocating with active-duty service members. This bill does not change existing state licensure requirements but streamlines interstate practice for qualified counselors.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 35: LOBBYING ACTIVITY REPORTS

HB 35 requires lobbyists and their employers (who already file expenditure or registration reports) to submit detailed lobbying activity reports within 48 hours of engaging with legislation. The reports must specify the exact bill lobbied on, the lobbyist’s position (support/oppose), and the employer’s name. These reports will be publicly accessible online for 10 years on the legislature’s website, linked to each bill and searchable by the public. The bill directly affects registered lobbyists and their employers by increasing transparency around their advocacy efforts on specific legislation.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 98: EXEMPT JETTY JACK FROM CULTURAL PROPERTY ACT

SB 98 amends New Mexico's Cultural Properties Act and Cultural Properties Protection Act to explicitly exclude "jetty jacks" from the definition of "cultural property." Jetty jacks are steel and wire river bank maintenance structures installed by federal agencies (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers). The bill changes statutory definitions so these specific structures are no longer subject to cultural property protections or review processes. This directly affects federal river maintenance infrastructure, removing it from state cultural preservation regulations.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 126: PROHIBIT NONDISCLOSURE & NONDISPARAGEMENT

This bill bans New Mexico employers from requiring employees (including prospective, current, or former workers and independent contractors) to sign secrecy agreements or non-disparagement clauses related to workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation claims. It prohibits employers from preventing employees from disclosing such claims, whether occurring on-site, at work events, or between employees/employers. The law allows limited confidentiality only for settlement amounts or at an employee’s request, and voids any secrecy provision that blocks disclosure of facts about the underlying claim. Employees can discuss their experiences without fear of legal action for breaching such agreements.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 81: PERMITLESS CARRY OF FIREARMS

HB 81, titled "Permissible Carry of Firearms," allows adults aged 18 or older who are not prohibited by law from possessing firearms to carry loaded firearms openly or concealed without a permit. The bill directly affects law-abiding adults by eliminating New Mexico’s existing permit requirement for carrying firearms, repealing sections 30-7-2.2 through 30-7-3 of the law. Key provisions include removing firearms from the legal definition of "deadly weapon" and amending statutes to reflect permitless carry, while maintaining exceptions for unloaded firearms and specific circumstances like residences or law enforcement. This bill makes no changes to existing restrictions on prohibited persons or firearm storage requirements.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 144: CRIME OF UNLAWFUL SQUATTING

HB 144 creates the crime of "unlawful squatting" in New Mexico, defined as entering and residing on someone else's property without permission for any period. It classifies this as a fourth-degree felony and requires property owners to prove unauthorized occupancy through a legal process involving affidavits and court hearings, rather than immediate removal. The bill also allows property owners to seek double the appraised value of damages caused by the squatter and gives alleged squatters three business days to contest a citation with proof like a lease or deed. This directly affects property owners facing unauthorized occupants and individuals accused of squatting, establishing a court-based system to resolve disputes over property rights.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Housing

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 121: STATE INVESTMENT OFFICER AND FUND CHANGES

HB 121 adjusts how New Mexico manages several state funds. It removes the Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund and State-Support Reserve Fund from calculations for certain other funds, moves the Capital Development Program Fund to the State Treasury (expanding eligible project phases), and shortens the time before unreserved agency funds revert to the general budget by one year and one month. The bill also clarifies how unappropriated money in specific funds can be used and removes outdated language from state finance law. These changes primarily affect state financial management practices and fund distribution rules for the Treasury, Capital Development, and tobacco-related funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 125: DELINQUENCY ACT CHANGES

HB 125 amends New Mexico's juvenile justice laws by expanding the definitions of "delinquent act," "youthful offender," and "serious youthful offender" in the Delinquency Act and Criminal Sentencing Act. The bill adds specific offenses to the list of delinquent acts, including driving under the influence, alcohol and cannabis possession by minors, graffiti, and violating an order of protection. It also adjusts criteria for youthful offender status, such as including 14-year-olds convicted of first-degree murder and minors with three prior felony adjudications. These changes directly affect minors in New Mexico who commit these offenses, altering how their cases are classified under juvenile justice.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Bill results