HB 134 creates a new crime for knowingly installing a GPS tracking device to monitor another person's location without their knowledge, consent, or permission. This law applies to individuals who place such devices on vehicles or property to track movements, classifying the offense as a petty misdemeanor. Exemptions cover certified law enforcement officers acting in official duties and licensed private investigators. The bill defines a "global positioning system" as any device transmitting location data to track a person, vehicle, or property.
HB 119 adds a new funding category for school districts based on the number of licensed teachers with bilingual endorsements working in approved programs. School districts earn additional state funding for each such teacher, but must verify the teacher holds a valid bilingual endorsement, works in a department-approved program, and receives a salary differential (extra pay) equal to the funding value. This directly affects bilingual-certified teachers and school districts receiving state education funding. The bill modifies New Mexico’s school finance formula to include this category as a separate "program unit" for calculating district funding. It does not change teacher certification requirements but ties funding to verified bilingual staff and their compensation.
SB 67 establishes "the best interests of the child" as the primary and controlling standard for all judicial decisions and actions by the Children, Youth and Families Department in abuse and neglect cases. It amends the Children's Code to prioritize child safety above all else, requires courts to ensure guardians ad litem and child attorneys zealously represent the child's interests, and mandates written findings for all decisions. The bill clarifies definitions like "aggravated circumstances" (including severe abuse or criminal convictions involving children) and "aggravated physical neglect" to guide case determinations. This legislation directly affects children in abuse/neglect cases, courts, child welfare professionals, and legal representatives in New Mexico.
HB 106 creates a New Mexico income tax credit for parents who provide home-based child care for children under age 5, instead of enrolling them in state-funded or private child care or pre-kindergarten programs. The credit provides $1,000 per month per child for months the child is not eligible for public school, with annual inflation adjustments starting in 2027. Parents must apply for certification through the state's early childhood department to claim the credit, and any unused portion can be refunded. This policy directly affects New Mexico taxpayers with young children who choose home-based care over licensed facilities.
HB 86 creates the Children, Youth and Families Commission and appoints a Superintendent to oversee New Mexico's child welfare system. The bill directly affects the Children, Youth and Families Department, courts, tribes, and families involved in child welfare cases by establishing this new governing body. Key provisions include defining the Commission's powers and duties, replacing the previous "substitute care advisory council," and requiring the Superintendent to coordinate child welfare services. The bill amends existing law to implement this structural change, focusing on centralized oversight rather than specific program details.
SB 85 amends New Mexico's Abuse and Neglect Act and Family Violence Protection Act to improve coordination with military installations. It requires child welfare and domestic violence agencies to notify designated military authorities when a military member is involved in abuse allegations, and mandates courts to allow remote appearances for domestic violence protection hearings. The bill also requires sending copies of protection orders to military authorities if a party is a service member. These changes directly affect military families and service members in New Mexico facing abuse or neglect cases. The law aims to streamline communication between civilian agencies and military installations while maintaining existing legal protections.
HB 117 requires New Mexico's public colleges and universities to collect and report voluntary data about students' parents' or guardians' educational attainment, including extended family caregivers (fictive kin). The data must be aggregated at the state or local level to protect privacy and shared with the state's Higher Education Department. This aggregated information will be used to identify demographic gaps, improve educational services, support research, and meet federal grant requirements. The bill does not mandate data collection but sets standards for how institutions must handle it if they choose to gather such information.
HB 54 removes the requirement for protests when drilling replacement wells within 100 feet of an original well, directly affecting water right owners seeking replacements and neighboring water users. It allows owners to drill such wells without public protest if they meet specific conditions: using the same water source, same water amount, proving an emergency, and filing notice with the state engineer before drilling. Affected neighbors cannot block the well but may later sue for damages if harmed. The bill streamlines the process for well replacements during emergencies while maintaining legal recourse for damages. (Note: Bill is pre-filed and not yet active.)
SB 72 prohibits former New Mexico state legislators from accepting compensation as lobbyists for two years after their term ends. It also bans employers from paying former legislators to lobby during this period. The bill requires lobbyists to disclose in their registration whether they served as a legislator within the past two years, and mandates that the Secretary of State notify employers if a lobbyist has recent legislative experience. These provisions apply to all legislators serving on or after January 1, 2027, and become effective January 1, 2027. The law aims to prevent potential conflicts of interest by creating a cooling-off period for legislators transitioning to lobbying roles.
SB 84 creates a two-year pilot program offering a one-credit high school course on water management and conservation, directly affecting participating schools and students in New Mexico. The Public Education Department will develop the curriculum with partners like higher education and tribal nations, select three schools (one from each of three specific county types), and report annually on program effectiveness. The bill appropriates $5 million for fiscal years 2027-2028 to cover curriculum development, teacher salaries, and operational costs, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund. The program aims to provide practical environmental education preparing students for water-related careers.
HB 84 defines exposure of a child to Schedule I/II controlled substances (including fentanyl) during pregnancy as child abuse, directly affecting parents or caregivers who use illegal drugs during pregnancy and newborns exposed to those substances. The bill requires healthcare providers to report substance-exposed newborns to the Children, Youth and Families Department and mandates "plans of safe care" for these infants. It updates the definition of "neglected child" and specifies that lawful prescription use does not trigger the abuse classification. The law creates new reporting protocols and temporary custody provisions for infants at risk due to prenatal drug exposure.
HB 135 modifies New Mexico's election petition rules to make it easier for candidates to qualify. It allows voters to sign multiple nominating petitions for the same office (previously limited to one), reduces the signature requirement for independent candidates, and permits unaffiliated voters to sign petitions in primary elections. These changes directly affect voters, independent candidates, and minor party candidates by lowering barriers to candidacy. The bill focuses on concrete procedural updates to signature collection and eligibility, without altering party registration requirements or election timing.
