SB 23 requires all New Mexico public school districts and charter schools to adopt a policy prohibiting student use of phones, tablets, and other wireless devices during the school day, with specific exceptions. These exceptions include using devices for educational purposes with teacher permission, managing health emergencies, or for accessibility tools like text-to-speech software required by a student’s individualized education plan. The bill also creates a $1 million annual grant program through the Education Technology Infrastructure Fund to support schools implementing this policy, allowing them to apply for funding to upgrade technology infrastructure. The policy must be published online by each school district and includes procedures for handling device confiscation during violations. This directly affects all public school students and staff in New Mexico’s 33 school districts.
The bill text for SB 261 is not provided in the context, so a substantive summary cannot be generated. The title ("PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE") is too broad to determine specific policy changes, and no legislative language or provisions are included. Procedural details (e.g., committee substitutions, passage history) do not describe the bill's content. Without the actual text or a detailed summary, it is impossible to explain what the bill does, who it affects, or its key mechanisms.
House Memorial 62 requests the Taxation and Revenue Department to convene a task force to study short-term rental tax practices. The study will examine centralized tax collection, uniform property classification across counties, and the economic impacts of short-term rentals on tourism, workforce development, and rural infrastructure funding. The task force must include county officials, rental associations, tourism departments, and rural stakeholders. Its findings, due by October 2026, will inform potential future policies on tax collection and revenue allocation for local services.
House Memorial 56 requests the Oil Conservation Division to study transferring ownership of New Mexico's orphaned oil and gas wells to third parties for energy storage and hydrocarbon recovery projects. The study will analyze financial benefits, including initial investment costs, potential profits, and regulatory barriers, compared to the state's estimated $700 million to $1.6 billion cleanup liability for over 1,700 orphaned wells. It aims to determine if private-sector involvement could turn a state financial burden into a profitable venture while addressing environmental hazards. The study must be completed by November 1, 2026, and presented to legislative committees.
HB 303 requires New Mexico public utilities to obtain a certificate from the Public Regulation Commission before providing new service or extending systems, with limited exceptions for existing service areas or routine business expansions. It specifically mandates that energy storage projects be approved if they reduce costs, cut fossil fuel use during peak demand, improve grid reliability with renewables, and lower emissions. The bill sets strict deadlines for commission decisions (six months for energy storage projects, nine months otherwise), with automatic approval if deadlines are missed. The law takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.
This Senate Memorial (SM 29) requests the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center to study communication barriers in New Mexico's healthcare system, particularly language access gaps affecting patients. It directs UNM to coordinate with healthcare facilities statewide to identify obstacles preventing effective treatment and develop solutions, focusing on improving interpreter services and reducing disparities. The memorial does not create new laws but asks for data collection and strategy development to address existing gaps in care for patients with limited language proficiency.
The Accessibility Act requires all New Mexico state agencies to make their websites, mobile applications, and physical facilities compliant with accessibility standards by April 1, 2027. It mandates adherence to digital standards (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 Level AA) and physical standards (based on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act) to ensure services are accessible to people with disabilities. The bill creates an Office of Accessibility within the governor’s commission on disability to oversee compliance, provide technical assistance, and develop reporting mechanisms. State agencies must post accessibility statements on their websites and submit biennial reports detailing progress, barriers, and corrective actions to the governor and legislative committees.
HB 309 amends New Mexico's property tax code to explicitly include energy storage systems in the special valuation method for electric utilities. It defines "storage" as technology that converts, stores, and returns electricity to balance supply and demand, ensuring these systems are treated like generation and transmission assets for tax purposes. This directly affects utility companies owning energy storage equipment, requiring them to be valued under the same tax rules. The bill changes how such property is assessed but does not alter tax rates or create new financial obligations. The update applies to property tax years beginning January 1, 2027.
This House Memorial (HM 64) is a non-binding request urging New Mexico's Indian Affairs Department to build capacity for providing technical assistance to the state's Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos. It specifically asks the department to prepare for more efficient support regarding capital outlay projects - funded from the general state budget - amid pending legislative changes to the capital outlay process. The memorial does not change policy but formally encourages the department to strengthen its ability to help tribal entities access and manage these funds. (Note: As a memorial, it has no legal force but expresses legislative intent.)
SB 246 requires massage therapy establishments in New Mexico to obtain a license, defining such establishments as facilities offering massage therapy services (excluding hospitals, clinics, or offices run by licensed medical professionals). The bill adds a requirement for these licensed establishments to display their license with a current photo in a visible location. It also updates definitions related to continuing education for massage therapists and mandates photo identification on all new or renewed licenses issued after July 1, 2026. This bill directly affects massage therapy businesses operating as standalone establishments, not those within larger healthcare facilities.
Senate Memorial 28 requests the Crime Victims Reparation Commission to create a statewide task force to study gun violence in New Mexico and develop recommendations. The task force would include representatives from state departments (like Public Safety and Health), tribal entities, law enforcement, health professionals, community groups, and gun advocates to examine root causes, review gun laws, promote education, and identify evidence-based prevention strategies. It must report findings to legislative committees and the governor by the end of the session. The bill does not enact new laws but initiates a study process to address New Mexico’s high gun violence rates and associated costs.
House Memorial 60 (HM 60) requests New Mexico's Energy Conservation Division to form a study group to explore how buildings can become flexible grid assets through electrification. The study group, including utilities, contractors, consumer advocates, and low-income community representatives, will develop recommendations by November 2026 on programs that lower energy bills, reduce grid strain, and improve affordability. Key focus areas include financing for electric appliances, consumer protections, equitable access for underserved communities, and aligning building technologies with utility planning. The resulting recommendations could shape future energy programs affecting New Mexico residents and businesses using demand flexibility programs.
