Budget & Taxes

failed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 103: CAP RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX RATES

HB 103 caps annual increases in residential property tax assessments at 103% of the prior year's value or 106.1% of the value from two years prior, whichever is higher. This limit does not apply if a property's zoning changed or if ownership transferred in the year before the tax year. The bill also requires counties with low property sales ratios to reassess properties to meet a minimum threshold before the cap applies. It takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCaps annual residential property tax increases, providing relief to homeowners by limiting assessment growth rates.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

Track

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2: GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2026

HB 2, the General Appropriation Act of 2026, allocates funding for New Mexico's state government operations during fiscal year 2027. It directs $55 million from the general fund to legislative agencies and $496 million from the general fund to the judiciary, with additional amounts from other funding sources. The bill requires unspent funds at year-end to automatically return to the general fund by October 1, 2026 and 2027, and establishes accounting rules for tracking revenue and expenditures. This bill affects all state agencies by setting their budget allocations and spending rules for the 2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for operations, mandates unspent funds return to general fund, promoting fiscal responsibility per budget management indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 247: CAPITAL OUTLAY CHANGES

HB 247 limits how New Mexico state agencies can manage capital projects (like construction or equipment purchases) by requiring unspent funds to revert to specific state funds. It prohibits reauthorizing projects more than once or for over two years unless 10% of the initial funds are already committed, and mandates that projects over $100,000 must align with an approved infrastructure plan. Unspent general fund capital appropriations must revert to the Capital Development and Reserve Fund (or Tribal Infrastructure Fund for tribal projects) by specific deadlines, with water projects now requiring state agency grant programs instead of direct legislative funding. The bill updates prior laws (2022-2025) to enforce these reversion timelines and spending rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnforces fiscal accountability in capital project spending through fund reversion and alignment requirements, promoting responsible budget management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 8: HIGHER ED. MAJOR PROJECTS FUND

HB 8 creates a $300 million Higher Education Major Projects Fund in New Mexico's state treasury, funded by a transfer from the general fund. The bill allows state universities and community colleges to use these funds for major construction projects, including research facilities costing $50 million or more, student housing, and student life facilities like recreation centers. It requires institutions to cover 25-50% of project costs through non-state sources (like donations or bonds), with waivers possible if institutions cannot afford matches. Initial priorities include $150 million for a new UNM medical school, $50 million for a NMSU building, and $100 million for student housing statewide.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $300M from general fund to higher ed projects, requiring institutional cost-sharing, advancing public service funding within fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates $300M fund for higher ed infrastructure (research facilities, housing, recreation), directly advancing educational facilities funding for state universities and colleges.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 4: HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY FUND DISTRIBUTIONS

HB 4 adjusts how funds from New Mexico's health insurance premium surtax are distributed to the Health Care Affordability Fund. It changes the percentage of surtax revenue sent to the fund over time: 55% before July 2024, 30% from July 2024 to September 2025, 55% from September 2025 to September 2026, and 100% after September 2026. The bill directly affects the allocation of state revenue generated by the health insurance surtax, which supports healthcare affordability programs. This policy change modifies existing distribution rules without altering the surtax rate itself. The fund's purpose is to assist New Mexicans with healthcare costs, though the bill does not specify new eligibility criteria or program expansions.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill directs surtax revenue to Health Care Affordability Fund, funding essential healthcare programs through tax allocation. Explicitly increases fund allocation over time (100% post-2026).95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases funding allocation to Health Care Affordability Fund over time, reaching 100% after 2026 to support healthcare affordability programs.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 7: APPRENTICESHIP ASSISTANCE ACT TRANSFERS

HB 7 directs annual transfers from New Mexico's Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund to two specific programs: $2.5 million to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund and $2.5 million to the Workforce Solutions Department for fiscal year 2026, with amounts reducing to $1.5 million each annually after 2026. These funds support apprenticeship programs under the Apprenticeship Assistance Act, directly aiding job training for workers in public works and other sectors. The bill ensures dedicated funding for workforce development while including a contingency to transfer money to the general fund only if other reserves are exhausted during budget shortfalls.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects $2.5M/year from existing trust fund to apprenticeship programs, funding workforce development under Budget & Taxes appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds apprenticeship programs for job training, directly supporting workforce development and employment standards per bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 95: ADDITIONAL SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT JUDGESHIP

HB 95 creates a new judgeship in New Mexico's Second Judicial District, increasing the number of district judges from thirty to thirty-one. The bill appropriates $451,400 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to cover the judge's salary, benefits, and necessary office equipment and supplies. This funding is specifically for the new position within the Second Judicial District court system. The bill directly affects the administrative capacity and staffing of that district's courts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $451,400 from general fund to fund new judgeship, increasing court staffing and public service budget allocation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 158: PLANS ON USE OF CERTAIN FUNDS

HB 158 requires state agencies receiving funds from the Government Results and Opportunity Expendable Trust to submit detailed accountability and evaluation plans for their programs. These plans must outline goals, evidence-based practices, performance measures, evaluation methods, and public reporting timelines. Agencies must submit initial plans by July 1 each year after funding is approved, with potential revisions by September 1, and final evaluations by July 15 of the program’s last funding year. The bill aims to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes for public spending from this specific trust fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires accountability plans for fund usage, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending through performance measures and public reporting.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 108: WATERSHED DISTRICT TAXES AND DIRECTORS

HB 108 allows watershed districts in New Mexico to request soil and water conservation districts to levy property taxes for district operations. Specifically, watershed districts can ask the local soil conservation district board to impose an annual tax (capped at $5 per $1,000 of property value) to fund administration, construction, and maintenance of watershed projects. This bill clarifies the appointment process for watershed district boards, ensuring representation from soil conservation districts that hold minority land within the watershed area. It directly affects watershed districts, soil conservation districts, and property owners within those districts who may be subject to the requested taxes. The key change is creating a formal mechanism for watershed districts to secure dedicated funding through local property tax levies.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables new property tax authority ($5/$1k cap) for watershed district funding, directly advancing local tax-based budgeting for water projects.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds watershed projects for water conservation, directly supporting environmental protection through resource management and infrastructure maintenance.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 4, 2026

HB 64: PUBLIC PROJECT REVOLVING FUND APPROPRIATIONS

HB 64 allocates $13.25 million from New Mexico's Public Project Revolving Fund to three specific state funds for fiscal year 2027 and beyond. It provides $6.25 million to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund to match federal projects under the Safe Drinking Water Act, $2 million to the Local Government Planning Fund, and $5 million to the Cultural Affairs Facilities Infrastructure Fund for facility upgrades. The bill ensures unspent funds remain with the recipient programs instead of returning to the original revolving fund. This directly supports water infrastructure projects, local government planning initiatives, and cultural facility improvements across the state.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $13.25M to state funds for water infrastructure, local government, and cultural facilities, strengthening public service funding without tax changes.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Budget & Taxes