New Mexico Bills | MyRepTracker

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SM 23: FUNDING FOR WREATHS ON VETERAN GRAVESITES

Senate Memorial 23 requests the Legislative Finance Committee consider allocating state funds in 2027 to cover the annual cost of placing wreaths on all 79,000 veteran gravesites at Santa Fe National Cemetery, estimated at $1.34 million ($17 per wreath). Currently, volunteers and families sponsor wreaths through donations, but this memorial seeks to transition the effort to sustainable state funding. It directly affects veterans buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery and aims to ensure every grave receives a wreath annually. This non-binding request does not create new law but asks the committee to evaluate funding options.

Topics ✓ Veterans

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 238: RENAME GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE ADVISORY COMM.

SB 238 renames the Governor's Residence Advisory Commission to the Governor's Residence Management Committee and adjusts its membership structure, requiring the governor to appoint three members from a list provided by the Governor's Mansion Foundation. The committee, now attached to the General Services Department, will continue overseeing the governor's residence with specified terms for appointed members (two, three, and four-year staggered terms). This is a procedural change with no new policy or funding impacts, solely updating the commission's name and administrative structure.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 58: STUDY PUBLIC SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS

This House Memorial (HM 58) requests the Legislative Education Study Committee and Legislative Finance Committee to study transportation barriers affecting New Mexico public school students. The study will examine whether these barriers contribute to chronic absenteeism - especially for rural students, charter school students, and those living near schools - and identify innovative solutions used in other states. It will also review the effectiveness and equity of current state transportation funding. The committees must report findings and recommendations by December 31, 2026. This is a procedural request for research, not a policy change.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 313: CHILD CAR SEAT FASTENING AS NEGLIGENCE

SB 313 removes a legal provision stating that failing to secure children in appropriate car seats or seat belts cannot be considered negligence in court. This change directly affects parents and caregivers of children under 18 who do not comply with New Mexico’s existing child passenger restraint requirements. The bill amends two sections of state law to delete language that previously prevented such violations from being used as evidence of fault in accident cases. As a result, courts can now consider improper child restraint use when determining negligence or liability in traffic incidents involving minors. The actual safety requirements for child restraints (e.g., rear-facing seats for infants, booster seats for young children) remain unchanged.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 57: BILINGUAL EDUCATOR CREDENTIALING

This House Memorial (HM 57) requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to examine best practices for credentialing bilingual educators in New Mexico. The study will involve the public education department, higher education institutions, and professional organizations like the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education, with a focus on improving how bilingual educators are certified. It requires a report by August 15, 2026, to inform future actions on credentialing standards. This request does not change current laws but aims to address a shortage of qualified bilingual educators affecting students.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 338: HEALTH PRACTITIONER GRT DEDUCTION SUNSET

HB 338 extends the expiration date for a tax deduction that health care practitioners can use to reduce their taxable gross receipts by certain patient payments, changing the deadline from 2028 to 2031. It expands the deduction to include coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles paid by patients for commercial health insurance plans (excluding Medicare and Medicaid services). This affects licensed health care professionals like doctors, dentists, nurses, and therapists who provide services under commercial contracts with insurers. The deduction must be reported separately and is only applied after other allowable tax deductions are taken.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SM 24: LOCATION FOR ROBERTO MONDRAGON MEMORIAL

Senate Memorial 24 requests New Mexico's General Services Department, Department of Transportation, and State Parks Division to identify and recommend a public location for a memorial honoring Roberto A. Mondragon, a former lieutenant governor and advocate for Hispanic cultural heritage and land rights. The memorial would recognize his decades of service, including two terms as lieutenant governor, work on rural community issues, and efforts to preserve Hispanic cultural heritage and communal land rights under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The request directs these departments to propose sites like state parks, roadways, or public spaces for the memorial. This procedural resolution does not create new law but formally asks state agencies to act on the commemorative request.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 271: OFFICE OF NATURAL RESOURCES TRUSTEE FUNDING

HB 271 appropriates $100 million from New Mexico's general fund to the Office of Natural Resources Trustee for public land projects between 2027 and 2029. The funds will directly support land purchases or interests to create, expand, or restore public lands, including up to $30 million in state matching funds for local governments that received federal disaster aid. Unspent funds by the end of 2029 must revert to the general fund. This bill provides concrete financial resources for conservation and land management, with specific allocation rules for both general public lands and disaster recovery efforts.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 310: STUDY LOWRIDER MUSEUM

HB 310 appropriates $1,000,000 from the general fund to New Mexico's Cultural Affairs Department for a fiscal year 2027 feasibility study, planning, and implementation of a lowrider museum in Espanola. The bill directly affects the Cultural Affairs Department, which will use the funds to assess the museum's viability and develop plans. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies but allocates specific funding for preliminary research. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 would revert to the general fund. This is a procedural bill focused solely on funding a study, not on museum operations or policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 211: LAS VEGAS RODRIGUEZ PARK

SB 211 allocates $5 million from the state general fund to the City of Las Vegas for constructing and equipping Rodriguez Park, a specific public space in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The funds must be spent during fiscal year 2027, with any unused portion reverting to the general fund. This bill is a procedural appropriation bill that directly affects the city's park development plans. It does not create new policies or regulations but provides targeted funding for infrastructure at a named public park. The bill was approved by relevant committees in early 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 260: WORKFORCE EDUCATION TAX CREDIT

SB 260 creates a tax credit allowing businesses to claim 75% of donations (up to $750,000 per company annually) to public colleges or school districts for workforce education programs, such as vocational training and job skills courses. The credit is capped at $5 million total per year across all businesses, requiring companies to apply for certification through the state's economic development department. Eligible donations must be direct monetary contributions to public institutions - not to affiliated entities - and the credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects businesses donating to workforce training programs and public educational institutions receiving those funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 294: CANNABIS PRODUCT PACKAGING REGULATIONS

HB 294 regulates cannabis product packaging to prevent designs that appeal to minors. It prohibits using artificial color additives not approved by the Cannabis Control Division and bans packaging with cartoon imagery, colors, or designs resembling products marketed to children. The bill directly affects cannabis manufacturers, retailers, and producers who package products for sale in New Mexico. Violations would render products "adulterated," though specific penalties are outlined in the bill text.