EMPLOYEE FREE SPEECH ACT

HB 84, the Employee Free Speech Act, protects New Mexico employees from employer retaliation for refusing to attend or listen to workplace communications about political matters. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions like firing, demoting, or reducing hours against employees who decline to participate in mandatory political discussions or communications. The bill allows affected employees to seek damages, reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees, while exempting required legal updates, job-related information, educational coursework, religious communications, and casual conversations. The bill passed the House in March 2025 but was postponed indefinitely in the Senate by June 3, 2025, and remains pending.