HB 444 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

TRANSFER ATHLETIC COMMISSION AUTHORITY

HB 444 transfers the New Mexico Athletic Commission's authority from its current structure to the Regulation and Licensing Department. It expands the commission from five to seven members, replaces the Medical Advisory Board with a Medical Advisory Committee, adds new licensing categories for fighters and events, and adjusts fees dedicated to the athletic commission fund. This bill directly affects athletic commission members, promoters, professional fighters (including boxers and mixed martial artists), and event coordinators by changing oversight and operational requirements. The bill, which passed the House but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate committee in June 2025, aims to streamline regulation under a single department.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 17, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

AF substitute → GE substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers authority over athletic competition from the Athletic Commission to the Regulation and Licensing Department, expands the commission from five to seven members with specific expertise requirements, and adds new licensing categories and fee structures. The changes aim to modernize oversight of unarmed combat sports by creating a more diverse commission, clarifying definitions for various combat sports, and establishing clearer enforcement mechanisms for license violations.

Scope change

Authority transferred from the Athletic Commission to the Regulation and Licensing Department; the bill now covers additional sports categories including sports entertainment wrestling and expanded definitions for various combat disciplines.

SCOPE

Transferred oversight authority from the Athletic Commission to the Regulation and Licensing Department

REQUIREMENT

Expanded commission membership from five to seven members with specific requirements including at least one attorney, one medical professional, and members with sports promotion or participation experience

Added new licensing categories and fee schedules for various roles including event coordinators, judges, and amateur mixed martial artists

Added requirements for commission to publish state boxing champions and ranked contenders lists at least twice per year

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for sports entertainment wrestling and clarified definitions for various combat sports categories

ENFORCEMENT

Enhanced enforcement provisions including new grounds for license revocation and expanded subpoena powers for investigations

Floor votes · House Mar 13, 2025

How they voted

58–0

Passed · 8 other

Total votes 66

Mar 13, 2025

D Democratic40

33 Yea 7

82% Yea

R Republican26

25 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors