New Mexico Bills

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 137: STOCKING OF CERTAIN DRUGS IN PHARMACIES

HB 137 requires New Mexico retail pharmacies to maintain specific stock levels of buprenorphine (a medication used to treat opioid use disorder) based on their past dispensing rates. Pharmacies must calculate a minimum daily stock requirement every 30 days and keep at least three additional prescriptions (including both buprenorphine-only and combination products), with slightly lower requirements for community-based pharmacies. Wholesale drug distributors must report monthly to the state board any denials or delays in filling buprenorphine orders from pharmacies, including reasons for such actions. Violations could result in fines up to $2,500 for pharmacies and $10,000 for distributors, with the state health department using the data to publish biannual reports on access to buprenorphine.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 151: CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

HB 151 extends the time for New Mexico residents to file civil lawsuits related to childhood sexual abuse. It sets the deadline as the later of the victim's 58th birthday or three years after first disclosing the abuse to a licensed medical or mental health provider. The bill also revives lawsuits barred by previous deadlines on or before July 1, 2026, allowing them to be filed by June 30, 2029. This change removes all other time limits for such cases, making the new deadline the sole applicable statute of limitations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 171: NORTHERN NM STATE SCHOOL DOCUMENTARY

SB 171 appropriates $200,000 from the state general fund to the Board of Regents of Northern New Mexico State School for producing an educational documentary about historical figure Padre Antonio Jose Martinez. The funds must be spent by fiscal year 2027, with any unexpended balance reverting to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Northern New Mexico State School and the state budget, providing specific funding for a historical documentary project. It does not change existing laws or create new programs, but allocates resources for a defined educational media project. The bill is currently under review by Senate committees.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 190: GILA REGIONAL CANCER CENTER BONDS

This bill authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to issue revenue bonds totaling up to $11.7 million for cancer center improvements at the Gila Regional Medical Center in Grant County and Nor-Lea General Hospital in Lea County. The funds would cover construction, equipment (like a PET scanner and clean room), and technology upgrades, including an electronic health records system, to enhance cancer treatment services. Local officials must certify the need for bond issuance, and existing funds from the rural county cancer treatment fund may supplement bond proceeds. The bill directly affects these two rural medical facilities and their patients by expanding cancer care infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 268: LAND GRANT & ACEQUIA MUSEUM

HB 268 appropriates $100,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Cultural Affairs Department for a fiscal year 2027 feasibility study on creating a statewide museum focused on land grants and acequias (traditional water-sharing systems). The study will examine costs and options for locating the museum, including purchasing, leasing, or using land/buildings like the Mercedes Unidas center, or placing it in Santa Fe or Albuquerque. It does not fund the museum itself, only the study to determine if and how such a museum could be created. The bill directs the department to report findings by the end of FY2027, with any unused funds reverting to the general fund.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 104: COUNTY & TRIBAL HEALTH COUNCILS ACT FUNDING

HB 104 appropriates $8 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Department of Health for fiscal years 2027-2028 to support county and tribal health councils under the County and Tribal Health Councils Act. The bill specifically allocates $1 million to contract for services assisting the Department of Health in supporting these councils. Any unspent funds by the end of 2028 would revert to the general fund. This funding directly enables local health councils to operate and engage with state health initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 99: RURAL LIBRARIES ENDOWMENT FUND

SB 99 transfers $29.5 million from the state's general fund to the Rural Libraries Endowment Fund. This funding directly supports New Mexico's rural public libraries by providing a dedicated financial resource. The bill creates a permanent endowment to help sustain library services in rural communities. It was introduced by Senators Liz Stefanics and Pete Campos and passed out of committee in January 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 194: EXPAND METRO REDEVELOPMENT CODE & PROJECTS

HB 194 expands New Mexico's Metropolitan Redevelopment Program to include areas with housing shortages, defined as locations experiencing affordable housing scarcity, rising costs, or low vacancy rates. The bill allows redevelopment projects in these areas to include qualifying multifamily housing and exempts such properties from property taxation for up to 20 years. This directly affects developers and property owners building or maintaining affordable housing in designated shortage areas. The policy aims to increase housing supply by reducing financial barriers for developers in regions with critical housing needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 249: ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS TAX CREDIT

HB 249 creates a New Mexico tax credit for health care practitioners who adopt digital medical records systems. It allows eligible practitioners (like physicians, nurses, and psychologists) to claim a credit equal to their payments for electronic medical records, up to $6,000 per year, if they meet specific requirements: providing at least 1,584 hours of care annually, working at a small health care institution (employing ≤10 practitioners), and maintaining payment records. The credit is non-refundable and cannot be carried forward if it exceeds tax liability, and practitioners cannot claim it if they already use a separate rural health care tax credit. The credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 162: MOTOR VEHICLE CRIMES & PENALTIES

HB 162 creates a new crime of "negligent homicide by vehicle" (a fourth-degree felony) for causing death while violating reckless driving laws. It increases penalties for homicide by vehicle under the influence or with prior DWI convictions (adding four years per prior DWI within 10 years). The bill also allocates $250,000 for a statewide public education campaign on reckless driving, funded from the general fund for fiscal year 2027. This legislation directly affects drivers who cause death or injury through reckless or impaired driving. It modifies existing criminal penalties without changing the underlying reckless driving statute.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 263: SCHOOL MATH & SCIENCE CHANGES

HB 263 requires New Mexico public schools serving grades 6-8 to automatically enroll students who meet specific academic criteria - such as scoring highest on state math assessments, end-of-course exams, or earning an A in their current math class - into available advanced math courses. Schools must also allow enrollment upon student or parent request and honor parental objections to automatic placement. School districts and charter schools must annually report detailed data on enrollment, student demographics (race, sex, income), and course availability to the Mathematics and Science Bureau. The bureau will compile and publish these reports online, excluding personally identifiable information. This law aims to standardize access to advanced math courses while tracking equity through mandatory reporting.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 198: LAS VEGAS ENDANGERED SPECIES HATCHERY

SB 198 appropriates $10 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Department of Game and Fish for designing, planning, and constructing an aquatic endangered species hatchery and rearing station in Las Vegas during fiscal year 2027. The bill directly affects the Department of Game and Fish, which will use the funds to build this facility for protecting endangered aquatic species. Any unspent money by the end of fiscal year 2027 must revert to the general fund. This is a funding bill with no policy changes beyond authorizing the construction project.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

Bill results