HB 56 appropriates $1 million from the general fund to New Mexico's Veterans' Services Department for fiscal year 2027. The funding directly assists veterans and their families in identifying and accessing existing behavioral health care services. Key provisions include a one-time allocation with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2027. This bill does not create new services but provides resources to help veterans navigate available care options. It is a funding measure, not a policy change affecting service delivery.
HB 32 creates the Counseling Licensure Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors in participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed counselors and their clients in member states, enabling them to provide in-person or telehealth counseling services where the client is located. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary records between states, and requiring counselors to follow the practice laws of the state where the client is located. The compact also specifically supports military spouses relocating with active-duty service members. This bill does not change existing state licensure requirements but streamlines interstate practice for qualified counselors.
SB 166 amends New Mexico's budget law to redirect excess revenue from the General Fund to specific state trust funds under defined conditions. If General Fund revenue exceeds spending and the combined excess plus the General Fund Operating Reserve reaches 5-8% of prior-year spending, the excess above 5% is distributed to Medicaid, behavioral health, community benefits, education reform, rural health care, and senior dignity funds. If the combined amount equals or exceeds 8%, the excess above 8% goes to the Government Results and Opportunity Trust. The bill also requires the tax stabilization reserve to replenish the General Fund Operating Reserve if it falls below 1% of appropriations.
HB 198 appropriates $2 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Health for fiscal year 2027 to provide behavioral health treatment and training specifically to first responders (such as police, firefighters, and EMTs). The bill directly affects first responders by funding mental health resources and specialized training, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund by year-end. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, focusing solely on allocating state resources for existing training programs.
HB 33, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow licensed psychologists in New Mexico to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer up to 30 days of in-person practice annually in another participating state without needing a separate license. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses between states that adopt the compact, enabling psychologists to serve clients in other states while ensuring public safety through shared disciplinary records. The compact directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to expand practice across state lines and clients in states with limited local mental health providers. Key mechanisms include standardized telepsychology authorization, temporary in-person practice limits, and a coordinated system for sharing license and disciplinary information among participating states.
SB 159 requires the University of New Mexico's Board of Regents to provide $27 million in state funds over fiscal years 2027-2029 to cover unreimbursed costs for eligible healthcare facilities hosting medical residency programs. Eligible entities include federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, independent psychiatric facilities, and critical access hospitals that sponsor accredited residency programs in New Mexico. The funding covers resident salaries, supervising physician costs, accreditation, and program administration, with priority given to New Mexico residents. Unspent funds by the end of 2029 will revert to the state general fund.
HB 87 appropriates $1 million from the state general fund to the Health Care Authority for fiscal year 2027. The funding is specifically for an organization in Dona Ana County that provides long-term residential treatment using the Soteria model, which serves individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness and psychosis. The bill requires the funds to cover residential treatment services only and mandates that any unspent balance at year-end reverts to the general fund. This is a direct funding mechanism targeting mental health care access in a specific community setting.
HB 159 establishes a two-year pilot program using $1 million in state funds to provide free, evidence-based mental health support for K-12 students and families in New Mexico. The program will offer mental health education, self-management tools, and care navigation services through a dedicated platform. It requires the Public Education Department to contract implementation services and submit an impact report to the legislative education committee by 2028. The bill directly affects all public school students and families in New Mexico, with funding limited to fiscal years 2027-2028.
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.
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.
