HB 170 appropriates $1.4 million from the state general fund to the University of New Mexico's Board of Regents for its Basic Needs Project during fiscal year 2027. The funds will support UNM's existing program addressing student needs like food and housing insecurity. Any unspent money at year-end must revert to the state general fund. This bill directly affects UNM students through its funding mechanism, with no new policy requirements beyond the financial allocation.
HB 144 creates the crime of "unlawful squatting" in New Mexico, defined as entering and residing on someone else's property without permission for any period. It classifies this as a fourth-degree felony and requires property owners to prove unauthorized occupancy through a legal process involving affidavits and court hearings, rather than immediate removal. The bill also allows property owners to seek double the appraised value of damages caused by the squatter and gives alleged squatters three business days to contest a citation with proof like a lease or deed. This directly affects property owners facing unauthorized occupants and individuals accused of squatting, establishing a court-based system to resolve disputes over property rights.
HB 200 creates the "New Homes for New Mexico Program" to provide interest-free loans for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly built starter homes from approved developers. The program targets buyers earning below 120% of the area median income for a family of four, requiring the home to be their primary residence and limiting starter homes to 1,800 square feet on lots under 5,000 square feet. Loans up to $50,000 (or $75,000 in high-cost counties like Los Alamos, Santa Fe, or Taos) must be repaid if the home is sold or stops being the primary residence. The program is funded by a $25 million appropriation from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 and beyond.
SB 68, the Artificial Intelligence Government Use Act, requires New Mexico's public bodies - including state agencies, counties, school districts, and other government entities - to establish policies for using artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision tools. These policies must ensure human employees make final decisions for consequential matters (like housing, employment, or health care), protect sensitive data, and prevent bypassing security protocols. Public bodies must also train employees on AI policies and appropriate use, with policies made available to the public upon request. The law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
HB 24 creates a program offering home purchase loans to licensed healthcare professionals in New Mexico, including nurses, doctors, dentists, therapists, and social workers. The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority will provide loans covering up to 10% of a home’s purchase price to qualified professionals who agree to practice in the state for 10 years at 75% or more of full-time employment. A lien on the home remains for 10 years, and early departure requires repayment of 100% (first 5 years), 50% (5-7 years), or 25% (7-10 years) of the loan amount. The program is funded by a $5 million appropriation from the general fund for fiscal years 2026-2027.
SB 127 creates a new Homelessness Reduction Division within New Mexico's Health Care Authority to coordinate state efforts addressing homelessness. The division will develop a statewide strategic plan, establish a "homeless data integration system" to track homelessness data across local services (while protecting health and personal information from public records requests), and collaborate with state agencies. It also establishes an Interagency Task Force (including all major agency secretaries) and a Homelessness Reduction Advisory Council to advise on policy and implementation. This bill directly affects state agencies, local homeless service providers, and residents experiencing homelessness by restructuring coordination around housing stability and health outcomes.
This bill would revise New Mexico's zoning laws to allow apartment buildings in areas currently zoned for commercial use, permit duplexes and townhouses in single-family residential zones, and let small businesses (like shops or cafes) operate in residential neighborhoods. It removes restrictions on building height and story count, prohibits minimum parking requirements for new developments (except for accessible parking), and requires local governments to adopt these changes. The law directly affects cities and counties by changing how they approve housing and mixed-use projects, impacting developers, property owners, and residents seeking more housing options.
HB 192 prohibits foreign corporations (including in-state subsidiaries) from purchasing single-family homes in New Mexico as investment rental properties before July 1, 2036. The bill directly affects foreign-owned real estate investment entities seeking to buy homes for rental purposes within the state. Key provisions ban these transactions for single-family residential properties, defining "foreign corporation" as one organized under the laws of another state or country. The law aims to limit foreign corporate ownership of residential rental housing, effective July 1, 2036.
SB 128, the Public Land Disclosure and Accountability Act, requires public agencies (such as school districts and state universities) to report every two years on vacant or underutilized land they own in metropolitan areas that has been unused for five years or more. Agencies must disclose if they have no plan to use such land, and non-county/municipality agencies must sell it under this requirement. Buyers of these properties must begin development within 12 months or risk losing the land with a full refund. The state will maintain a public database of all reports to increase transparency about public land use.
HB 140 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority for ongoing oversight duties required by the Affordable Housing Act. This funding ensures the Authority can monitor and administer existing affordable housing programs without needing annual budget requests. The bill specifies that unspent funds in any fiscal year will not return to the general fund, providing stable, long-term support for oversight. It directly affects the Mortgage Finance Authority, which manages New Mexico's affordable housing programs, by securing dedicated resources for compliance and program management. The bill does not create new housing policies but provides essential funding for existing oversight mechanisms.
