This bill establishes the New Mexico-Ireland Trade Commission within the Economic Development Department to strengthen economic ties between New Mexico and Ireland. The commission, composed of appointed members including legislative leaders, Irish-American community representatives, and sector experts (agriculture, energy, higher education), will focus on advancing trade in technology, agriculture, and energy. It must hold annual meetings, promote business and academic exchanges, and submit yearly reports to state leaders by December 1. The commission aims to foster mutual investment and policy collaboration without imposing new regulations or taxes.
SB 60 reduces tax rates for businesses on income, gross receipts, and gaming devices while increasing the bingo and raffle tax. It repeals nine tax laws - including the estate tax, gasoline tax, and railroad tax - and removes authorization for tax increment funding for redevelopment projects. The bill adds a gross receipts tax exemption for donations to nonprofits and imposes new registration fees for electric vehicles. These changes primarily affect businesses, nonprofits, and local governments managing tax revenues.
HB 22 makes it illegal to distribute non-consensual "sensitive deepfake images" in New Mexico - defined as digitally altered images depicting private body parts (like uncovered genitals or a woman's breast below the areola) or intimate acts. It expands existing privacy laws to cover these deepfakes, creating new criminal penalties (misdemeanor for first offense, felony for repeat offenses) and threatening to distribute such images. Victims can now sue for libel, slander, or invasion of privacy in civil court, recovering actual damages, punitive damages, attorney fees, and profits gained by the perpetrator. The law specifically targets non-consensual distribution, excluding platforms from liability for user content and clarifying that consent to create a deepfake doesn’t cover its distribution.
SB 49 creates a three-year pilot program in New Mexico public schools to test a voluntary rating system for library materials based on age-appropriateness. Participating school districts and charter schools must implement the rating system, publish rated materials for parents, and administer a department-approved survey to measure parent engagement and trust. Each selected school receives $25,000 upon selection and another $25,000 after completing the survey phase, with $3.21 million allocated from the public education reform fund for the project. The program requires geographic diversity in participant selection and mandates annual reports to the legislative education committee, focusing on evaluating how the rating system impacts parent-school relationships.
HB 93 increases New Mexico's standard income tax deduction to 205% of the federal standard deduction amount. This change directly affects individual taxpayers who file state income taxes and claim the standard deduction instead of itemizing deductions. The bill amends the state's tax code to adjust "net income" calculations by expanding the deduction, lowering taxable income for qualifying filers. This policy change would reduce the state income tax liability for eligible taxpayers without requiring them to itemize expenses. The bill is currently pending referral to relevant legislative committees.
HB 51 repeals a delayed repeal of a fee for spay and neuter programs established in 2020. This bill removes the provision that would have postponed the fee's elimination, ensuring the fee is permanently removed without further delay. The fee was likely collected from pet owners during licensing or registration processes. As a result, pet owners in New Mexico will no longer be charged this fee for spay/neuter program services.
HB 179 allows legal parties (like prosecutors or defense attorneys) to reference sealed juvenile records in specific court proceedings, including pretrial detention hearings, conditions of release, and sentencing. This change applies to individuals whose juvenile records were legally sealed under New Mexico law, meaning their sealed records can now be considered in these limited contexts. The bill amends existing sealing rules to permit the use of a sealed juvenile record's existence and contents in written pleadings for these proceedings, while maintaining confidentiality for all other purposes. It does not alter the criteria for sealing juvenile records or the general confidentiality protections for sealed files.
House Memorial 12, introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Thomson, requests the Governor designate May 2026 as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in New Mexico. The memorial highlights that communication disorders affect one in ten New Mexico families and emphasizes the role of speech and hearing professionals in providing treatment. This non-binding resolution aims to raise awareness about these conditions and support for affected individuals and their families.
This constitutional amendment (HJR 8) would require New Mexico municipalities or counties to refund property taxes paid by owners when local governments fail to enforce public nuisance laws (e.g., unaddressed blight or safety hazards) on the owner's property. If a property owner incurs costs to mitigate such issues due to the government's inaction, the municipality or county must refund up to the prior year's property tax amount for that property. The property owner must prove ownership and the actual costs incurred to qualify for the refund. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending committee review.
SB 158 creates a five-year pilot program in New Mexico public schools to issue micro-credentials (certifications for specific competencies) to site administrators and teachers. The program focuses on equity-centered instruction and leadership, aligned with the Martinez-Yazzie decision, targeting historically underserved students including bilingual learners, English language learners, and Native American students. It requires performance-based assessments for competency, phases development and validation with 50+ participants, then scales to 80 administrators and 1,100 teachers over three years of statewide implementation starting in 2028. The bill appropriates $3 million for implementation from 2027-2031, with the department required to report on outcomes for underserved student groups and program effectiveness.
HB 187 creates a state-funded grant program to help rural hospitals cover medical malpractice insurance premiums. Eligible hospitals - defined as those licensed in rural or frontier areas operating within health care underserved regions - can apply for grants to pay for approved malpractice insurance. The bill appropriates $66 million for fiscal year 2026 and subsequent years, with unspent funds not reverting to the general fund. The Department of Health will administer the program, requiring hospitals to use grant money solely for premiums and submit annual reports on financial stability, staffing, and patient access.
Senate Memorial 10 requests New Mexico's Energy Department to form a working group to design a pilot project studying portable solar devices (plug-in/balcony systems) for low-income households. The pilot would install these devices in 5-10 households to measure monthly energy cost savings and assess grid impacts on utilities. The working group, including utilities and nonprofits, must report findings to lawmakers by November 2026. This study aims to evaluate a potential solution for energy insecurity, as low-income residents spend 16-30% of income on energy costs versus the state average of 3%. The bill does not fund installations but seeks data to inform future policy.
