HB 33, the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, would allow licensed psychologists in New Mexico to provide telepsychology services across state lines and offer up to 30 days of in-person practice annually in another participating state without needing a separate license. It establishes mutual recognition of licenses between states that adopt the compact, enabling psychologists to serve clients in other states while ensuring public safety through shared disciplinary records. The compact directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to expand practice across state lines and clients in states with limited local mental health providers. Key mechanisms include standardized telepsychology authorization, temporary in-person practice limits, and a coordinated system for sharing license and disciplinary information among participating states.
HB 32 creates the Counseling Licensure Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors in participating states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses. It directly affects licensed counselors and their clients in member states, enabling them to provide in-person or telehealth counseling services where the client is located. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary records between states, and requiring counselors to follow the practice laws of the state where the client is located. The compact also specifically supports military spouses relocating with active-duty service members. This bill does not change existing state licensure requirements but streamlines interstate practice for qualified counselors.
SB 50 removes annual in-service training requirements for certified police officers and telecommunicators in New Mexico. It specifically eliminates the need for yearly refreshers on topics like domestic abuse incident training, child abuse incident training, mental health interaction, crisis de-escalation, and trauma kit use that were previously mandated under existing law. The bill retains basic training requirements but reduces the frequency of mandatory annual updates for officers and telecommunicators. This directly affects all certified law enforcement personnel and public safety telecommunicators statewide. The change streamlines training obligations without altering the core curriculum content for initial certification.
This bill expands New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Act to include victims of assault, battery, criminal sexual contact, and armed robbery. It amends the law to explicitly list these offenses as qualifying for financial reparation, ensuring victims of these crimes can access compensation. The change modifies existing law (Section 31-22-8 NMSA 1978) by adding these specific crimes to the enumerated list of qualifying offenses. It does not cover property damage, as clarified in the current law.
HB 213 proposes to expand the scope of practice for optometrists in New Mexico by adding specific minor surgical procedures to the definition of "practice of optometry." The bill would allow optometrists to perform procedures like removing superficial eyelid lesions, foreign bodies from the eye, and certain laser treatments for conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma - previously restricted to ophthalmologists. It also grants the Board of Optometry additional authority to develop certification standards for pharmaceutical use and laser procedures. This change directly affects optometrists in New Mexico by expanding their permitted clinical services without physician supervision. The bill, currently in committee review, does not alter existing exemptions for physicians or eyeglass sellers.
HB 88 changes how funds from New Mexico's Land Grant-Merced Assistance Fund are distributed to eligible land grant communities. It raises the revenue threshold for full annual distributions from $50,000 to $100,000, creating new tiers: 75% distribution for $100,000-$250,000 revenue, 50% for $250,000-$500,000, and 25% for $500,000+ revenue. The bill also makes the fund "nonreverting," meaning undistributed funds no longer return to the general state fund. These changes directly affect land grant communities that meet compliance requirements, including having elected boards and audit certifications.
This constitutional amendment (HJR 7) proposes changing New Mexico's legislative session rules. It would limit regular sessions in even-numbered years to 30 days and restrict those sessions to only consider budgets, appropriations, revenue bills, and bills from the governor's special messages - plus veto overrides from prior sessions within the same two-year period. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election and would not affect how odd-year sessions operate (which may last 60 days). As a procedural change to the state constitution, it directly impacts legislative process, not specific policies or affected groups.
This constitutional amendment (HJR 6) proposes changing New Mexico's legislative session structure. It would divide each biennium into two regular sessions (max 45 days each), starting the first session on the second Tuesday of January. The bill specifies that odd-numbered years would handle all bills, while even-numbered years would focus only on budgets/appropriations and bills from gubernatorial special messages. It also allows veto overrides for bills from any session within the same biennium. As a procedural change, it requires voter approval at the next general election.
HB 195 protects independent medical providers (like doctors, nurse practitioners, and specialists not employed by hospitals) from having personal income or assets used to satisfy medical malpractice judgments, unless the provider lacked proper insurance or licensing. The bill requires courts to block collection against personal assets if the provider maintained valid insurance covering the claim or met licensing standards under existing law. It also allows courts to reduce or dismiss awards if plaintiffs made irrelevant, coercive, or baseless allegations targeting the provider’s personal finances. The law applies to all medical malpractice claims filed after its effective date.
HB 11 creates the "Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact" to allow licensed professionals in these fields to practice across participating states without obtaining new licenses. The bill directly affects audiologists and speech-language pathologists who wish to serve patients in other member states, as well as patients seeking these services. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, requirements for criminal background checks during application, and provisions enabling telehealth services to improve access. The compact preserves each state’s regulatory authority while streamlining cross-state practice, particularly benefiting military families and remote patients. (Note: The bill passed the House but was replaced by a committee substitute; this summary reflects the original bill’s intended purpose.)
HB 13 creates the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, allowing occupational therapists and assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other member states without obtaining a new license. It directly affects licensed therapists seeking to work across state lines, patients accessing services in different states, and military spouses relocating with their partners. Key mechanisms include establishing "compact privilege" for interstate practice, requiring states to share disciplinary and investigative information through a national data system, and supporting telehealth delivery of services. The bill aims to improve access to occupational therapy while maintaining each state's authority to protect public health and safety through existing licensure standards.
SB 145 restructures New Mexico's audit requirements for state agencies and local public bodies (like counties, school districts, and water districts). It revises revenue thresholds that determine reporting obligations: local bodies with annual revenue under $100,000 are exempt from most financial reporting, while those between $100,000-$500,000 must submit tailored reports focused on their specific activities. The bill also mandates that state agencies conduct annual federal single audits starting in 2028, aligning with federal standards. These changes aim to reduce administrative burden for smaller entities while maintaining oversight for larger ones. The bill updates audit definitions, reporting rules, and the audit fund appropriation.
