SB 229 amends New Mexico law to allow physicians licensed under the Medical Practice Act to perform auricular acupuncture (ear acupuncture) as part of their existing scope of practice, without needing separate acupuncture licensure. It also creates a new certification for non-physicians to provide auricular acupuncture specifically for treating alcoholism, substance abuse, or chemical dependency, requiring completion of approved training, clean needle technique, and background checks. Certified specialists must work under supervision of a licensed doctor of oriental medicine and adhere to board-approved protocols for substance abuse treatment. The bill establishes fees for certification, renewal, and program approvals, and requires certified specialists to use the title "Certified Auricular Detoxification Specialist" (C.A.D.S.). This directly affects physicians, certified specialists, and substance abuse treatment programs in New Mexico.
SB 222 appropriates $20 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Health Care Authority for fiscal years 2027-2029 to create new physician residency programs and training positions. The funding is specifically for establishing new residency spots, not altering existing programs or requirements. Any unspent funds by the end of fiscal year 2029 will return to the general fund. This bill directly affects the Health Care Authority and future medical residents in New Mexico through new training opportunities.
SB 258 requires New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee staff to prepare fiscal impact reports for proposed state agency rules expected to cost $10 million or more annually. It directly affects state agencies proposing such rules (which must provide cost data) and legislative leaders (who can request the reports). The bill mandates that reports include the agency's cost estimates, the rule's legal basis, projected impacts on state budgets and private businesses, and analysis sources. This change aims to provide lawmakers with standardized financial data before approving major regulatory changes. The bill applies only to rules with significant fiscal effects, not routine regulations.
SB 254 appropriates $2.8 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Department of Information Technology for fiscal year 2027 and beyond. The funds cover subscriber fees for municipal, county, and tribal public safety agencies (including those providing law enforcement, fire, medical, and emergency services) using the state's digital trunked radio communications system. Unspent funds will not revert to the general fund, ensuring ongoing support for these agencies' critical communication needs.
SB 237 creates a specialized Critical Incident Investigation Team within New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to handle serious safety threats to children in care. The team will investigate reports of "critical incidents" (such as abuse or neglect) occurring at child care facilities or programs, requiring CYFD to report these cases to the Office of Child Advocate. The bill establishes new procedures for these investigations, including specialized units and mandatory rules, to ensure timely and thorough reviews of incidents endangering children’s safety. It directly affects children in CYFD custody, child care facilities, and CYFD staff responsible for these investigations.
SB 239 modifies probation rules for individuals convicted of possessing controlled substances. If someone on probation for a drug possession offense violates probation terms, courts can now impose the original sentence without granting credit for time served on probation. This applies to all possession offenses under current law, including synthetic cannabinoids and other controlled substances listed in Schedules I-IV. The bill directly affects people with suspended or deferred sentences who breach probation conditions, ensuring they face the full penalty for the original offense.
HB 298 creates a 50% tax credit for New Mexico railroads that spend on qualifying infrastructure projects, such as track repairs, new rail lines, or facilities serving new customers. The credit directly affects railroads classified as Class 2 or 3 by the federal government or owners/lessees of rail spurs in New Mexico, with limits of $5,000 per mile of track owned/leased and $1 million per new customer project. To claim the credit, railroads must first get DOT certification, and the total annual credits issued cannot exceed $6 million. The bill allows credits to be transferred between taxpayers but does not refund excess credit amounts beyond a taxpayer’s liability in a given year.
HB 311 requires New Mexico's electric utilities to create programs that aggregate customer energy resources (like home batteries, solar, or smart devices) into "virtual power plants" to support grid operations. Utilities must submit program plans by February 2027, with rules ensuring these programs meet a 15% peak demand target and fairly compensate participants for grid services. The bill directly affects utilities, third-party program managers, and owners of energy storage systems (requiring minimum wage compliance for systems over 1 megawatt). It also allows utilities to recover program costs through approved mechanisms while establishing rules to prevent unfair advantages for utility-run programs.
SB 221 creates a new criminal offense in New Mexico for misappropriating petroleum products or oil and gas equipment, directly affecting individuals who take or misuse such assets without authorization. The bill defines this crime as actions like taking equipment without consent (e.g., drilling into pipelines, selling unlicensed petroleum products), with penalties ranging from a fourth-degree felony ($500 or less value) to a second-degree felony (over $2,500 value). It also adds this offense to the state’s Racketeering Act, allowing repeated violations within six months to be prosecuted as a single aggregated offense. The law targets theft or unauthorized use of equipment and products central to New Mexico’s oil and gas industry.
SB 213 indexes New Mexico's gasoline tax, weight distance tax (for commercial vehicles), and special fuel excise tax to inflation starting July 1, 2028. It requires annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), calculated by multiplying the current rate by (previous year's CPI / 2026 CPI), rounded down to the nearest cent, while ensuring rates never drop below the previous year's level. This directly affects gasoline retailers, commercial trucking companies, and businesses using special fuels (like diesel or propane) by tying tax rates to inflation rather than fixed amounts. The bill updates existing tax statutes to implement this automatic adjustment mechanism, preventing the real value of these taxes from eroding over time.
SB 214 increases penalty assessments for minor traffic violations under New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Code and Boat Act. It raises specific fines for offenses like expired registration ($50 to $125), speeding (up to $275 for severe cases), failure to wear seat belts ($25 to $100), and many other routine violations. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of these specific misdemeanor offenses, increasing the monetary penalties they must pay. The bill updates the existing penalty schedule without altering the underlying traffic laws or offense classifications.
HB 321 amends New Mexico's Local Economic Development Act to explicitly include medical service providers as eligible entities for economic development incentives. This change allows clinics, hospitals, and other licensed health facilities (covered under medical practice laws like the Medical Practice Act) to qualify for programs such as tax credits, infrastructure grants, and public support. Previously, medical services weren't explicitly listed among qualifying entities like manufacturers or cultural facilities. The bill expands access to economic development resources for healthcare businesses across the state.
