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 247 requires New Mexico's Public Education Department to publish annual results of state-approved science, math, and English language arts assessments by September 1 each year. It mandates the department to include statewide performance trends and disaggregated data broken down by student demographics (race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, special education status) and school-level performance. The results must be published in an easily accessible, user-friendly format on a dedicated website maintained by the department. This directly affects public schools, parents, educators, and students by making assessment data more transparent and available for review. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
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.
HB 330 creates a trust fund to provide infrastructure funding for New Mexico's land grant-merced communities and acequias (traditional irrigation systems). The bill establishes two project funds: one for land grant-merced communities to support water systems, roads, health facilities, and economic development projects, and another for acequias to fund irrigation repairs, flood protection, and water efficiency improvements. Annual distributions from the trust fund will finance these projects through grants and loans, with specific eligibility rules set by a land grant council and the water commission. The bill is currently pending in the New Mexico Senate after passing the House but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
HB 82 would allow New Mexico to join the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact, enabling licensed physical therapists from participating states to practice in New Mexico without obtaining a separate license. The bill requires states to conduct federal criminal background checks and share disciplinary information to protect public safety, while maintaining each state's authority over licensure. It directly affects physical therapists seeking to practice across state lines and patients who would gain broader access to physical therapy services. The compact aims to simplify interstate practice without changing core state regulatory standards.
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.
SB 148, the Anti-Hazing Act, creates new criminal penalties for hazing and failure to report it at New Mexico schools. It defines hazing as intentional acts causing physical or psychological harm during student organization activities (like fraternities, sports teams, or clubs), with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to second-degree felonies for severe outcomes like death. The bill also allows victims to sue for damages and requires colleges to adopt hazing prevention programs, codes of conduct, and committees. These changes directly affect students, school staff, student organizations, and post-secondary institutions across New Mexico.
