New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 60: STUDY SPACEPORT ISSUES

This House Memorial requests legislative committees to study financial and governance issues related to New Mexico's spaceport laws (the Regional Spaceport District Act and Spaceport Development Act). It specifically examines whether counties that contribute funds to spaceport development have fair representation in decision-making and whether current rules allow counties to avoid financial responsibility without consent. The study would assess imbalances in contributions versus control, potentially leading to future legislative changes. It does not change existing laws but aims to ensure fairer cost-sharing and governance for affected counties and the spaceport authority.

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 3: "NEW MEXICO TRIO PROGRAMS DAY"

HJM 3 is a ceremonial resolution declaring February 21, 2025, as "New Mexico TRIO Programs Day" in the state legislature. It recognizes TRIO programs - which provide federally funded support for low-income, first-generation, and disadvantaged students to access higher education - and aligns with the existing "National TRIO Programs Day." The resolution honors TRIO’s 61-year history, New Mexico’s early adoption of these programs, and their role in serving over 10,000 students annually with $13.5 million in federal funding. As a procedural memorial, it does not create new policies or funding but serves as symbolic acknowledgment of TRIO’s impact.

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 73: CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

HB 73 eliminates the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits seeking damages related to childhood sexual abuse in New Mexico, allowing survivors to file claims at any time regardless of when the abuse occurred. It directly affects survivors of childhood sexual abuse - defined as acts violating specific New Mexico criminal laws (e.g., criminal sexual penetration of a minor) - by removing the previous time limits (like the 24th birthday deadline or 3-year window after disclosure to a healthcare provider). The bill applies retroactively, meaning it enables lawsuits for past cases where time limits had already expired. Currently, the bill passed the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 3, 2025, and remains pending.

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 411: PHYSICIAN LOAN REPAYMENT ACT

SB 411 creates a program to repay medical school loans for physicians who commit to working in New Mexico's designated health shortage areas for four years. Eligible physicians must be licensed in New Mexico, reside in the state, and agree to practice in underserved communities. The state would repay up to $75,000 annually (capped at $300,000 total) toward qualifying education loans, excluding scholarships, personal loans, or debts from state aid programs. Physicians who fail to fulfill the service commitment face penalties including repayment of the award plus interest. The program is funded through a new state trust fund administered by the Higher Education Department.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 81: NM PROPERTY INSURANCE PGM. ASSOC. BOARD

SB 81 creates the New Mexico Property Insurance Program Association Board to administer the state's Fair Plan, which provides property insurance to residents and businesses unable to secure coverage in the regular market. The board, composed of nine members representing insurers, consumers, climate science, and risk management, will set actuarially sound premium rates (capped at $1 million for residential properties and $5 million for commercial properties) and establish operational rules. This directly affects property owners in high-risk areas and insurers required to participate in the Fair Plan. The bill also mandates that rates reflect expected losses, expenses, and reinsurance costs while ensuring equitable access to insurance.

passed · 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.)

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 44: SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE PREMIUM WORK GROUP

House Memorial 44 requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to form a working group during the 2025 interim to study rising health insurance premiums for New Mexico school employees and the current contribution structure under the Public School Insurance Authority Act. The act currently requires school districts to cover 80% of premiums for employees earning under $50,000 annually, 70% for $50,000-$60,000, and 60% for $60,000+. The working group would include state agencies, the Public School Insurance Authority, and school district representatives to analyze these costs. The memorial does not enact new policy but seeks a study to inform future decisions, though it was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SM 5: "ACEQUIA DAY"

Senate Memorial 5 (SM 5) designates February 11, 2025, as "Acequia Day" in the New Mexico Senate to honor acequias - traditional community-managed irrigation systems central to New Mexico's agricultural heritage, water governance, and cultural identity for centuries. The resolution recognizes acequias' role in sustaining rural livelihoods, preserving water-sharing traditions, and supporting local food production across New Mexico's over 700 community water systems. This symbolic memorial does not create new laws or alter policies but serves as a formal acknowledgment of acequias' historical and ongoing contributions to the state's water management and economy.

passed · 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

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 242: PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL ACT

HB 242, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow New Mexico psychologists to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer temporary in-person care (up to 30 days yearly) in other participating states without needing full licensure there. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses, requires shared access to disciplinary records via a coordinated database, and creates standardized certifications like the E.Passport for cross-state practice. This bill directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to provide services beyond New Mexico and their clients in states that adopt the compact. The compact aims to expand access to psychological care while maintaining public safety through coordinated licensing oversight among participating states. (Note: The bill is pending, having been postponed indefinitely in the Senate on June 3, 2025.)

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SJM 3: HIGHER ED BILINGUAL ED FACULTIES & DEGREE

This Senate Joint Memorial (SJM 3) requests the New Mexico Higher Education Department to develop a joint bachelor's degree in elementary bilingual multicultural education across four public universities (UNM, Western NM, NM Highlands, NM State). It also proposes scholarships for students and educators pursuing advanced degrees in bilingual education, increased faculty positions for bilingual programs, and college credit recognition for students with New Mexico’s "state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy." The memorial aims to address a shortage of bilingual teachers, aligning with state and federal mandates like the Martinez/Yazzie court ruling and the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act. It is a non-binding request to state agencies, not a law.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 444: TRANSFER ATHLETIC COMMISSION AUTHORITY

HB 444 transfers the New Mexico Athletic Commission's authority from its current structure to the Regulation and Licensing Department. It expands the commission from five to seven members, replaces the Medical Advisory Board with a Medical Advisory Committee, adds new licensing categories for fighters and events, and adjusts fees dedicated to the athletic commission fund. This bill directly affects athletic commission members, promoters, professional fighters (including boxers and mixed martial artists), and event coordinators by changing oversight and operational requirements. The bill, which passed the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate committee in June 2025, aims to streamline regulation under a single department.

Bill results