New Mexico Bills

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 21, 2025

SJM 1: FOREST RESTORATION & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

SJM 1 is a Senate Joint Memorial requesting New Mexico's Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and Economic Development Department to jointly study how to accelerate forest restoration through economic development. The study will identify missing business opportunities, cost-reduction strategies for moving wood byproducts, successful models from other states, and ways to leverage existing programs to create markets for wood products. This would help reduce wildfire risks by making forest thinning more economically viable, directly affecting state departments and potentially wood processing businesses, communities, and forest management efforts. The departments must report findings by September 2025, but the memorial itself does not enact new laws or funding.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 197: EXPAND "SILVER ALERT" DEFINITION

HB 197 expands New Mexico's "Silver Alert" system to include missing persons of any age showing signs of cognitive decline or impairment, not just those with Alzheimer's or dementia. This change directly affects law enforcement and families reporting missing adults who may have conditions like dementia, brain injuries, or other cognitive issues, regardless of age. The key mechanism updates the legal definition in the Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act to trigger alerts when a reporter believes an individual displays symptoms of cognitive decline. This makes the alert system more inclusive for vulnerable adults beyond the current age-based or dementia-specific criteria. The bill was signed into law after passing both legislative chambers in March 2025.

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 21, 2025

HB 5: OFFICE OF CHILD ADVOCATE ACT

HB 5 creates a new independent Office of Child Advocate in New Mexico to oversee child welfare services. It establishes a State Child Advocate position appointed by the governor (with a six-year term), selected by a nine-member committee with diverse expertise including foster care experience and Indian Child Welfare knowledge. The office will review services provided to children in foster care, group homes, or juvenile facilities, handle complaints via a toll-free hotline, and ensure policies protect children's rights. The bill was enacted after passing the legislature and being signed into law on March 21, 2025.

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 161: STATE PARK DAY PASSES FOR VETERANS

HB 161 provides New Mexico resident veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces, reserves, or public health service (with minimum service requirements) with free state park access. It grants one annual day-use pass for unlimited entry into state parks and recreation areas, plus one annual camping pass for unlimited use of state park camping facilities. The law, now signed into effect, requires veterans to provide proof of service to the state parks division but does not mandate disability verification. This policy directly benefits eligible veterans by removing entry and camping fees at New Mexico's state parks.

Topics ✓ Veterans

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 175: FOREST & WATERSHED BUFFER PROJECTS

HB 175 amends New Mexico's Forest and Watershed Restoration Act to make projects creating or maintaining "buffers" (treated areas reducing wildfire fuel) in wildland-urban interfaces eligible for funding. These buffers act as barriers between homes and forests to limit wildfire spread and create safer zones for firefighters. The bill specifically adds this type of project to the list of eligible uses for the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund, which previously supported broader restoration efforts. It directly affects communities in fire-prone areas where homes meet undeveloped land, providing a new funding pathway for wildfire prevention infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 5: GAME COMMISSION REFORM

SB 5 reforms New Mexico's wildlife management structure by renaming the State Game Commission to the State Wildlife Commission and the Department of Game and Fish to the Department of Wildlife. It establishes a new nominating committee for appointments, sets specific qualifications for commissioners (including a rancher, conservationist, hunter/angler, and scientist), and limits commissioners to two terms after 2027. The bill also requires fee adjustments for licenses to account for inflation and provides discounts for residents receiving SNAP benefits. These changes aim to modernize wildlife management governance while expanding conservation-focused representation.

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 20, 2025

SB 283: CYFD & USE OF FEDERAL BENEFITS

SB 283 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to determine federal benefits eligibility for children in its custody within 60 days of entry and annually thereafter. CYFD must apply for eligible benefits on the child's behalf, act as the child's representative payee (if no one else is available), and manage those benefits solely for the child's needs - prohibiting use of benefits to cover CYFD care costs. The bill mandates annual financial accounting to the child and relevant parties (like guardians or tribes), provides financial literacy tools before a child leaves custody, and requires CYFD to release remaining funds to the child (if 18+) or their parent/guardian upon custody termination. CYFD must also submit annual reports to the legislature starting in 2026 detailing benefit usage. This bill directly affects children in state custody and CYFD's administrative procedures for federal benefit management.

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 13, 2025

SM 22: K-12 WATER CONSERVATION CURRICULUM

This Senate Memorial (SM 22) requests the New Mexico Public Education Department to study developing a K-12 water conservation curriculum. It asks the department to examine how to integrate water conservation concepts into existing subjects like math, science, and history, and to report findings by December 1, 2025. The memorial does not create a new curriculum but directs a feasibility study to inform future educational planning for students statewide.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 4, 2025

HM 23: "EXCELLENCE IN RIO RANCHO DAY"

This bill is a ceremonial resolution, not a law. It declares February 20, 2025 as "Excellence in Rio Rancho Day" in the New Mexico House of Representatives. The resolution recognizes Rio Rancho's growth, economic progress (including median income increases), safety rankings, school district achievements, and business community. It has no policy impact or binding effect; it simply honors the city through a symbolic declaration.

signed · New Mexico · House Feb 28, 2025

HB 8: CRIMINAL COMPETENCY & TREATMENT

HB 8 requires competency evaluation reports for defendants to include a professional's opinion on whether the defendant meets criteria for involuntary commitment or assisted outpatient treatment if found incompetent to stand trial. It creates community-based competency restoration programs for non-dangerous defendants and expands the list of crimes that could trigger commitment proceedings. The bill also mandates courts to advise prosecutors to consider commitment after criminal case dismissal and allows competency reports to be used directly in mental health treatment proceedings. This affects defendants found incompetent, courts, prosecutors, and mental health systems by integrating criminal competency evaluations with mental health treatment pathways.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 3: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH REFORM & INVESTMENT ACT

SB 3, the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, creates a statewide system for coordinating behavioral health services across New Mexico. It requires each geographic region to develop a collaborative regional plan (with input from providers, patients, and agencies) outlining a four-phase expansion of services, prioritizing underserved communities and including performance measures. The law establishes statewide standards for care, mandates annual reporting on plan implementation, and allocates state funds to support regional priorities - such as expanding non-acute care for uninsured patients - while requiring managed care organizations to eliminate patient caps. This directly affects behavioral health providers, patients, and state agencies like the administrative office of the courts and the health care authority, aiming to improve service coordination and access.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 1: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TRUST FUND

SB 1 creates a permanent Behavioral Health Trust Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, funded by a $1 billion transfer from the General Fund. The Trust Fund will invest money and distribute 5% of its average market value annually (starting July 1, 2026) to the Behavioral Health Program Fund. This Program Fund will finance specific services like mental health/substance abuse treatment, infrastructure, workforce support, and regional health plans. The bill directly affects state-funded behavioral health programs and their recipients by establishing a dedicated, ongoing funding source.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

Bill results