SB 488 increases New Mexico's Legislative Health and Human Services Committee from eight to twelve members and designates it as a permanent committee. The bill requires year-round staff with health or human services expertise, mandates state agencies to provide requested information upon a committee majority vote, and grants the committee subpoena power and authority to administer oaths during hearings. It appropriates $500,000 for committee staffing and operations in fiscal years 2025-2026. This bill directly affects the committee’s structure, oversight capabilities, and interactions with state agencies.
HB 234 requires healthcare providers to provide immediate, medically appropriate care to any infant born alive during childbirth or abortion procedures, regardless of gestational age. It defines "born alive" as an infant showing signs of life (breathing, heartbeat, etc.) and mandates reporting of care failures to law enforcement. The bill creates criminal penalties for intentionally harming or killing such infants and allows civil lawsuits for violations, including triple damages. It also establishes a task force to monitor compliance and requires monthly inspections of abortion facilities. This law directly affects healthcare providers, hospitals, and abortion clinics in New Mexico.
HB 392, the Single-Use Plastic Bag Act, would prohibit New Mexico retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags for carrying purchased items, with exceptions for bulk products, takeout food with leakage risk, medical items, and other specific cases like live animal transport. Retailers could offer paper bags at a minimum 10-cent fee per bag (exempting low-income customers using SNAP or similar benefits), with 7 cents of each fee funding local waste reduction education programs. Local governments would enforce the ban, imposing penalties of up to $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for third or subsequent violations.
HB 133 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to provide standard identification cards to children aged 14 or older who have been in CYFD custody for 30 or more consecutive days. The department must secure the card within 90 days of placement, or within 90 days after a condition preventing compliance (like incarceration or disability) ends. This standard card does not require proof of lawful status - unlike REAL ID cards - making it accessible for youth in foster care who may lack documentation. The bill, effective January 1, 2026, aims to help these children access services requiring identification.
HB 320 defines necrophilia (sexual acts with a dead body) and criminal desecration of dead bodies as specific crimes in New Mexico. It classifies using a dead body for sexual purposes (e.g., intercourse or penetration) as a second-degree felony, and touching a dead body's intimate parts for sexual reasons as a third-degree felony. The bill also criminalizes dismemberment, disfigurement, or burning of a dead body as a fourth-degree felony. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was postponed indefinitely by the House committees in June 2025, so it did not advance.
SB 449 changes venue rules for medical malpractice lawsuits, requiring cases to be filed only in the county where the patient received treatment. It limits recoveries from the Patient's Compensation Fund, requires payments from the fund as expenses occur, and directs 75% of punitive damages to the state. The bill also caps attorney fees in malpractice claims and creates a new Patient Safety Improvement Fund. These changes directly affect patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and the state's medical malpractice compensation system.
The bill text for HB 595 is not provided in the available context, so no substantive policy details can be summarized. The bill's title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is broad but does not indicate specific provisions or affected groups. It was postponed indefinitely by the legislature on June 3, 2025, with no further action documented. Without bill text or specific provisions, concrete policy changes cannot be described.
HB 536, introduced by Rep. Marianna Anaya in New Mexico's 2025 legislative session, prohibits health insurance plans from disclosing specific sensitive health services in billing statements or summaries of payments. The bill applies to all group and individual health insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit health plans sold in New Mexico, directly affecting all insured residents. Key provisions ban disclosure of four categories of sensitive care: reproductive/sexual health services, gender-affirming care, behavioral health services, and care for domestic violence victims. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and is currently inactive.
HB 317 proposes a $2.5 million appropriation from the general fund to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department for fiscal year 2026 and beyond, specifically to increase reimbursements paid to organizations providing services to seniors through New Mexico's aging network. The bill ensures any unspent funds from this allocation will not revert to the general fund, creating a permanent funding commitment for these providers. This direct funding change affects community-based service providers who support older adults, aiming to improve their financial stability without altering eligibility or service requirements.
HB 27, the Librarian Protection Act, requires New Mexico public libraries to adopt policies preventing the banning of library materials based on content, author's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or political/religious views. Libraries must follow either the American Library Association's 2019 Library Bill of Rights or a state-approved policy explicitly prohibiting such bans to receive state funding. The law also prohibits local governments from reducing a library's funding for complying with these policies. It takes effect on July 1, 2025, aiming to protect diverse library collections and access for all patrons.
SB 304 creates a New Mexico income tax credit for residents who contribute to qualifying foster care organizations. Taxpayers can claim a credit of $500 (for single filers, heads of household, or surviving spouses) or $1,000 (for married couples filing jointly) per year. To qualify, the organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that spends at least half its budget on foster care services for at least 200 New Mexico residents annually, verified by the state tax department. Taxpayers must provide the organization’s name and contribution amount when filing their state income tax return.
SB 430 revises New Mexico's legal definition of a "neglected child" in the Children's Code. The bill specifically excludes poverty alone as a basis for neglect, stating that a child's lack of food, shelter, or medical care due solely to a parent's "inadequate financial resources" does not constitute neglect. It also explicitly excludes circumstances like community poverty, single parenting, crowded housing, or cultural practices (including religious treatment or Indian community standards) from being considered neglect. This change aims to prevent child welfare systems from removing children from families due to socioeconomic challenges rather than actual harm. The bill directly affects children and families in New Mexico, particularly those facing poverty or cultural differences, by clarifying when state intervention is legally justified.
