SB 380 creates a Physician Graduate Medical Education Trust Fund by transferring $100 million from the state's general fund. The trust fund will be invested, and each year 5% of its average market value over the prior three years will be distributed to a separate program fund. This program fund will provide specific funding: up to $2.5 million for rural/underserved medical education programs seeking accreditation, up to $500,000 for newly accredited programs, and remaining funds for established accredited programs in those areas. The bill directly affects medical training programs in rural and underserved communities by establishing a dedicated funding mechanism.
SB 177, the U Visa Certification Act, creates a state process for New Mexico agencies to certify victims of qualifying crimes for federal U visas. It directly affects crime victims who have assisted law enforcement with investigations, including those experiencing domestic violence, trafficking, or assault. The bill requires certifying agencies (like police departments or district attorneys) to process certification requests within 30 days (14 days for urgent cases), provide written denial reasons with appeal options, and establish internal review steps before victims can seek state department of justice review. This replaces the current federal-only certification process with a streamlined state system to help victims access immigration relief.
SB 157 modifies New Mexico's Forfeiture Act to govern property seizures by law enforcement agencies participating in federal equitable sharing programs. It requires that forfeiture proceeds from such seizures be directed to drug treatment rehabilitation programs (not general funds), and sets new conditions for transferring property to federal authorities (e.g., property value over $50,000 or federal criminal charges). The bill also prohibits law enforcement from accepting federal equitable sharing funds unless the property owner is convicted in federal court. This directly affects law enforcement agencies, drug treatment programs, and individuals whose property is seized under these provisions.
This bill requires New Mexico's cellular and paging companies to send free text alerts to all customers when a Silver Alert is issued for a missing person. It mandates that telecom companies integrate these alerts into their standard messaging systems without additional cost to users. The law would expand the current alert system by using mobile networks to rapidly notify the public about missing persons, as specified in the updated Silver Alert plan. The bill is pending before legislative committees after being postponed indefinitely.
HB 506 creates two tax credits in New Mexico for hotel renovation projects: a 20% credit (or 30% for LEED-NC silver-certified projects) on qualifying costs for owners of existing hotels. The credit applies to renovations of at least 40% of guest rooms in hotels with 15+ rooms, excluding new construction, with minimum cost thresholds ($25,000-$40,000 depending on county size). Hotel owners must obtain pre-certification from the Tourism Department before starting work and final certification within one year of completion, with annual credits capped at $30 million. This directly affects hotel operators seeking to renovate existing properties, incentivizing upgrades while requiring environmental certification for the higher credit tier.
SB 222 shifts oversight of caregiver background checks from the New Mexico Department of Health to the Health Care Authority. It expands the list of disqualifying felony convictions to include sex trafficking, cruelty to animals, and specific offenses like child abuse, elder abuse, and assault on peace officers. The bill also grants the Health Care Authority power to add more disqualifying crimes through rules and requires care providers to submit fingerprints for nationwide criminal history checks before hiring. All background check results remain confidential, with limited disclosure only for employment decisions and specific appeals processes. This directly affects caregivers, care providers (like hospitals and facilities), and the agencies managing these checks.
HB 410, the Consumer Information and Data Protection Act, would require businesses collecting personal data from New Mexico residents to obtain clear, affirmative consent (banning deceptive "dark patterns" like confusing website designs) and implement stronger protections for sensitive data, including health information, biometric data, and precise location tracking. It defines key terms like "personal data" (information linked to an identifiable person) and establishes rules for data processing, storage, and sharing, with specific safeguards for minors and health data. The bill creates civil penalties for violations and outlines investigative authority for enforcement, while exempting entities already covered under federal HIPAA health privacy rules. It directly affects businesses operating in New Mexico that handle consumer data, including online services and apps collecting location or health information. The bill was postponed indefinitely in June 2025 and has not become law.
Based solely on the provided context, SB 522 has no substantive bill text or policy details included. The bill's title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is broad but uninformative without specific provisions. It was introduced by Senator Peter Wirth in New Mexico's 2025 legislative session but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, after not being printed by the Senate Finance Committee. No concrete policy changes, affected groups, or mechanisms are described in the available information.
HB 313, the Digital Age Verification Act, requires device manufacturers, operating systems, and app stores to implement age verification for users. Specifically, it mandates that covered companies estimate a user's age during device setup, provide real-time age data to apps via API (categorizing users as under 13, 13-15, 16-17, or 18+), and obtain parental consent for app downloads by users under 16. The law applies to devices sold after January 1, 2026, with existing devices needing updates by April 2026. Violations would be enforced as unfair trade practices under New Mexico's consumer protection law.
HB 324 would create a new program in New Mexico allowing school tuition organizations to provide scholarships to low-income students for private school attendance, while offering tax credits to donors. It directly affects eligible low-income students (defined as those meeting federal lunch program income thresholds and previously attending public or home schools), private schools in New Mexico, and nonprofit organizations administering the scholarships. Key provisions include requiring organizations to allocate at least 90% of donations to scholarships, prohibiting donor-designated students, mandating annual public reporting of scholarship details, and establishing individual and corporate income tax credits for contributing to these programs. The bill also sets strict audit requirements for larger organizations and defines "eligible students" to maintain eligibility through graduation or age 21.
SB 295 creates tax deductions for healthcare providers on specific income streams. It allows deductions for sales of medical equipment/supplies/drugs, payments from patients for services not provided through insurance plans (like direct billing), and out-of-pocket patient payments (copayments/deductibles) excluding Medicaid services. The bill also removes an expiration date for existing copayment/deductible deductions and requires the state to reimburse healthcare providers for taxes paid on Medicaid reimbursements. These changes directly affect doctors, clinics, and other healthcare practitioners who bill patients or insurers, reducing their taxable income for qualifying services.
HB 478 revises New Mexico's rules for transferring certain liquor licenses, specifically allowing dispenser's and retailer's licenses issued before July 1, 1981, to move between locations across the state (with exceptions for some class B counties and municipalities that have already banned transfers). The bill limits transfers to no more than ten licenses per local option district annually and requires that transferred licenses count toward future license caps in that district. It also establishes a community veto process: if 5% of registered voters petition for an election, a vote can block statewide transfers for two years if rejected. This directly affects businesses seeking to relocate licenses and local governments that can regulate license density through voter referendums.
