HB 20 New Mexico House · 2026 Regular Session

NATIVE AMERICAN DESIGNATION ON LICENSES

HB 20 requires New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Division to add a Native American designation to driver's licenses and identification cards when requested by applicants who provide tribal documentation. It directly affects Native American applicants in New Mexico who can verify tribal membership through an enhanced tribal card, tribal ID, certificate of Indian blood, or tribal/BIA affidavit. The bill mandates that the designation must not specify a particular tribe or pueblo, and cannot include personal information beyond what is needed to confirm tribal membership. This policy change allows tribal members to have their cultural identity recognized on official state IDs without revealing specific tribal affiliations.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 30, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026
Floor votes · House Feb 14, 2026

How they voted

623
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 66
Feb 14, 2026
D Democratic40
40 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican26
22 Yea 3 Nay 1
84% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
upper
Feb 15, 2026
Introduced
Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
upper
Feb 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
passed House
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Feb 6, 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
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors