HB 169 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the University of New Mexico's Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies for two main purposes in fiscal year 2027. It provides year-round scholarships prioritizing New Mexico residents from rural, tribal, indigenous, or underserved communities - especially those planning to offer culturally rooted healing services in the state - and funds statewide outreach including workshops, courses, and collaboration with tribal governments and rural communities. The bill also requires the department to research and develop new curanderismo (traditional medicine) courses to address New Mexico's cultural and health needs. Unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. This bill directly affects UNM students, community health educators, and New Mexico communities through educational and health programming.
HB 214, the Consumer Information and Data Protection Act, creates new rules for businesses handling personal data in New Mexico. It directly affects New Mexico residents ("consumers") by granting them rights to access, correct, or delete their personal data, and requiring businesses to obtain clear, affirmative consent for data processing - prohibiting "dark patterns" that trick users. Key provisions include special protections for children's data, sensitive health information (like reproductive or mental health data), and biometric data, while banning the use of precise location tracking without consent. Businesses must also implement security measures and cannot use de-identified data for re-identification. The bill does not apply to publicly available information or de-identified data.
SB 33, the "Right to Try Individualized Treatments Act," allows New Mexico residents with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses (after exhausting all FDA-approved treatments) to access individualized investigational treatments based on their genetic profile. The law requires written informed consent from patients detailing treatment options and risks, and permits manufacturers to provide these treatments without charge or require patient payment. It does not mandate insurance coverage for these treatments, but protects patients' heirs from liability for treatment debts after death and shields healthcare providers from disciplinary action for recommending such treatments. The bill also prohibits state officials from blocking patient access to these treatments.
SB 164 transfers responsibility for regulating ambulance services from New Mexico's Department of Transportation (DOT) to the Department of Health (DOH). The bill moves existing ambulance standards, certification programs, enforcement authority, and related records to DOH, including oversight of ambulance service requirements, tariffs, and safety rules. This change directly affects ambulance providers, local governments operating ambulance services, and emergency medical service programs statewide. The bill does not create new standards but shifts administrative control to DOH while maintaining current regulatory requirements.
SB 133 creates a tax deduction in New Mexico for healthcare practitioners who sell equipment or non-prescription medication directly to patients during office visits. It allows deductions for items used in patient treatment (like medical devices or saline), excluding standard office furniture and computers. To offset lost local tax revenue, the bill requires municipalities and counties to receive compensation based on the total deductions claimed in their areas. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 53, the Community and Health Information Safety and Privacy Act, establishes new privacy standards for businesses operating in New Mexico that collect consumer data. It directly affects online service providers, health-related businesses, and other "covered entities" that handle personal or biometric data of New Mexico residents. Key provisions prohibit businesses from using consumer data for targeted advertising without consent, ban "dark patterns" that manipulate user choices, and require clear opt-out mechanisms for data sharing. The law also protects consumers' rights to access, correct, or delete their data and prohibits retaliation for exercising these rights. It specifically excludes certain health data used for medical treatment under federal law from its requirements.
HB 244, the Hospital Price Transparency Act, requires all New Mexico hospitals to publicly display standard pricing for services on their websites in machine-readable format and either a list of 300+ shoppable services or a price estimator tool. This directly affects hospitals (both public and private) and patients who may face debt collection for services provided during non-compliance periods. Hospitals violating the law cannot pursue collection actions for affected services, and patients can use the hospital’s non-compliance as an affirmative defense in debt collection cases. The Health Care Authority will enforce compliance through website audits, complaint processes, and requiring corrective action plans for violations.
HB 128 presumes that certain cancers and health conditions diagnosed after specific employment periods are caused by firefighting work, directly affecting full-time non-volunteer firefighters in New Mexico. It lists 17 cancer types (like bladder, breast, lung, and leukemia) that are presumed work-related after 5-15 years of service, along with infectious diseases (e.g., hepatitis) and PTSD requiring physical impairment. The bill shifts the burden of proof: employers must rebut these presumptions with evidence showing non-work causes, and medical treatment for covered conditions must be provided as if work-related. This aims to streamline access to workers' compensation for firefighters facing job-linked health issues without requiring them to prove causation in court.
HB 202 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department, Health Care Authority, Department of Health, and other state agencies to create a written agreement with the Office of Child Advocate for sharing specific data and system access. The bill mandates that this agreement include security protocols, audit logging, breach plans, and compliance with federal privacy laws like HIPAA and FERPA. It also establishes a working group to develop the agreement by October 2026 and appropriates $75,000 to the Office of Child Advocate for technical support. The law directly affects the Office of Child Advocate and the listed state agencies by structuring how they share sensitive child-related information.
HB 65 creates a three-year pilot program in seven New Mexico counties (Dona Ana, Chaves, San Juan, McKinley, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Eddy) to improve stability for children in state custody. It provides in-home or home-like placements with enhanced services - including 24-hour crisis support, weekly therapy, parent training, and monthly family sessions - to reduce placement disruptions. The program prioritizes children with frequent placement history, behavioral health needs, or risk of disruption, and includes specialized incentives for foster homes caring for adolescents, siblings, or those needing short-term stabilization. The state appropriates $2.5 million to fund the program through fiscal year 2029, requiring collaboration between the Children, Youth and Families Department and Health Care Authority.
