HB 66 New Mexico House · 2026 Regular Session

HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN FUND CHANGES

HB 66 updates New Mexico's health professional loan repayment program. It creates a Health Professions Advisory Committee to select recipients of loan repayment awards, replacing the previous commission. The bill requires applicants to be licensed health professionals currently practicing in New Mexico or to agree to relocate and begin practice there. The Higher Education Department will determine award amounts and administer the program, with new criteria for selecting applicants and allowing fees if recipients breach their service agreements. This affects health professionals seeking repayment for education loans in exchange for practicing in the state.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

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 9, 2026 Signed Mar 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HC substitute → Final Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands the definition of eligible health professionals for loan repayment awards, increases funding amounts for physicians, and adds new administrative requirements for the Higher Education Department. The changes aim to attract more healthcare providers to New Mexico by broadening eligibility beyond traditional categories and establishing clearer payment schedules.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a limited set of health professions to include 27 specific acts plus additional professions determined by the department, significantly broadening who can receive loan repayment assistance.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligible health professionals from 18 categories to 27 specific acts including massage therapy, acupuncture, social work, and emergency medical services, plus additional professions as determined by the department.

FISCAL

Established minimum award amount of $75,000 per year for four consecutive years for licensed physicians, with provisions for prorating based on part-time employment.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that award recipients must currently practice in New Mexico or agree to relocate and begin practice within 90 days of receiving the award.

Added requirement that the department must encumber the full award amount during the first year of the award period at a published schedule.

Established priority criteria for award selection, giving highest priority to licensed physicians and designated health professional shortage areas.

DEFINITION

Created new definitions for 'licensed physician' and 'nurse in advanced practice' to clarify eligibility categories.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing fees to be assessed upon breach of contract by award recipients.

introduced version → HC substitute · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to significantly expand the scope of the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program by adding numerous health professions eligible for awards, increasing award amounts for physicians, and clarifying eligibility criteria. The changes also strengthen enforcement mechanisms by allowing fees for contract breaches and updating reporting requirements. These modifications aim to attract and retain a broader range of healthcare providers in underserved areas of New Mexico.

Scope change

The program now covers many more health professions beyond the original list, including massage therapy, acupuncture, social work, emergency medical services, and genetic counseling, among others.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded the list of eligible health professions from 14 to 27 categories, adding fields like massage therapy, acupuncture, social work, and emergency medical services.

FISCAL

Increased minimum annual award for licensed physicians from unspecified amounts to $75,000 per year for four consecutive years, while other professionals receive three-year awards.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions allowing the department to assess fees up to 18% interest on disbursed awards if recipients fail to comply with contract terms, plus potential penalties.

DEFINITION

Redefined 'health professional' to include a comprehensive list of licensed practitioners and added specific definitions for 'licensed physician' and 'nurse in advanced practice'.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that award recipients must file a declaration of intent to practice in designated underserved areas before receiving awards.

TIMELINE

Extended the minimum service period for licensed physicians from three years to four years, while other health professionals remain at three years.

TECHNICAL

Added new exclusions for certain types of education debt, including scholarships with service obligations and loans exceeding standard school expense levels.

REPORTING

Simplified annual reporting requirements to focus on cumulative totals, number of awards by profession, and practice locations rather than individual recipient details.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026 · House Feb 14, 2026

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 38

Feb 18, 2026

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican16

14 Yea 2

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 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

Introduced

Sent to Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee

upper

Feb 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Health & Human Services Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

not printed House Rules and Order of Business Committee

lower

Jan 9, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Pre-file

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors