HB 466, the "Hormone Therapy and Puberty Blocker Child Protection Act," prohibits health care providers and public bodies from knowingly performing or administering hormone therapy or puberty blockers to minors for the purpose of helping them live as a gender different from their sex assigned at birth, except for treating congenital defects, precocious puberty, or existing medical conditions ending by December 2025. The bill requires health care providers to notify parents in writing before a minor receives gender-affirming care, defines "gender-affirming action" broadly to include name/pronoun changes or seeking related services, and overrides minors' ability to consent to such care. It also creates a private right of action for parents to sue providers or public bodies for violations. The bill was referred to committees in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
SB 429, the "Reinstatement of Parental Rights Act," allows parents whose rights were legally terminated (or relinquished) to petition courts to regain custody of their children. It requires petitioners to prove a material change in circumstances that enables safe parenting, show the child’s best interest, and meet a 12-month waiting period (with exceptions for minors nearing 18 or extraordinary cases). The bill mandates specific documentation, including child consent (if 10+), a transition plan to return the child to the parent within 90 days, and adoptive parent/guardian consent unless their rights are first terminated. It directly affects former parents, children in foster care or adoption, and child welfare agencies by establishing new court procedures for reinstatement petitions.
SB 378 amends New Mexico's Liquor Excise Tax Act to increase tax rates on alcoholic beverages sold in the state. It raises standard beer tax from $0.41 to $0.49 per gallon, wine from $0.45 to $0.54 per liter, and spirits from $1.60 to $1.92 per liter. The bill maintains tiered rates for microbrewers (e.g., $0.08/gallon for first 30,000 barrels) and small winegrowers (e.g., $0.10/liter for first 80,000 liters), while adjusting craft distiller rates based on alcohol content. These changes apply to wholesalers and producers starting July 1, 2025, and clarify tax liability during wine transfers between producers and distributors.
HJR 8 is a constitutional amendment proposal that would change how New Mexico's legislature operates. It would limit all regular legislative sessions to 45 days (down from 60 days for odd-year sessions) and remove restrictions preventing consideration of non-budget bills during even-numbered years. The amendment also adds a provision for considering governor veto overrides for bills from previous sessions within the same legislative biennium. As a constitutional proposal, it requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently stalled after being postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
This bill expands the definition of "family in need of court-ordered services" to include two new scenarios: children alleged to be involved in acts that would be prostitution if committed by adults, and children identified as victims of human trafficking. It adds these situations to the list where court intervention may be necessary for child welfare. The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund to help courts implement this expansion, with unused funds reverting to the general fund by 2026. This directly affects children in these specific circumstances and the child welfare system, requiring courts to consider these cases under the updated definition starting July 2025.
HB 418 would require mobile home rental agreements in New Mexico to have a minimum 24-month initial term, extend the notice period for nonpayment of rent from 30 to 60 days, and prohibit landlords from increasing rent during land use change notice periods. It clarifies termination procedures, mandates landlords to disclose mailing addresses in disputes, and bans unreasonable restrictions on tenants selling their mobile homes. The bill directly affects mobile home tenants and landlords in New Mexico by increasing lease stability and transparency. Key provisions aim to prevent abrupt evictions and provide clearer tenant protections under the Mobile Home Park Act.
HB 419 appropriates $13.5 million from the state general fund to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District for a workforce development program targeting formerly incarcerated individuals. The bill creates a program to help people transitioning from prison into the workforce by providing job training and employment support in the North Central New Mexico region. Funds must be spent by fiscal year 2026, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund. The bill was referred to committees and postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it has not advanced to become law.
HB 534, introduced by Representatives Torres-Velásquez and Thomson, requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department to develop a trauma-informed storytelling program for children in foster care. The bill directs the department to contract with speech-language pathologists to train foster parents and case workers, using family experiences in subjects like math or history to build children's language and emotional skills through autobiographical storytelling. It also mandates establishing service standards for training quality, confidentiality, and creating an evaluation framework for the program. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and does not yet have effect.
SB 289 would change how New Mexico allocates revenue from its motor vehicle excise tax (a tax paid by vehicle owners). Currently, about 59% of the tax goes to the general fund, but this bill would reduce that share to 10%. It would increase the state road fund's allocation from roughly 22% to 65% and the transportation project fund's share from about 19% to 25%. These changes would redirect more tax revenue toward transportation infrastructure projects and take effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 473 establishes new qualifications for school security personnel in New Mexico schools and charter districts. It defines "assistant school security personnel" as Level 1 or 2 security guards (who cannot carry firearms) and "school security personnel" as retired law enforcement officers or Level 3 guards (who can carry firearms with approval). The bill requires school districts to verify credentials, complete school-specific security training, conduct background checks, and cover costs for psychological evaluations for armed personnel. It also mandates approved training programs covering cultural competency and prohibited profiling. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and has not advanced to a vote.
HB 541 (New Mexico 2025) allows state and local treasurers to invest unspent funds from bond proceeds or sinking funds in specific, low-risk instruments. It authorizes investments in U.S. government securities, bonds from qualifying counties/municipalities (with minimum valuation and no recent defaults), federal agency securities, and federally insured obligations like CDs. The bill requires treasurers to follow approved investment policies reviewed every two years and obtain board of finance approval for changes. This bill directly affects state, county, and municipal treasurers managing public funds. It was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
SB 402 allows New Mexico public employees who served in the U.S. military to purchase retirement credit for that service. To qualify, they must pay a cost based on their salary and contribution rates, meet minimum service requirements, and cannot purchase more than five years of credit total. The bill also includes specific provisions for civilian prisoners of war and employees from certain organizations (like utilities or libraries) that later become public employers. It aims to help these workers count military or related service toward their pension benefits under the Public Employees Retirement Act.
