HB 449 creates a state fund to finance major capital projects at New Mexico's public higher education institutions. It specifically funds projects costing $50 million or more for instruction/research at four-year universities and student housing/life projects at both two- and four-year schools. The bill requires institutions to provide matching funds (25-50% from non-state sources) and comply with space/design standards set by the Higher Education Department, with limited waivers available if institutions cannot afford matches. The bill passed the Senate but was pocket vetoed by the governor on April 14, 2025, meaning it did not become law.
HB 571, the "Building Housing Communities Act," creates a program to recognize New Mexico municipalities that adopt zoning and land-use strategies increasing housing options. Municipalities meeting department-approved criteria would earn a "Building New Mexico Community" designation, with the Department of Finance and Administration developing specific strategies to reduce regulatory barriers. Key provisions include addressing urban/rural differences, simplifying development reviews, lowering construction costs, and expanding permitted housing types. The bill aims to directly support local governments in boosting housing availability through targeted zoning reforms.
HB 209 requires the Sunshine Portal website to include direct links to the exact state law that created each government fund, making it easier for the public to find the legal basis for state spending. This amendment modifies Section 10-16D-3 of New Mexico law, specifically adding a requirement in subsection D(22) for the portal to link users directly to statutory provisions establishing funds. The bill affects state agencies responsible for maintaining the portal and the public seeking transparency about how taxpayer dollars are allocated. It does not change fund creation or operations but improves access to the legal foundation of state financial accounts.
HB 183 adjusts retirement eligibility requirements for magistrate judges in New Mexico. It increases the required years of service from five to eight for magistrates who joined the system on or after July 1, 2014, to qualify for normal retirement at age 65. The bill also updates fund administration rules, requiring investment income to be credited to the Magistrate Retirement Fund and clarifying how different account types (like member contributions and employer funds) are managed. These changes directly affect magistrate judges who joined after 2014, altering their path to retirement benefits. The bill passed the legislature but received a pocket veto on April 14, 2025, meaning it did not become law.
HB 182 amends New Mexico's judicial retirement system to adjust service credit requirements for judges retiring under the current plan. It reduces the required years of service for judges joining after July 1, 2014, from eight to five years at age 65 (or fifteen years at age 60), aligning with earlier provisions for other judge groups. The bill also updates how retirement fund income from investments is credited and distributed among different account types (like member contributions and retirement reserves). These changes directly affect current and future New Mexico judges participating in the judicial retirement system.
HB 203 requires all employees of New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to use only state-issued electronic devices for work-related communication. The bill mandates hourly backups of all electronic records (including emails, texts, and documents) generated during work duties, with these records retained for 24 years after an employee leaves. It also requires department-approved software compliant with data protection laws and prohibits the use of personal devices for official business. These provisions apply directly to CYFD staff performing departmental duties.
HB 352 reorganizes New Mexico's magistrate courts by closing certain local offices and consolidating operations in specific districts. It merges divisions in Grant (moving all operations to Silver City by 2027), relocates San Juan District courts from Farmington to Aztec (effective 2027), and adjusts locations for courts in McKinley, Santa Fe, Torrance, Dona Ana, and Lea counties. The bill changes where judges hold court sessions, modifies election districts for magistrate judges, and updates travel routes for judges serving satellite locations. These changes directly affect court operations and accessibility for residents in the affected counties.
HB 487 amends New Mexico's Hispanic Education Act to explicitly protect and preserve the state's heritage Spanish language and culture as part of the law's purpose. It requires the Hispanic Education Advisory Council to meet at biannual Hispanic Education Summits and allows council members to receive travel and daily allowances (per diem and mileage) for their service. The bill directly affects the advisory council, public schools, and educational institutions serving Hispanic students across New Mexico. Key provisions update the act's goals to include cultural preservation and formalize council meeting requirements with compensation for members. The changes aim to strengthen collaboration between schools, communities, and policymakers to support Hispanic student success.
HB 156 increases minimum annual salaries for non-vocational teachers in New Mexico public schools at three licensure levels. It raises the base salary for level one teachers from $50,000 to $55,000, for level two teachers from $60,000 to $65,000, and for level three-A teachers from $70,000 (to a higher amount). The changes apply to standard nine-and-one-half-month contracts and affect all public school districts, excluding vocational education teachers from these increases. The bill directly impacts classroom teachers, counselors, and administrators holding these specific licenses.
SB 78 amends New Mexico law to establish an independent practice role for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), allowing them to provide anesthesia care without direct physician supervision in most settings. This directly affects CRNAs and patients in New Mexico healthcare facilities, removing prior requirements for physician collaboration in anesthesia care. The bill defines "independent role" as performing all anesthesia-related actions (including prescribing certain drugs in emergency, surgical, or perinatal settings) without oversight, while clarifying their prescribing authority based on a board-developed formulary. The law also includes provisions for expedited licensure for CRNAs moving from other states and maintains requirements for national certification and continuing education.
HB 195 establishes a tiered salary system for school nurses in New Mexico, aligning minimum salaries with corresponding teacher salary levels (e.g., level one nurses earn the same as level one teachers). It creates three license tiers: level one (provisional for new nurses), level two (experienced), and level three (advanced), requiring annual competency evaluations and mentorship for level one nurses. The bill also adds a "national board certification" program unit, giving school districts extra funding for nurses certified by the National Board for Certification of School Nurses, contingent on districts providing a salary differential. These changes directly affect public school nurses and districts, aiming to improve recruitment and retention through structured compensation and certification incentives.
HB 120, the "Accessibility Act," requires all New Mexico state agencies to make their websites, mobile apps, and physical facilities compliant with digital (WCAG 2.1 AA) and physical (ADA) accessibility standards by April 2026. It creates an Office of Accessibility within the governor’s commission on disability to enforce these standards, provide training, and oversee agency compliance through regular reports. The bill directly affects people with disabilities by ensuring equal access to state services and empowers individuals to file lawsuits against non-compliant agencies. The bill passed both legislative chambers in March 2025 but was vetoed by the governor on April 11, 2025, preventing it from becoming law.
