HB 9 New Mexico House · 2026 Regular Session

IMMIGRANT SAFETY ACT

HB 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, prohibits New Mexico state and local government entities - including sheriffs' departments, schools, and public agencies - from entering into agreements or using public property to detain individuals for federal immigration enforcement. It requires existing agreements facilitating such detentions to be terminated upon the law's effective date. The bill specifically bans public bodies from collaborating with federal immigration authorities on detention and ensures local policies align with these restrictions. Currently passed by both legislative chambers, it awaits the governor's signature to become law.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Feb 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Feb 7, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from an introduced version to a final version with substantive policy changes. The most significant change is the addition of new provisions prohibiting public bodies from entering into agreements that deputize officers to perform immigration functions under federal law, which was not present in the original version. The bill also expanded enforcement mechanisms and clarified definitions of 'public body' to include various government entities.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly prohibit public bodies from entering into agreements that deputize officers to perform immigration officer functions, including investigation, apprehension, detention, or transportation of noncitizens under specific federal authorities.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 4 prohibiting public bodies from entering into agreements to deputize officers, employees, or agents to perform immigration officer functions under 8 U.S.C. Section 1357(g) or 8 C.F.R. Section 287.7.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'public body' to more clearly include various government entities and clarified that it includes entities or individuals acting on behalf of or within the scope of the authority of the public body.

ENFORCEMENT

Added provisions clarifying that nothing in the act limits law enforcement personnel's ability to detain individuals or perform brief investigative stops as permitted by state law.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title format from 'INTRODUCED BY' with sponsor names to 'AN ACT' format typical of final legislative versions, and reorganized section numbering and formatting.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 3, 2026 · House Jan 30, 2026

How they voted

21–14

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 38

Feb 3, 2026

D Democratic22

21 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican16

14 Nay 2

87% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 7, 2026

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Judiciary Committee

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors