SB 376 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT CONTRIBUTIONS

SB 376 increases New Mexico state contributions toward employee health insurance premiums for most public employees, effective July 1, 2025. It raises the state's share to 80% for employees earning under $50,000 annually (up from 75%), 70% for $50,000-$60,000 earners, and 60% for those earning $60,000+ - replacing previous salary-based tiers. The bill also authorizes using the Health Care Affordability Fund to further reduce premiums for eligible employees. This directly affects state government workers (excluding legislators) based on their salary level, with no change to school district contribution rules.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

FC substitute → Final Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates state employee health insurance contribution percentages based on salary levels, modernizes effective dates to 2025, and adds new requirements for cost-containment measures in health plans. The changes aim to adjust employer contribution rates for different salary brackets and improve healthcare cost management for state employees.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly excludes municipalities, counties, and political subdivisions with 25 or fewer employees from certain requirements, and adds specific provisions for public safety employees injured on the job.

FISCAL

Employer contribution percentages for state employees were adjusted across salary brackets, with lower percentages for higher salary ranges compared to previous versions.

TIMELINE

Effective dates were updated from 2004 and 2005 to 2025 for most provisions, aligning with current legislative sessions.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement mandates that health plans include cost-containment measures to control healthcare costs and maximize benefits.

ELIGIBILITY

Added specific provisions for public safety employees injured on the job, requiring employers to pay 100% of their group insurance contributions.

SCOPE

Explicitly excludes municipalities, counties, and political subdivisions with 25 or fewer employees from certain group insurance requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Requires annual reporting by September 1 to legislative committees on the effectiveness of cost-containment measures.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025 · House Mar 21, 2025

How they voted

35–2

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 40

Mar 11, 2025

D Democratic24

19 Yea 2 Nay 3

79% Yea

R Republican16

16 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Mar 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Mar 12, 2025

Introduced

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

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Legislature · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

legislature

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Finance Committee

legislature

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors