New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 4: CLEAR HORIZONS & GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

This bill (SB 4) amends New Mexico's Abuse and Neglect Act to establish a specific "best interests of the child" standard for courts to use in child welfare cases. It requires courts to consider 14 concrete factors, including the child's vulnerabilities, history of harm or abuse, family substance abuse history, parenting skills, safety in the home, and the family's willingness to engage with support services. The bill directly affects children in abuse/neglect proceedings, their families, and child welfare agencies by providing clearer criteria for judicial decisions about custody and placement. It does not change funding, create new programs, or alter existing legal penalties.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 369: INSURANCE LICENSING TIMES & FEES

HB 369 modifies the fee schedule for insurance licensing in New Mexico, affecting insurers, agents, brokers, adjusters, and other licensed insurance professionals. It updates specific fee amounts for applications, renewals, and filings - for example, increasing the biennial producer license renewal from $30 to $60 and raising the viatical settlements provider license renewal from $400 to $500. The bill does not change licensing requirements or timelines but adjusts the cost structure for existing license categories. These changes apply directly to all entities seeking or maintaining insurance licenses under New Mexico law. The bill was passed by committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJR 22: DENIAL OF BAIL, CA

This constitutional amendment would allow New Mexico courts to deny bail for felony defendants if prosecutors prove - using clear and convincing evidence - that release would endanger others or the community. It specifically creates a legal presumption that defendants charged with "dangerous or violent" felonies (as designated by law) cannot be safely released, shifting the burden to them to prove otherwise with a preponderance of evidence. The bill directly affects individuals charged with serious felonies, particularly those involving violence or danger, by making pretrial detention easier to justify. If passed, it would require voter approval through a constitutional amendment process.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 501: SCHOOL REPORTING OF GENDER INCONGRUENCE

HB 501 requires New Mexico public school employees to immediately report to a school administrator if a student expresses gender incongruence (a difference between biological sex and perceived gender) or requests social affirmation or transition support at school. The school administrator must then notify the student's parent and obtain their written permission to develop a response plan, which may include counseling and parental involvement. The bill defines key terms and mandates parental consent before schools implement any formal response for students with gender incongruence. It does not restrict student gender expression but establishes a reporting and parental notification process. The bill is currently pending in committee as of June 3, 2025.

Topics ✗ Education

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 260: CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED SITES

SB 260 appropriates $50 million from the state general fund to New Mexico's Department of Environment for assessing and cleaning up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including former uranium mines, where no responsible party exists to pay for cleanup. The funding is available for use over fiscal years 2026 through 2028, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. This bill directly affects state taxpayers through the funding mechanism and communities near contaminated sites by enabling cleanup actions that lack private funding. The key provision is the dedicated state funding to address environmental hazards at sites with no viable cleanup funding source.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 97: NURSING HOME MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT

SB 97 would provide $19.7 million in state funding to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes in New Mexico for fiscal year 2026. This direct funding, sourced from the general fund and administered by the Health Care Authority, aims to raise payments to nursing homes that care for Medicaid patients. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2026 would revert to the general fund. The bill was referred to committees and passed a committee report but was later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 445: WATER GROSS RECEIPTS 6-YEAR LIMIT

SB 445 removes a six-year expiration for a 0.25% tax on business gross receipts in water and sanitation districts, allowing the tax to continue indefinitely after initial voter approval. It directly affects water and sanitation districts in New Mexico counties, which must first secure voter approval to impose the tax. The bill modifies existing law by eliminating the requirement for districts to seek renewed voter approval every six years, while keeping the initial voter approval requirement and mandating that tax revenue fund only water/sanitation district operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SJR 13: OPEN PRIMARY ELECTIONS, CA

SJR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow all registered New Mexico voters to participate in any state-funded primary election, regardless of their political party affiliation or lack thereof. This would replace current partisan primaries with nonpartisan "open primary" elections, where voters could select candidates from any party's ballot in the primary. The change would directly affect all registered voters in New Mexico by expanding their choice in selecting candidates for the general election ballot. If approved by the legislature and voters, it would amend the state constitution to require this open primary system for all state-funded primaries. The bill is currently pending before committees and was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HJM 8: TRINITY SITE REST STOP

HJM 8 is a joint memorial requesting New Mexico's Department of Transportation to create a rest stop and memorial at the Trinity Site entrance on Highway 380 near Bingham. It aims to honor "downwinders" - residents of Socorro and Otero counties affected by the 1945 atomic bomb test - by installing an informational plaque, holding a dedication ceremony on July 16, 2025 (the 80th anniversary), and inviting surviving downwinders to attend. The memorial would acknowledge their unacknowledged sacrifices despite federal recognition efforts. The proposal was referred to a committee but postponed indefinitely in June 2025. This is a symbolic request, not a binding law.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HM 55: LINCOLN COUNTY HOMEOWNER RELIEF

HM 55 (House Memorial 55) is a non-binding resolution urging New Mexico's Office of Superintendent of Insurance to approve proposed changes to the state's FAIR plan property insurance program. The resolution seeks to increase residential coverage limits under the FAIR plan to $750,000 for homeowners in high-risk wildfire areas like Lincoln County, where recent fires destroyed homes. This change would provide higher coverage than the current actual-cash-value basis, helping affected residents secure insurance to rebuild. The memorial does not create new law but formally requests timely approval of these specific coverage adjustments.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 227: CHILD CARE FACILITY QUALIFYING ENTITIES

HB 227 amends New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act to include licensed child care facilities as eligible for state economic development incentives. Specifically, it adds "child care facility" (defined as family-home-based or center-based programs licensed by the early childhood education and care department to provide care for infants, toddlers, and children) to the list of qualifying entities. This change allows child care providers to access public support like grants, infrastructure improvements, and tax incentives previously available to entities such as cultural facilities and manufacturers. The bill directly affects licensed child care facilities across New Mexico seeking to expand or improve services through state economic development programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 605: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

This bill has no substantive text or policy details provided in the available context. The bill title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is broad but does not specify any concrete provisions, mechanisms, or affected groups. It was introduced by Rep. Joanne Ferrary but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, with no further action documented. Without bill text or a substantive summary, a factual description of its policy changes cannot be provided.

Bill results