New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 62: RURAL LIBRARIES ENDOWMENT FUND

SB 62 transfers $29.5 million from New Mexico's general fund to create a permanent Rural Libraries Endowment Fund. This fund will provide ongoing financial support to public libraries in rural areas across the state. The bill directly affects rural libraries by establishing a dedicated, long-term funding source instead of relying on annual appropriations. The key mechanism is the one-time transfer of funds to ensure sustained library services in underserved communities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 266: PENALTY FOR SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN

HB 266 increases penalties for sexual exploitation of children in New Mexico by elevating certain offenses to higher felony levels (e.g., changing some fourth-degree felonies to third-degree) and adding mandatory minimum sentences when children under 13 are involved. It also clarifies that consent from children aged 14-18 does not exempt possession of depictions if the child voluntarily created or produced them, but does not cover coerced content. Separately, the bill raises the interest rate on delinquent child support from 4% to 6.5% annually. These changes directly affect individuals who possess, distribute, or create child exploitation materials, and those who fail to pay court-ordered child support. The bill aims to strengthen legal consequences for these offenses without altering existing protections for victims.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 172: SAFE STAFFING ACT & NURSING HOMES

HB 172, the Safe Staffing Act, sets mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals across New Mexico, directly affecting all hospitals providing inpatient care (including critical access hospitals) and their nursing staff. Key provisions require specific ratios, such as one nurse per two patients in intensive care units, one nurse per four patients in emergency departments over a 12-hour shift, and one nurse per patient during active labor in delivery units. The bill creates a statewide staffing advisory committee with nurse and hospital staff representation to help develop enforcement rules, and authorizes administrative penalties for noncompliance. These changes aim to standardize staffing based on unit type and patient needs, applying uniformly to all covered hospitals.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 257: VAGUS NERVE STIMULATION REIMBURSEMENT

HB 257 appropriates $370,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Health Care Authority for fiscal year 2027. This funding ensures Medicaid providers receive full reimbursement for delivering vagus nerve stimulation treatment to Medicaid recipients. The bill directly affects Medicaid providers who offer this specific therapy and the Medicaid recipients who receive it. Unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. The measure is a targeted funding allocation, not a policy change to Medicaid eligibility or coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 201: RURAL LIBRARIES

SB 201 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the Cultural Affairs Department for rural library operations during fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports rural libraries across New Mexico by covering operational costs, such as staffing and materials. Any unused funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 must be returned to the general fund. The bill is a straightforward funding measure with no additional requirements or policy changes beyond the specified appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 207: WATER QUALITY COMMISSION PRODUCED WATER RULES

HB 207 requires New Mexico's Water Quality Control Commission to create specific rules allowing the reuse of treated water generated from oil and gas operations (called "produced water"). This bill directly affects oil and gas operators, water treatment facilities, and entities seeking to use this treated water for purposes like irrigation or industrial processes. The key mechanism is mandating the Commission to develop these rules, which must be based on scientific data and consider water quality protection, while ensuring the rules align with existing legal authority under the Water Quality Act. The bill does not specify the exact permitted uses but sets a process for the Commission to establish them.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 6: PRIVATE EQUITY INFRASTRUCTURE OWNERSHIP

This House Memorial (HM 6) requests a study on private equity ownership of essential utilities like gas, electric, and water systems in New Mexico. It does not change laws but asks state agencies to examine how private equity control affects service reliability, costs for ratepayers, wildfire risk mitigation, and impacts on rural/low-income communities. The study will analyze maintenance spending, financial extraction tactics, workforce effects, and whether private equity acquisitions threaten public safety or affordability. This is a procedural step to inform future policy decisions, not an immediate regulatory change.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 259: ACTUARIAL REVIEW OF HEALTH LEGISLATION

HB 259 creates a process for optional actuarial reviews of New Mexico health care bills that could change insurance coverage requirements. The Legislative Finance Committee must hire qualified contractors to analyze proposed bills, estimating impacts like affected residents, premium changes, and cost shifts for consumers and health insurers. Legislators can request up to two reviews per party per chamber annually, with reports published online by January 1 each year. The bill appropriates $100,000 for this purpose in fiscal year 2027, focusing on data-driven analysis rather than altering coverage directly.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 89: COMPUTER SCIENCE TEACHER LICENSURE

HB 89 establishes a new computer science teaching endorsement in New Mexico, allowing educators to teach computer science at all grade levels. To qualify, teachers must meet one of several requirements, including 15 college credits in computer science, two years of industry experience, or 60 hours of relevant professional development. The bill appropriates $250,000 for quantum computing-focused professional development to support teachers seeking or maintaining this endorsement. This requirement directly affects current and future New Mexico teachers who wish to add computer science to their teaching license.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SM 11: IMPORTANCE OF WATER TO TAOS

This Senate Memorial (not a bill) requests the Water Quality Control Commission to prioritize a petition from Taos County regarding the reuse of treated oil/gas wastewater (produced water) for industrial uses, including supporting data centers. It asks the Commission to review the petition within 90 days and hold hearings in Questa, Taos County, to enable this reuse. The memorial aims to protect freshwater resources by reducing demand on them for growing industries, while acknowledging rural communities' leadership in water stewardship. It does not create new law but urges state agencies to act on the petition. The focus is on using treated produced water instead of freshwater for economic development in rural areas.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 91: TRAFFIC VIOLATION PENALTIES

SB 91 requires New Mexico municipalities to retain all fines collected from traffic violations (like speeding or red light offenses) instead of sending them to the state. It caps these fines at $100 per violation and mandates that cities with over 200,000 residents send half of the net collected revenue to the state general fund, while keeping the rest for local traffic safety programs and administrative costs. Smaller cities follow similar rules but without specific vendor fee deductions. The bill also requires annual audits to ensure proper fund usage and adds clear hearing options for drivers contesting violations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 292: NM PRISON RAPE ELIMINATION ACT

The New Mexico Prison Rape Elimination Act (HB 292) requires all state and local correctional facilities - including prisons, jails, lockups, and community confinement centers - to adopt zero-tolerance policies against sexual abuse and harassment. Each facility must appoint a dedicated coordinator to oversee prevention, detection, and response efforts, with clear definitions of terms like "sexual abuse" and "facility" to ensure consistent application. This law directly affects inmates, detainees, and staff by mandating specific safety protocols in confinement settings. It establishes concrete standards for accountability without specifying enforcement penalties or expected outcomes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Bill results