Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 238: INDEPENDENT THEATER SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

HB 238 creates a three-year pilot program (2026-2029) providing up to $2,000 monthly sponsorship payments to eligible independent theaters in designated municipal business districts (Main Street programs or arts/cultural districts). To qualify, a theater must be owned by a single owner and located in one of these districts. The Economic Development Department will administer the program, determine payment amounts based on financial need, and require theaters to use funds for capital improvements or operating expenses. The state appropriates $1 million total, with annual reporting required and a final evaluation due by October 2029.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for theater capital improvements via Economic Development Department, directly increasing government spending for cultural/economic development under budget appropriation.95% confidence

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 202: PHYSICIAN GRADUATE ED. TRUST FUND

SB 202 creates two funds to support physician training in New Mexico: a $100 million Physician Graduate Medical Education Trust Fund (to be invested and managed) and an $8 million Physician Graduate Medical Education Program Fund (to directly support training). Starting in 2027, the program fund will receive annual distributions from the trust fund and use $8 million over two years to specifically aid medical training programs in rural and underserved areas. This includes up to $2.5 million annually for programs developing accreditation applications, $0.5 million for newly accredited programs, and $1 million for established programs. The bill ensures these funds remain available for their intended purpose without reverting to the trust fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $100M trust fund and $8M program to fund physician training in underserved areas, directly increasing state budget allocation for healthcare education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $100M trust fund and $8M program fund for physician training, specifically targeting rural/underserved areas to expand healthcare workforce access.95% confidence

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 192: DATA BROKER PRIVACY ACT

SB 192, the Data Broker Privacy Act, regulates companies that collect and sell personal data without a direct relationship to consumers (data brokers). It requires data brokers to register with New Mexico's Economic Development Department, pay fees funding a privacy fund, and disclose specific practices like whether they collect sensitive data (reproductive health, location, or minors' information). The bill establishes a public website and a centralized deletion tool allowing New Mexico residents to request removal of their personal data from all registered brokers with one request, including protections for accessibility and multilingual access. Data brokers must also annually report on how they handle deletion requests, including reasons for denials.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill imposes fees on data brokers to fund a privacy program, directly creating new state revenue for consumer protection under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates data brokers to protect consumer privacy through mandatory disclosure of sensitive data practices and a centralized deletion tool95% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Data Privacy

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in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 26: PROHIBITING BOOK BANNING AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES

HB 26 prohibits public libraries in New Mexico (operated by state, county, or municipality) from removing or banning books based on content disagreement or protected characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation. It requires libraries to create written procedures for challenging materials deemed obscene or unlawful, while banning retaliation against staff who refuse to remove books due to policy compliance. The law also blocks funding cuts or disciplinary action against libraries or staff for adhering to these rules, and libraries violating the ban lose eligibility for state funding. Enforcement falls to the Library Division of the Cultural Affairs Department, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBlocks funding cuts to public libraries, protecting existing budget allocations for library operations and materials access.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill prohibits banning books in public libraries based on protected characteristics, directly supporting educational access by ensuring diverse materials remain available for learning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 77: APPRENTICE & TRAINING PROGRAM CONTRIBUTIONS

SB 77 requires construction companies working on most state-funded public works projects (like buildings or infrastructure) to pay into apprentice and training programs or a state fund. This applies to all public construction projects except those involving trades not recognized as apprenticeable by federal standards. Employers must contribute the same amount required by existing wage rate rules, verified through payroll reports. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and affects contractors bidding on New Mexico government construction projects.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates employer contributions to fund apprentice programs, increasing state funding for workforce training through public construction projects.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates employer contributions to apprentice/training programs, directly funding worker skill development and career advancement under labor & employment policies.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Apprenticeships

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signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 193: ACEQUIA & DITCH INFRASTRUCTURE FUND TRANSFER

This bill increases the annual transfer of funds from the New Mexico Irrigation Works Construction Fund to the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund from $2.5 million to $5 million. It directly affects acequia (traditional community irrigation systems) and local ditch infrastructure projects by providing them with doubled annual funding. The key mechanism is an amendment to existing state statute governing fund allocations, while maintaining a separate $1 million annual transfer to the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and represents a concrete policy shift in water infrastructure funding priorities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases annual funding allocation for acequia infrastructure from $2.5M to $5M, directly boosting state budget spending on essential public water infrastructure.95% confidence

signed · New Mexico · House Feb 25, 2026

HB 253: PUBLIC EDUCATION CHANGES

HB 253 requires New Mexico school districts and charter schools to report projected enrollment numbers for students in distance learning programs. It changes school funding calculations by excluding distance learning students from membership counts used to determine state funding, and establishes a new approval process for these programs requiring state education department review. The bill also sets enrollment limits for distance learning with specific exceptions, clarifies requirements for students with disabilities in such programs, and renames the "Statewide Cyber Academy Act" as the "Distance Learning Act" while updating related definitions. These changes directly affect school districts, charter schools, and students enrolled in distance learning programs.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExcludes distance learning students from membership counts used for state funding calculations, directly reducing state expenditure on these programs.90% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationExcludes distance learning students from funding calculations and imposes enrollment limits, directly reducing state support and restricting program expansion.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 168: NEW HOMES FOR NEW MEXICO PROGRAM

This bill creates the New Homes for New Mexico program, providing interest-free loans up to $50,000 (or $75,000 in Los Alamos, Santa Fe, or Taos counties) to first-time homebuyers with incomes below 120% of area median income for a family of four. Eligible buyers must purchase starter homes (max 1,800 sq ft on lots under 5,000 sq ft) as their primary residence and cannot have owned a home previously. The program is funded by a $10 million appropriation from the general fund, with repayments reinvested to support future loans. It directly affects first-time homebuyers meeting income and residency criteria in New Mexico.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesFunds $10M general fund appropriation for housing program targeting low-income buyers, advancing state spending on affordable housing through budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProvides interest-free loans for first-time homebuyers under 120% AMI, directly advancing affordable housing access through targeted funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Homeownership

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in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HJR 8: PROPERTY TAX REFUND FOR NUISANCE LAWS, CA

This constitutional amendment (HJR 8) would require New Mexico municipalities or counties to refund property taxes paid by owners when local governments fail to enforce public nuisance laws (e.g., unaddressed blight or safety hazards) on the owner's property. If a property owner incurs costs to mitigate such issues due to the government's inaction, the municipality or county must refund up to the prior year's property tax amount for that property. The property owner must prove ownership and the actual costs incurred to qualify for the refund. As a constitutional amendment, it requires voter approval at the next general election and is currently pending committee review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides property tax refunds to owners when local governments fail to enforce nuisance laws, offering direct tax relief and aligning with fiscal responsibility indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Property Tax

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 163: RENAME GEOTHERMAL TAX CREDITS

SB 163 renames New Mexico's "geothermal electricity generation" tax credits to "geothermal energy production" credits and establishes a tiered credit system based on kilowatt-hour output. The credit rate starts at $0.015 per kilowatt-hour in the first operational year, increases to $0.04 by year six, then decreases over the next four years, with a yearly production cap of 200,000 megawatt-hours per facility. Total annual credits are capped at $55 million, including $11 million reserved for tribal and small businesses, and credits can be transferred to other taxpayers. This bill directly affects geothermal energy producers in New Mexico who own or hold an interest in geothermal facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates tiered tax credits for geothermal energy, increasing credit rates over time with annual spending cap ($55M), directly advancing tax incentives in energy sector.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRenames and expands geothermal tax credits with tiered rates increasing over time, directly funding renewable energy production infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes geothermal energy production via tax credits, promoting renewable energy development that reduces emissions and supports environmental protection goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes

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