New Mexico Bills

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 18: CRIME OF SWATTING

SB 18 creates a new criminal offense for "swatting" in New Mexico, defined as knowingly making a false emergency report to law enforcement or emergency services with the intent to trigger a rapid response. The bill classifies swatting as a fourth-degree felony (same penalty as bomb scares) and increases the penalty for making a shooting threat to a fourth-degree felony. It also requires convicted individuals to reimburse victims for economic harm, including lost wages, business shutdown costs, and other direct financial losses caused by the false report. This law directly affects people who make false emergency reports and victims of such incidents.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

died · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 258: HUMAN SEXUALITY EDUCATION

SB 258 requires New Mexico public schools to include comprehensive human sexuality education in health courses for middle and high school students starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It makes one-half unit of health education a graduation requirement for students entering ninth grade that same year. The bill mandates school districts to submit implementation plans, requires the Public Education Department to develop academic standards and model curricula for grades 6-12, and allows parents to excuse their child from the sexuality portion of health education. This bill directly affects all public and charter schools in New Mexico, their students, and school districts responsible for curriculum planning.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 115: RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT SERVICES FUNDING

HB 115 appropriates $859,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Health Care Authority for fiscal year 2026. This funding directly supports an organization in Dona Ana County that provides long-term residential treatment using a soteria model for individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and psychosis. The bill specifies that any unspent funds at year-end must revert to the general fund. The bill was referred to committees and later postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 542: CHILDBIRTH INCOME TAX CREDIT

HB 542 creates a $7,000 refundable income tax credit for New Mexico residents who give birth to a child during the taxable year. It directly affects new parents who are state residents, not claimed as dependents by another individual, and requires certification through the Children, Youth and Families Department. The credit is claimed within three years of certification, with any amount exceeding the taxpayer's liability refunded. The policy applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2025, and would be included in the state's tax expenditure budget. (Note: The bill was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 105: SOCIAL WORK LICENSURE COMPACT

SB 105, the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact, allows social workers licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed social workers (including clinical, master's, and bachelor's level) and their clients across state lines, particularly supporting military families who relocate frequently. The bill creates a system where a "multistate license" issued by a worker's home state authorizes practice in all compact states, eliminating duplicate application processes and reducing administrative burdens. Key provisions include requiring states to share disciplinary records and enabling social workers to provide services via telehealth across member states while maintaining public safety protections through existing state licensing authority.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 74: TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTING CERTAIN CRIMES

SB 74 removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting human trafficking cases in New Mexico, meaning prosecutors can pursue charges at any time after the crime occurs. It also raises the age for "sexual exploitation of children by prostitution" from 16 to 18 years old and adds human trafficking to the definition of "racketeering." The bill prohibits certain defenses in human trafficking prosecutions and expands protections for victims under the Victims of Crime Act. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and is currently inactive.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 273: CERTAIN NATURAL GAS AS RENEWABLE ENERGY

HB 273 amends New Mexico's Renewable Energy Act and Rural Electric Cooperative Act to redefine "renewable energy resource" to include natural gas used in combined cycle technology. This change would allow rural electric cooperatives and public utilities to count natural gas power generation toward their renewable energy requirements. The bill adds natural gas to the list of qualifying resources alongside solar, wind, and geothermal, without requiring additional emissions criteria for this category. The bill passed committee but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025. It does not alter the existing "zero carbon" standards for other resources like biomass or hydropower.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 506: FIRE DEPARTMENT INSURANCE LIMITS

SB 506 proposes setting two-tiered maximum insurance payout limits for properties damaged by fire under New Mexico's FAIR Plan. It would limit coverage to $600,000 for properties in areas served by fire departments rated 8-10 (poorer service), and $750,000 for properties in areas served by better-rated departments (rated 1-7). The bill directly affects homeowners in New Mexico who rely on the FAIR Plan for fire insurance in high-risk areas, as it ties coverage amounts to fire department service quality. The key mechanism defines "nationally recognized insurance service" and bases ratings on factors like staffing, equipment, water supply, and emergency systems. The bill was referred to committees but postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 342: PROPERTY TAX CHANGES

HB 342 limits annual increases in property tax valuations for residential properties to 3% (capping at 103% of prior year's value or 106.1% of value from two years prior), excluding new homes, certain improvements (like solar systems), and properties with ownership changes or zoning shifts. It also imposes a temporary 12-year cap (2025-2037) on valuation increases for nonresidential property (businesses). The bill requires homeowners to file affidavits for specific property transfers (with exemptions for family transfers or disasters), updates veteran tax exemption rules to align with recent voter-approved changes, and removes the requirement to mail residential property declarations to owners. Administrative penalties are added for late affidavit filings, and county valuation protest board pay is adjusted for inflation.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Energy

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 407: SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME EDUCATION

HB 407 appropriates $300,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for shaken baby syndrome prevention. The funding will update educational materials with UNM Pediatrics, require all state hospitals to implement prevention training programs, and establish statewide reporting for cases of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. This bill directly affects hospitals statewide and prevention efforts targeting infant safety. It focuses on concrete policy changes through funding allocation, not legislative mandates. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 492: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING BUREAU

This bill creates a new Planning Bureau within New Mexico's Economic Development Department to coordinate statewide growth planning. The bureau must collaborate with state agencies (transportation, environment, housing authorities), regional commissions, and tribal nations (upon request) to develop a comprehensive plan focused on jobs, housing, transportation needs, and interagency coordination. It requires the plan to be updated every three years. The bill appropriates $1 million from the general fund to staff the bureau starting in fiscal year 2026, with unspent funds rolling over annually.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 27: STATE ROAD FUND DISTRIBUTION INCREASE

SB 27 changes how motor vehicle excise tax revenue is allocated in New Mexico. It eliminates the current 59.39% distribution to the general fund and increases the allocation to the State Road Fund from 21.86% to 81.25%, with the remaining 18.75% going to the Transportation Project Fund. This policy shift directly affects state budget priorities by redirecting tax revenue toward road infrastructure. The changes take effect on July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Transportation

Bill results