SB 169 provides a temporary cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) of 1.68% annually for certain retired New Mexico public employees starting July 1, 2026, covering fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This applies to normal retirees over age 65 with at least two years of retirement, disability retirees, and eligible survivor beneficiaries. Additionally, the bill includes a higher 2.5% COLA for specific subgroups: retirees with 25+ years of service and pensions under $25,000, disability retirees in that pension bracket, and retirees who turned 75 before 2020. The $10 million appropriation from the state general fund covers these adjustments, with unspent funds remaining in the retirement system.
This bill amends New Mexico law to establish specific penalties for cockfighting, separate from existing dog fighting rules. It creates a tiered penalty system: a first conviction for cockfighting is a petty misdemeanor, a second conviction is a misdemeanor, and third or subsequent convictions are a fourth-degree felony. The law directly affects individuals who sponsor, arrange, or participate in cockfights for monetary gain or entertainment, including those present without attempting to stop the event. The bill does not change penalties for dog fighting, which remain as fourth-degree felonies under current law.
Senate Memorial 12 requests New Mexico state agencies to identify a public location for a commemorative site honoring Andres "Dre" Arellanes, a civil rights advocate who died in 2023. Arellanes gained national attention after a 2007 police incident in Albuquerque where he was tasered multiple times, later becoming a key figure in police reform efforts. The memorial directs the General Services Department, Department of Transportation, and Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to recommend a suitable site (such as a state park or roadway) to the legislative finance committee. This is a procedural request with no policy changes, solely focused on recognizing his advocacy work.
SB 93 creates a 50% corporate income tax credit for New Mexico railroads that make qualified infrastructure investments, such as track reconstruction, new rail spurs, or facilities for new customers. It directly affects railroads classified as Class 2 or 3 by the federal government or owners/lessees of rail spurs in New Mexico, with credit limits of $5,000 per mile of track for maintenance/replacement or $1 million per new customer project. The credit requires Department of Transportation certification, has a $6 million annual cap, and allows transfer of unused credits between taxpayers. Its purpose is to incentivize rail expansions that would not occur without the credit, aiming to increase freight capacity and reduce highway congestion.
SB 44 appropriates $2 million from the state general fund to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NM Tech) for seismology equipment and expanding monitoring capabilities at its Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. The funding, to be used in fiscal year 2027, supports partnership with the Energy Department’s Oil Conservation Division to enhance seismic monitoring. Unspent funds at year-end would revert to the general fund. This bill directly affects NM Tech’s geology bureau and the state’s oil conservation operations through infrastructure upgrades.
SB 10 creates New Mexico's Health Training Corps within the Department of Health to address healthcare shortages in underserved areas. The bill establishes a stipend program paying experienced health professionals $100 per hour (max $10,000 annually) for training health students and newly licensed providers at designated health training sites. It appropriates $3 million for the program to recruit preceptors, cover stipends, and provide support, with funds remaining available year-to-year. The initiative directly affects preceptors, health professional students, and newly licensed providers working in underserved communities, prioritizing behavioral health, primary care, and obstetrics/gynecology services.
SB 32 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking cases to six years from when the crime is reported to law enforcement. It increases the age of protection for victims of child sexual exploitation by prostitution from 16 to 18 years, making it a crime to profit from children under 18 in such acts. The bill adds human trafficking and child exploitation victims to the Victims of Crime Act, defines "harm" to include psychological and financial impacts, and prohibits reduced sentences for human trafficking convictions. These changes directly affect victims, prosecutors, and defendants in human trafficking cases across New Mexico.
HB 56 appropriates $1 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Veterans' Services Department for fiscal year 2027. The funding directly assists veterans and their families in identifying and accessing existing behavioral health care services. Key provisions include a one-time allocation with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2027. This bill does not create new services but provides resources to help veterans navigate available care options. It is a funding measure, not a policy change affecting service delivery.
SB 46 appropriates $130,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Department of Environment for fiscal year 2027. The bill directs the department to study opportunities for diverting organic waste (like food scraps and yard trimmings) from landfills and to conduct a waste characterization study assessing current waste types and quantities statewide. The department must report findings to the environmental legislative committee by June 30, 2027, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund. This bill focuses solely on researching potential waste diversion benefits, not implementing new waste management rules.
HB 77 creates a corporate income tax credit for businesses renovating vacant buildings or lots in New Mexico that have been unoccupied for at least two years. The credit covers 30% of renovation costs for properties vacant 2-5 years (capped at $2 million per business) or 40% for properties vacant 5+ years (capped at $4 million), provided at least 15% of new housing units are affordable for low/moderate income residents (defined as ≤85% of local median income). Businesses must get pre-certification before work begins and post-completion certification, with the credit being transferable or carry-forwardable for up to five years. The credit expires in 2038, has an annual spending limit of $100 million (with $50 million reserved for non-rural areas), and applies to projects starting in 2026.
HB 213 proposes to expand the scope of practice for optometrists in New Mexico by adding specific minor surgical procedures to the definition of "practice of optometry." The bill would allow optometrists to perform procedures like removing superficial eyelid lesions, foreign bodies from the eye, and certain laser treatments for conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma - previously restricted to ophthalmologists. It also grants the Board of Optometry additional authority to develop certification standards for pharmaceutical use and laser procedures. This change directly affects optometrists in New Mexico by expanding their permitted clinical services without physician supervision. The bill, currently in committee review, does not alter existing exemptions for physicians or eyeglass sellers.
HB 55 would allow first responder retirees (including law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel) and their unmarried surviving spouses to deduct 50% of their retirement pay earned from first responder service from their state income tax. To claim this deduction, taxpayers must submit proof of eligibility to the New Mexico tax department and report the deduction as required. The policy applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and the deduction would be counted in the state’s tax expenditure budget. This change directly affects eligible retirees by reducing their taxable income related to first responder service.
