HB 124 New Mexico House · 2026 Regular Session

NEW AMERICANS DIVISION IN WSD

HB 124 creates a New Americans Division within New Mexico's Workforce Solutions Department to support immigrants and refugees in the state's workforce. The division will help with job training, streamline license recognition for internationally trained professionals, and connect businesses with immigrant talent. It must report annually on its activities and refugee resettlement impacts, with an initial report due December 2026. This bill directly affects non-citizen residents and refugee resettlement programs in New Mexico.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Signed Mar 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill creates a new 'New Americans Division' within New Mexico's Workforce Solutions Department to support immigrants and refugees. It establishes specific duties for the division, including workforce integration programs, licensure pathway identification, and business support. The bill also requires a study on refugee resettlement impacts and mandates annual reporting on the division's activities and economic impact.

Scope change

New scope added: Creates a new division specifically focused on supporting new Americans (non-citizens residing in the US) within the existing Workforce Solutions Department structure.

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'new Americans' as people residing in the US who are not US citizens or were not citizens at birth.

Added 'new Americans division' as a new component of the Workforce Solutions Department alongside existing divisions.

REQUIREMENT

Created new New Americans Division with duties to support immigrant workforce integration, identify licensure pathways for foreign-trained professionals, and assist businesses in hiring global talent.

Required the division to serve as an information center for businesses and community organizations on policies affecting new Americans.

TIMELINE

Mandated a study and report on refugee resettlement in New Mexico by December 1, 2026, with annual reports due by July 1 each year thereafter.

Floor votes · House Feb 10, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 10, 2026

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Rules Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee & House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

not printed House Rules and Order of Business Committee

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors