New Mexico Bills | MyRepTracker

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 206: CRIME VICTIM REPARATION ADDITIONAL CRIMES

This bill expands New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Act to include victims of assault, battery, criminal sexual contact, and armed robbery. It amends the law to explicitly list these offenses as qualifying for financial reparation, ensuring victims of these crimes can access compensation. The change modifies existing law (Section 31-22-8 NMSA 1978) by adding these specific crimes to the enumerated list of qualifying offenses. It does not cover property damage, as clarified in the current law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 213: EXPAND OPTOMETRY ACT

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 88: LAND GRANT-MERCED ASSISTANCE FUND CHANGES

HB 88 changes how funds from New Mexico's Land Grant-Merced Assistance Fund are distributed to eligible land grant communities. It raises the revenue threshold for full annual distributions from $50,000 to $100,000, creating new tiers: 75% distribution for $100,000-$250,000 revenue, 50% for $250,000-$500,000, and 25% for $500,000+ revenue. The bill also makes the fund "nonreverting," meaning undistributed funds no longer return to the general state fund. These changes directly affect land grant communities that meet compliance requirements, including having elected boards and audit certifications.

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HJR 7: CONSIDERATION OF BILLS IN ALL SESSIONS, CA

This constitutional amendment (HJR 7) proposes changing New Mexico's legislative session rules. It would limit regular sessions in even-numbered years to 30 days and restrict those sessions to only consider budgets, appropriations, revenue bills, and bills from the governor's special messages - plus veto overrides from prior sessions within the same two-year period. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election and would not affect how odd-year sessions operate (which may last 60 days). As a procedural change to the state constitution, it directly impacts legislative process, not specific policies or affected groups.

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HJR 6: SESSION LENGTH AND BILL CONSIDERATION, CA

This constitutional amendment (HJR 6) proposes changing New Mexico's legislative session structure. It would divide each biennium into two regular sessions (max 45 days each), starting the first session on the second Tuesday of January. The bill specifies that odd-numbered years would handle all bills, while even-numbered years would focus only on budgets/appropriations and bills from gubernatorial special messages. It also allows veto overrides for bills from any session within the same biennium. As a procedural change, it requires voter approval at the next general election.

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 195: COLLECTION OF MEDICAL MALPRACTICE JUDGEMENTS

HB 195 protects independent medical providers (like doctors, nurse practitioners, and specialists not employed by hospitals) from having personal income or assets used to satisfy medical malpractice judgments, unless the provider lacked proper insurance or licensing. The bill requires courts to block collection against personal assets if the provider maintained valid insurance covering the claim or met licensing standards under existing law. It also allows courts to reduce or dismiss awards if plaintiffs made irrelevant, coercive, or baseless allegations targeting the provider’s personal finances. The law applies to all medical malpractice claims filed after its effective date.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 138: ZONING LOT SIZE REQUIREMENTS

HB 138 prohibits New Mexico counties and municipalities from requiring minimum lot sizes for residential properties. This directly affects local zoning authorities, homebuilders, and homeowners in residential areas by removing a common zoning requirement. The bill includes exemptions for small disability community residences (serving ≤10 people) and traditional historic communities, but otherwise eliminates this zoning standard statewide. It does not address other zoning rules like building height or yard sizes.

Topics ✓ Housing

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 23: STUDY MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM

House Memorial 23 requests the Regulation and Licensing Department and Motor Vehicle Division to study reestablishing New Mexico's statewide motor vehicle safety inspection program. The study would examine benefits based on research showing states with such programs have 10.3% fewer traffic fatalities and 20% of vehicles in Missouri had safety defects detected during inspections. It directs the departments to report findings and implementation recommendations to state agencies and the legislature by 2026, following New Mexico's prior 1970s program that ended due to implementation challenges. This memorial does not create a new law but seeks data to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 28: ADVANCE ELECTION FOR ED. FREEDOM TAX PROGRAM

This House Memorial (HM 28) is a non-binding request to New Mexico's governor, asking them to formally opt the state into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program. It does not create new state law but urges the governor to submit an "advance election" to the IRS, allowing New Mexico residents to claim federal tax credits for donations to scholarship organizations supporting K-12 students. The program, enacted by federal law, enables dollar-for-dollar tax credits for charitable contributions to scholarship-granting groups, with no cost to New Mexico’s state budget. The memorial emphasizes that delaying this decision could redirect private donations to other states, potentially reducing educational funding opportunities for New Mexico families.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 234: DEFINITION OF FENTANYL

HB 234 defines "fentanyl" to include specific analogs like para-bromofentanyl and para-fluoroacetyl fentanyl, expanding the scope of substances covered under trafficking laws. This directly affects individuals charged with fentanyl trafficking by clarifying which substances trigger enhanced sentencing penalties. The bill amends sentencing provisions to apply stricter prison terms (3-5 years) based on the quantity of fentanyl or its analogs possessed, or if the defendant recruited others to traffic. The definition change ensures these specific synthetic opioids are treated as fentanyl under existing criminal sentencing statutes.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 130: NO COST-SHARING OF CERTAIN DRUGS

SB 130 prohibits copays and deductibles for specific cholesterol-related care under New Mexico health plans. It requires coverage for generic cholesterol medications and coronary artery calcium scans without cost-sharing for adults over 49 with intermediate heart disease risk (determined by medical algorithms), unless they have family history or diagnosed symptoms. The bill also eliminates cost-sharing for second-line cholesterol medications if generic drugs fail or cause adverse reactions. It excludes short-term plans, catastrophic plans, and high-deductible health plans until deductibles are met, as defined by federal law.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 65: CYFD SHORT-TERM STABILIZATION PILOT PGM

HB 65 creates a three-year pilot program in seven New Mexico counties (Dona Ana, Chaves, San Juan, McKinley, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Eddy) to improve stability for children in state custody. It provides in-home or home-like placements with enhanced services - including 24-hour crisis support, weekly therapy, parent training, and monthly family sessions - to reduce placement disruptions. The program prioritizes children with frequent placement history, behavioral health needs, or risk of disruption, and includes specialized incentives for foster homes caring for adolescents, siblings, or those needing short-term stabilization. The state appropriates $2.5 million to fund the program through fiscal year 2029, requiring collaboration between the Children, Youth and Families Department and Health Care Authority.

Topics ✓ Healthcare