HB 107 limits damages in medical malpractice claims in New Mexico. It sets a $600,000 cap on recoverable damages (excluding medical costs and punitive damages) for most claims and a $750,000 cap for claims against "independent providers" (like solo practitioners), with annual adjustments based on inflation starting in 2023. The bill also restricts punitive damages, limits attorney fees, and requires payments from the Patient's Compensation Fund to be made as expenses occur. These changes directly affect patients filing malpractice claims, health care providers (especially independent practitioners), and insurers.
HB 147 requires hotels, motels, and other lodging facilities with ten or more rooms to display a visible, multilingual notice about human trafficking. The notice must include definitions, prohibited conduct under New Mexico law, national and state trafficking hotline numbers, and be placed in prominent locations using English, Spanish, and other languages common to the workforce or guests. The bill also mandates annual human trafficking awareness training for all employees, covering recognition of trafficking signs, safe reporting procedures, and protections against retaliation for good-faith reports. Non-compliant facilities face civil penalties of up to $500 per violation, enforceable by the attorney general or local prosecutors, with the law taking effect on July 1, 2026.
SB 63 creates a dedicated $2 million "County Dog and Cat Spay and Neuter Subaccount" within New Mexico's Animal Welfare Program Fund, specifically for counties to contract with licensed veterinarians. This subaccount funds spay and neuter services for individual pet owners, directly benefiting pet owners and counties managing these programs. The bill appropriates $2 million from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 and future years, with unspent balances not reverting to the general fund. It does not alter eligibility for other animal welfare grants but establishes a separate funding stream for this specific service.
HB 98 increases the minimum hourly wage for New Mexico state employees to $15 starting July 1, 2027, with future annual adjustments tied to the consumer price index. It also establishes new annual leave accrual rates based on years of service (ranging from 4.62 to 7.39 hours per pay period) and mandates 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for eligible employees beginning July 2027. The bill requires state agencies to create remote work programs to improve recruitment and retention, particularly for rural New Mexico residents, while maintaining performance standards. These changes apply to all state employees except student workers and may be superseded by existing collective bargaining agreements.
HB 67 requires courts issuing domestic violence protection orders to mandate that restrained parties immediately surrender all firearms in their possession or control to law enforcement or a federal firearms licensee. This applies to all protection orders, with courts permitted to allow alternative surrender methods or timing if needed. The bill also mandates law enforcement to provide written receipts to both the restrained party and the petitioning party within 72 hours, detailing surrendered firearms and filing copies with the court. It directly affects individuals subject to domestic violence protection orders and law enforcement agencies handling firearm surrenders.
HB 141, the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act, requires large online platforms (with over 2 million U.S. monthly users) and AI content creators to label synthetic media. It mandates two types of disclosures: a visible "manifest" label (e.g., "AI-generated") for users and a hidden "latent" digital marker embedded in content with creator/tech details. The bill also obligates platforms to provide free public tools to detect content origins while protecting personal data, and prohibits sharing deceptive synthetic content that falsely depicts identifiable people without consent. These rules apply to AI-generated images, audio, and video, directly affecting major tech companies and device manufacturers producing cameras starting in 2028.
HB 123 requires New Mexico's Public Education Department to create a single digital system for school districts and charter schools to manage and apply for state and federal education grants. The system would consolidate applications for programs like federal education aid (ESEA), special education funding (IDEA), and literacy grants into one unified platform with automated features and unique tracking codes. School districts must submit detailed spending plans for grant funds through this system, which the department will review and approve. The bill appropriates $1 million to develop and maintain the system by December 2026, affecting all public schools receiving these grants.
HB 94 amends New Mexico's Optometry Act to expand optometrists' scope of practice regarding specific laser procedures and strengthen the Board of Optometry's authority. It directly affects optometrists seeking to perform laser treatments for eye conditions like capsular clouding or glaucoma (e.g., laser trabeculoplasty), requiring them to obtain board credentialing. Key provisions establish two pathways for credentialing: graduating from an accredited optometry program with a national exam pass, or completing a 32-hour accredited training course plus supervised live-patient practice under an ophthalmologist or certified optometrist. The bill also clarifies the Board's role in enforcing these rules, issuing advisory opinions, and managing licensure.
SB 75 expands New Mexico's Fostering Connections Program to include young adults up to age 22 (previously capped at 21), directly affecting youth aging out of foster care who meet specific criteria. To qualify, individuals must have been in state custody due to abuse/neglect or under guardianship/adoption assistance, be enrolled in education, employed 80+ hours monthly, or in job-training programs, and sign a voluntary support agreement with the state. The bill explicitly states citizenship or immigration status cannot block eligibility. This amendment to Section 32A-26-3 of the state code updates the program’s age limit and eligibility requirements without changing its core support structure.
HB 91 amends New Mexico law to create a new privacy exception for law enforcement records. It specifically prohibits disclosing to the public a notification about a change in a family member's cause of death without the permission of the person receiving that notification. This directly affects families who receive such updates from law enforcement and law enforcement agencies handling these notifications. The bill ensures that these sensitive communications remain private, preventing public disclosure unless the recipient consents.
HB 129 requires New Mexico health insurance carriers to include all licensed health care providers (such as doctors, therapists, and specialists) within their legal scope of practice in coverage plans. It applies to group health plans, individual insurance policies, health maintenance organizations, and nonprofit health plans, effective July 1, 2026. The bill does not force insurers to contract with specific providers but mandates that if a provider is licensed to practice in New Mexico, they must be included in coverage plans. Insurers may still set different reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures.
HB 145 extends the deadline for businesses to apply for New Mexico's High-Wage Jobs Tax Credit. The bill amends the existing tax code to require annual applications to be filed by December 31 of the year following the qualifying period, instead of the previous deadline. This credit allows eligible employers to claim 8.5% of wages for new high-wage jobs (capped at $12,750 per job), directly affecting businesses creating qualifying positions in New Mexico. The change simplifies the filing timeline but maintains all other eligibility rules, such as wage thresholds, occupancy requirements, and restrictions on jobs created through business mergers.
