New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 184: REMOVE SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME TAX CAP

SB 184 would remove income limits that currently restrict which New Mexico residents can exclude Social Security income from state income tax. The bill amends Section 7-2-5.14 of New Mexico's tax code to eliminate the $75,000 (single filers), $100,000 (single), and $150,000 (joint filers) income caps, allowing all Social Security recipients to fully exclude their benefits from state taxation. This change directly affects New Mexico residents receiving Social Security benefits, regardless of their total income level. The policy would take effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2025, if enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 447: LEGISLATIVE PARKING ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS

SB 447 requires the New Mexico legislature to install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in its own parking facility. By December 31, 2026, at least 43% of parking spaces in the underground garage beneath the legislature building must have EV charging stations. The bill defines an electric vehicle as one powered by a rechargeable battery and specifies that an EV charging station transfers electricity from an external source to the vehicle. This requirement directly applies only to the legislature’s parking operations and does not extend to other state buildings or public infrastructure.

Topics ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 422: TEACHING RESIDENT STIPENDS

HB 422 would increase stipends for teaching residents in New Mexico's teacher residency programs to at least $35,000 annually (80% of a level 1 teacher's minimum salary) and require health insurance coverage through the public school insurance authority. It also provides $2,000 annual stipends for mentor teachers, principals, and program coordinators, plus $4,000 per faculty member at participating colleges for co-teaching training. The bill mandates a three-year service commitment for teaching residents at their sponsoring school district and allocates funding for institutional costs. This proposed legislation aims to strengthen residency programs by improving financial support for participants and educators, though it was postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 314: REMOVAL OF MOTOR VEHICLE HAZARDS

HB 314 allows law enforcement officers and New Mexico Department of Transportation employees to move vehicles, cargo, or debris that create immediate road safety hazards. It specifically permits clearing obstructions blocking traffic when such hazards endanger public safety, such as stalled vehicles in travel lanes. Officials acting under this law are protected from liability for damage to the moved items. The bill modifies existing traffic regulations (Section 66-3-852 NMSA) to clarify this authority, focusing on urgent safety risks rather than routine parking violations. It does not alter standard parking rules or affect drivers' responsibilities for non-hazardous stops.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed both · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 149: SUPPORTED DECISION-MAKING ACT

HB 149 establishes a legal framework for supported decision-making agreements in New Mexico, allowing adults (18+) with disabilities to voluntarily partner with supporters to help them understand options and make their own life decisions. The bill requires agreements to be in writing, signed by both parties without coercion, and specifies that supporters may only assist - never make decisions for - the supported individual. Key provisions include a presumption of capacity for all adults (regardless of disability), prohibitions against supporters making decisions or self-dealing, and clear limits on information access. The law also creates a state program within the Office of Guardianship to oversee these agreements and protects third parties who rely on them in good faith.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 467: MULTICULTURAL STUDENT SAFETY & SUPPORT

HB 467 requires New Mexico public schools to update discipline policies to prohibit unequal treatment based on race, religion, cultural expression (including protective hairstyles and religious headwear), disability, or home language. It mandates schools to provide an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents (with privacy protections), ban corporal punishment, and allow students to self-administer prescribed asthma/anaphylaxis medication under specific conditions. The bill also revises bilingual education program requirements to prioritize home language use in instruction, require culturally specific teacher training, and establish parent advisory committees. These changes directly affect all public K-12 schools and students in New Mexico, aiming to create safer, more inclusive learning environments.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

passed · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 180: SELF-SERVICE STORAGE RENTAL CHANGES

SB 180 amends New Mexico's Self-Service Storage Lien Act to change key rules for storage facility owners and renters. It reduces the required default period before a facility owner can sell stored items from 90 to 45 days, shortens the timeline for denying access (from 5 to 30 days), and requires rental agreements to include space for renters to designate an alternative contact to receive lien notices. The bill also mandates specific notice details for owners, including itemized payment demands and a 15-day payment window before sale, while clarifying that renters must provide their address and contact information. These changes directly affect both storage facility owners (who enforce liens) and renters (whose stored property may be sold if rent is unpaid).

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 34: OUTDOOR LIGHT REQUIREMENTS & EXEMPTIONS

New Mexico's SB 34 updates rules to reduce light pollution by requiring most outdoor light fixtures installed after July 1, 2025, to be fully shielded (directing light downward) and limiting fixtures over four feet high emitting more than 1,000 lumens from pointing skyward. It adds exemptions for roadway safety signs on interstates, temporary construction/emergency lights, and film production lighting, while removing previous exemptions for automatic shutoff devices and certain advertising signs. The bill also eliminates a prior exemption for recreational facility lights after 11:00 p.m. (except for specific events) and repeals outdated provisions. These changes directly affect businesses, property owners, construction sites, and municipalities managing outdoor lighting. The law aims to protect night skies by standardizing shielding requirements across the state.

Topics ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 276: URANIUM MINING RECLAMATION REVOLVING FUND

This bill would appropriate $2 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Uranium Mining Reclamation Revolving Fund for fiscal year 2026 and beyond. The funds would directly support uranium mine and mill reclamation activities, such as cleaning up abandoned sites and restoring land. Unspent funds would remain in the revolving fund rather than returning to the general fund. The bill aims to provide ongoing funding for environmental cleanup of historic uranium mining operations.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

passed · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 13: DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND ELECTRIFICATION PLANS

HB 13 requires New Mexico electric utilities to create detailed distribution system plans by 2027, including mapping grid capacity, setting connection time targets for new customers, and outlining strategies for grid upgrades to meet decarbonization goals. It mandates annual reports tracking connection times and requires utilities to develop "beneficial electrification" plans - converting non-electric energy use (like gas heating) to efficient electric systems - with cost recovery allowed through approved rate changes. Utilities must also provide quarterly online access to grid capacity data and follow minimum wage rules for related construction work. This directly affects all New Mexico electric utilities providing retail service, requiring them to plan for grid modernization and electrification while ensuring cost transparency.

Topics ✓ Energy

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 191: COMMUNITY-BASED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS

SB 191 allocates $10 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Crime Victims Reparation Commission for community-based domestic violence programs during fiscal year 2026. The funds directly support local programs that assist domestic violence survivors, with unspent balances reverting to the general fund by year-end. The bill passed committee but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, meaning it has not advanced further in the legislative process. This is a funding measure, not a procedural or commemorative resolution.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 512: HEALTH CARE PROVIDER REIMBURSEMENTS

SB 512 (2025) amends New Mexico's Surprise Billing Protection Act to update how health insurance carriers calculate reimbursements for nonparticipating healthcare providers. It changes the benchmarking period from using 2017 claims data to using data from the calendar year two years prior to when the service was provided. The bill maintains that reimbursement rates must reflect the 60th percentile of commercial rates for similar services in the same specialty and geographic area, with a floor of 150% of the Medicare rate for that service. This directly affects nonparticipating providers who receive surprise billing claims and insurers responsible for payments under the law. The bill passed committee review but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Bill results