New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 384: RIO HONDO WATERSHED DISTRICT

SB 384 appropriates $100,000 from the state general fund to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for planning, developing, and creating a Rio Hondo Watershed District during fiscal year 2026. The funds are specifically for the Department of Agriculture to conduct this planning work, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by year-end. The bill directly affects the Rio Hondo watershed area by initiating formal planning for a dedicated district to manage water resources. It does not create the district immediately but funds the foundational planning phase through state agency action. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on allocating funds for this planning process.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 215: COVERAGE FOR CERTAIN INSURANCE RISKS

SB 215 clarifies when insurance policies must cover damage caused by a mix of covered and excluded risks. It requires policies to cover losses if the covered risk was the "efficient proximate cause" (the main cause) of the damage, but not if it was only a minor or remote factor. This directly affects homeowners and auto insurance policyholders in New Mexico by standardizing how insurers handle such claims. The bill amends Section 59A-18-17 of New Mexico's Insurance Code to implement this standard. The measure was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 225: INCREASE VARIOUS PENALTIES

SB 225 increases penalties for several offenses in New Mexico. It raises littering fines from $50 to $250, increases mandatory community service for graffiti damaging property over $1,000 from 150 to 200 hours, and raises penalties for traffic violations like improper lane usage (increasing the fine from $25 to $50). The bill directly affects individuals who commit littering, graffiti, or specific traffic violations, requiring higher fines or longer community service. These changes apply to existing laws governing littering, graffiti, traffic enforcement, and the Recycling and Illegal Dumping Act.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 272: FOSTER PARENT & GUARDIAN INCOME TAX

SB 272 exempts foster parents, guardians appointed under the Kinship Guardianship Act for their grandchild, and adoptive grandparents from New Mexico state income tax for caring for a child or grandchild under 18 during the entire taxable year. The bill applies to tax years starting January 1, 2025, and requires the exemption to be included in the state’s tax expenditure budget. It directly affects caregivers licensed or certified by child welfare agencies, or legally appointed as guardians for grandchildren, by reducing their taxable income. The policy change provides a direct tax benefit to these specific caregivers without altering other tax rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 335: LICENSING TIME FRAMES TRANSPARENCY ACT

HB 335, the Licensing Time Frames Transparency Act, requires the state's Construction Industries Division and local agencies with delegated authority to issue construction permits and licenses to publicly report processing times and pending applications. Starting January 1, 2026, these agencies must publish quarterly on the state website the average, median, and maximum processing times for each permit type, along with the number of pending applications. This transparency gives businesses and individuals clear, real-time data on typical wait times for construction-related permits. The bill does not change processing requirements but mandates disclosure of current time frames to improve clarity for applicants.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 483: ELECTION DAY AS HOLIDAY

SB 483 proposes to establish the first Tuesday in November as "Election Day" in New Mexico, making it a paid holiday for state and public employees. The bill amends existing law to require employers to provide a full day's pay for voting on Election Day, with exemptions for employees whose schedules conflict with voting hours or who work directly on election administration (like election officials or tribal staff). It also adds "Election Day" to the list of designated legal holidays under state law. Employers who deny voting time would face misdemeanor penalties, including fines of $50-$100. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 392: COUNTY HOSPITAL CARE, SERVICES & PAYMENT

SB 392 requires New Mexico county hospitals or contracted hospitals to provide standard care for life-threatening conditions (like cancer) and offer affordable payment plans when they are the only local provider and patients meet specific criteria: lacking employer/private insurance, not qualifying for Medicare/Medicaid, being uninsured, ineligible for county indigent programs, or not qualifying for the state medical insurance pool. Hospitals must continue care and payment plans until the patient obtains qualifying coverage. Payments are calculated using the higher of Medicaid or Medicare fee schedules, with monthly payments capped at 5% of the patient's household adjusted gross income. The law takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJR 13: STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, CA

HJR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to replace New Mexico's current public education governance structure. It creates a new State Board of Education to set school policies, manage public school finances, and appoint a superintendent, while retaining the Public Education Commission as the chartering authority for state-chartered charter schools. The amendment specifies that both the Board and Commission will have ten elected members serving staggered four-year terms in district-based elections, with the first elections held in 2028. This change requires voter approval at the next general election.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 44: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

This bill has no substantive text provided in the context. The bill title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") and basic procedural details (introduced by Sen. Peter Wirth, postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025) are listed, but no specific policy provisions, mechanisms, or affected parties are described. Without the actual bill language or summary of its content, a factual policy description cannot be provided. The bill appears stalled in committee with no enacted provisions documented.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 498: LOWRIDER AS OFFICIAL STATE VEHICLE

SB 498 proposes adding "lowrider" to New Mexico's list of official state symbols under Section 12-3-4 of state law, designating it as the state vehicle. The bill directly affects how New Mexico represents itself symbolically, joining existing symbols like the state flower (yucca) and state nickname ("The Land of Enchantment"). It does not create new regulations, funding, or impact residents' daily lives - it is purely a symbolic designation. The bill was referred to committees, received "DO PASS" recommendations, but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it did not become law.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 529: FUNDING FOR HOUSING CIVIL LEGAL SERVICES

HB 529 appropriates $14 million from the general fund to the Civil Legal Services Fund for housing-related civil legal services in New Mexico, starting in fiscal year 2026. The funding directly supports low-income residents needing legal assistance with housing issues like evictions, lease disputes, or housing discrimination. Unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2026 will not revert to the general fund, ensuring continued support. The bill aims to expand access to legal aid specifically for housing challenges through dedicated, ongoing funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 10: CREATE LIFELONG VOTERS

HJM 10 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Higher Education Department to study strategies for increasing youth voter participation in public schools and colleges. It asks the department to examine how automatic voter registration (like when renewing driver's licenses) and civic engagement programs could encourage students to become lifelong voters, with findings to inform future legislation. The bill does not create new laws but seeks research to address low youth voter turnout, citing that 14% of ballots in 2024 came from voters aged 18-24.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results