Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 235: SUDDEN UNEXPECTED YOUNG PERSON DEATH REPORTS

HB 235 requires medical examiners to conduct detailed autopsies and report specific sudden unexpected deaths of people under 20 to state and national health registries. It applies to sudden cardiac deaths in apparently healthy young people without known heart disease, unexplained natural deaths under 20, and infant deaths under one year (whether explained or unexplained). Autopsies must include toxicology, microscopic studies, and a review of medical and immunization records, with a focus on vaccines given within 90 days of death. The findings will be submitted to the New Mexico state registrar and a national CDC/NIH registry to standardize data collection for public health research.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates detailed death reporting to health registries for public health surveillance, strengthening data collection on sudden deaths in young people and infants to inform prevention efforts.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 101: HEALTH CARE DELIVERY & ACCESS ACT REPEAL

SB 101 repeals a delayed repeal of New Mexico's Health Care Delivery and Access Act (enacted in 2024). It specifically removes Section 13 of Laws 2024, Chapter 41, which had postponed the original act's repeal. This action restores the full provisions of the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, meaning it directly affects healthcare providers and patients covered under the original legislation. The bill does not change the act's content but ensures it remains in effect without further delay.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores full provisions of Health Care Delivery & Access Act, maintaining current patient/provider protections and access without delay as originally enacted.95% confidence

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 115: PROTECTIONS FOR NURSES INVOKING SAFE HARBOR

HB 115 (New Mexico, 2026) adds specific protections for nurses who invoke "safe harbor" when they believe an assignment is unsafe or question a medical order. It requires healthcare facilities to establish clear processes for nurses to formally request safe harbor (including written documentation and supervisor notification), conduct post-occurrence reviews involving other nurses, and prohibits retaliation like demotion or termination for good-faith requests. The bill directly affects nurses and healthcare facilities by mandating structured procedures to address safety concerns without fear of punishment. It focuses on concrete policy changes: standardizing safe harbor requests, documenting them, and explicitly banning workplace retaliation against nurses who use the process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects nurses from retaliation when raising safety concerns, requiring facilities to establish safe harbor processes and reviews. Directly strengthens healthcare worker protections and patient safety, advancing healthcare quality.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects nurses from retaliation for reporting unsafe assignments, directly strengthening workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 183: STUDY CREATING REGIONAL URGENT CARE

SB 183 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Health Care Authority to study creating regional urgent care or emergency facilities in Torrance County and nearby areas. The study will examine whether such facilities are practical and beneficial for residents in that region. The funds must be spent by fiscal year 2027, with any unspent balance returning to the general fund. This bill does not create facilities but only funds the initial research phase.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds $250k study to assess regional urgent care facilities, aiming to improve healthcare access in Torrance County per HEALTH & HEALTH FACILITIES subjects.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 38: WHEELCHAIR INSURANCE COVERAGE

HB 38 requires New Mexico health insurance plans to cover wheelchairs and activity chairs for individuals with permanent mobility-limiting conditions (such as paralysis, limb loss, or neuromuscular disorders) without more restrictive terms than other medical benefits. The bill mandates coverage equivalent to Medicare standards, including all necessary services like fittings, repairs, replacements, and instruction, while prohibiting separate cost-sharing or lifetime limits for these devices. It also ensures insurers must cover out-of-network providers when in-network options are unavailable and reimburse at in-network rates. This applies to all group health plans under the Health Care Purchasing Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive wheelchair coverage without restrictive terms, expanding insurance benefits for mobility devices under healthcare policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 172: SAFE STAFFING ACT & NURSING HOMES

HB 172, the Safe Staffing Act, sets mandatory minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals across New Mexico, directly affecting all hospitals providing inpatient care (including critical access hospitals) and their nursing staff. Key provisions require specific ratios, such as one nurse per two patients in intensive care units, one nurse per four patients in emergency departments over a 12-hour shift, and one nurse per patient during active labor in delivery units. The bill creates a statewide staffing advisory committee with nurse and hospital staff representation to help develop enforcement rules, and authorizes administrative penalties for noncompliance. These changes aim to standardize staffing based on unit type and patient needs, applying uniformly to all covered hospitals.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates specific nurse-to-patient ratios in hospitals to improve patient safety and care quality, directly strengthening healthcare facility standards per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals

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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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signed · New Mexico · House Mar 9, 2026

HM 4: STUDY HIGHER ED HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS

This procedural memorial (HM 4) requests the Legislative Finance Committee to study health insurance access for public higher education educators and graduate student employees across New Mexico's public universities. The study will examine current coverage gaps - such as UNM being the only institution providing employer-funded medical insurance for graduate students - and evaluate options for expanding medical, dental, and vision coverage, including fiscal impacts and workforce effects, with a report due by October 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequests study to expand health coverage for higher ed educators and grad students, directly supporting educator benefits and addressing coverage gaps in public universities.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly requests study to evaluate expanding medical/dental/vision coverage for educators and grad students, aiming to address current insurance gaps and improve access.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill requests study to examine gaps in health insurance for graduate student employees (a labor group) and evaluate options for expanding medical/dental/vision coverage, indicating intent to improve workers' benefits and address coverage gaps.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Insurance

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 10: HEALTH TRAINING CORPS

SB 10 creates New Mexico's Health Training Corps within the Department of Health to address healthcare shortages in underserved areas. The bill establishes a stipend program paying experienced health professionals $100 per hour (max $10,000 annually) for training health students and newly licensed providers at designated health training sites. It appropriates $3 million for the program to recruit preceptors, cover stipends, and provide support, with funds remaining available year-to-year. The initiative directly affects preceptors, health professional students, and newly licensed providers working in underserved communities, prioritizing behavioral health, primary care, and obstetrics/gynecology services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $3M for stipends to train health professionals in underserved areas, directly addressing healthcare shortages through funding and program expansion.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Primary Care

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in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 241: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE COURT NOTICES

HB 241 requires New Mexico courts to notify the Medical Board when physicians are named as defendants in malpractice lawsuits, including dismissals or amendments removing a physician. It extends the period the Medical Board can temporarily suspend a physician's license without a hearing and mandates the Board to post all active malpractice claims, related payments, and disciplinary actions on its website. Hospitals and healthcare entities must report malpractice settlements exceeding $1 million to the Board. This bill directly affects physicians facing lawsuits, the Medical Board, courts, and healthcare providers required to submit reporting data.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency in malpractice cases and expedites disciplinary actions to protect patient safety through public reporting of claims and settlements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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