New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 244: HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY ACT

HB 244, the Hospital Price Transparency Act, requires all New Mexico hospitals to publicly display standard pricing for services on their websites in machine-readable format and either a list of 300+ shoppable services or a price estimator tool. This directly affects hospitals (both public and private) and patients who may face debt collection for services provided during non-compliance periods. Hospitals violating the law cannot pursue collection actions for affected services, and patients can use the hospital’s non-compliance as an affirmative defense in debt collection cases. The Health Care Authority will enforce compliance through website audits, complaint processes, and requiring corrective action plans for violations.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 218: ATTENDANCE FOR SUCCESS ACT ENFORCEMENT

HB 218 strengthens New Mexico's Attendance for Success Act by making it a crime for parents to allow continued school absences after a student is reported to juvenile probation services for excessive absenteeism. It directly affects parents of students identified as excessively absent who fail to address the issue following school interventions. Key provisions require schools to report cases to juvenile probation, which then investigates potential neglect; if parents continue allowing absences after reporting, they face penalties including fines ($50-$100 for first offense, up to $500 or 6 months jail for repeat offenses). The bill focuses on enforcement, not new support services, shifting responsibility to parents for maintaining school attendance after formal reporting.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 182: DYED DIESEL GRT DEDUCTION

This bill creates a tax deduction for businesses selling dyed diesel fuel (used for non-highway purposes like farming) instead of the current tax credit system. It allows businesses to reduce their state gross receipts tax bill by the amount of dyed diesel sales, effective July 1, 2026, and requires separate reporting of this deduction. The deduction applies to all dyed diesel sales until July 1, 2031, replacing the existing credit for agricultural use. This change directly affects businesses selling dyed diesel fuel in New Mexico.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 184: CHILDREN'S BEHAVIORAL HEALTH DIVISION

SB 184 creates a new "Children's Behavioral Health Services Division" within New Mexico's Health Care Authority, transferring oversight of children's behavioral health services from the Children, Youth and Families Department. This reorganization directly affects children receiving behavioral health services, as well as the two state departments managing these programs. The bill's key mechanism is the formal transfer of operational responsibility for mental health and substance abuse services for children in department custody to the Health Care Authority's new division. It does not create new services but reassigns existing program management to improve coordination under the Health Care Authority.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 227: CLEAN TRANSPORTATION FUEL REPEALS

HB 227 repeals New Mexico's Clean Transportation Fuel Standard Program and prohibits future adoption of rules requiring fuel providers to meet carbon intensity standards. It specifically removes references to "carbon intensity" from environmental law definitions and eliminates the department's duty to implement fuel standard rules. The bill directly affects fuel producers, refiners, and regulators who would have been subject to the 2024 program's requirements. This legislation eliminates existing regulatory obligations without creating new requirements or financial impacts.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 136: UNLAWFUL USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

SB 136 makes it illegal to use drones to secretly capture images of people, private property, or critical infrastructure without permission for surveillance purposes. It creates two offenses: a misdemeanor for general unauthorized drone surveillance, and a felony for drone operations near critical infrastructure (like power plants, water facilities, or government buildings) that disrupt operations or cause contact. Exceptions include drone use with consent, by government agencies, for research, by licensed surveyors, or for insurance purposes. The law aims to prevent privacy violations and security threats while allowing legitimate drone activities under specific conditions.

Topics ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 220: TIME OF SALE OR TRANSFER FOR DELINQUENT TAXES

HB 220 amends New Mexico's property tax laws to extend the timeline for delinquent tax sales. It increases the required delinquency period for counties to list properties for sale from two years to four years and extends the waiting period before a sale can occur from three years to five years. The bill also requires counties to record delinquency lists without fees, sets minimum sale prices based on unpaid taxes and costs, and includes a special provision allowing community land grant boards to match the highest bid for properties within their boundaries. This affects property owners with unpaid taxes by providing additional time before their property may be sold to recover the debt, applying to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 167: CRIME OF DEADLY WEAPON ON SCHOOL PREMISES

SB 167 raises the penalty for unlawfully carrying a deadly weapon on school premises from a fourth-degree felony to a third-degree felony, resulting in harsher sentencing for this offense. It clarifies the definition of "school premises" to include school buses, playgrounds, parking areas, and other public spaces where school activities are held. The bill directly affects individuals who carry weapons in these areas without one of the specified exceptions, such as school security personnel, students in authorized programs, or persons in private vehicles for lawful protection. This change modifies the criminal penalty without altering the list of allowed exceptions for carrying weapons.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 9: MEDICAID TRUST FUND

SB 9 authorizes a $1 billion transfer from New Mexico's general fund to the Medicaid Trust Fund for fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports the state's Medicaid program, which provides healthcare coverage to low-income residents, including children, seniors, and people with disabilities. The bill establishes a specific financial mechanism to replenish the Medicaid Trust Fund, ensuring stable funding for healthcare services without altering eligibility rules or program structure. It does not create new benefits or change how Medicaid operates, only providing a dedicated funding source. The transfer is scheduled for implementation in the 2027 fiscal year.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 215: OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE OPERATING AUTHORIZATION

HB 215 allows local and county governments in New Mexico to authorize recreational off-highway vehicles (like ATVs) to operate on paved streets and highways within their boundaries, subject to specific safety requirements. The bill requires vehicles to have headlights, taillights, brakes, mirrors, and mufflers; operators must hold valid driver’s licenses, off-highway vehicle permits, and insurance; and those under 18 must wear safety helmets. Local authorities can also set separate speed limits and operating restrictions for these vehicles on public roads. The bill maintains prohibitions against operating such vehicles on freeways, state game lands, and state parks without specific permission. It does not change existing rules for off-highway vehicle use on non-paved public lands.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 66: ABANDONED URANIUM MINE CLEANUP

This bill appropriates $50 million from the state general fund to clean up abandoned uranium mines and other contaminated sites across New Mexico where no responsible polluter exists to fund the work. It directly affects communities near these sites, particularly those impacted by historical uranium mining, by enabling the Department of Environment to conduct assessments and remediation. The funds will be used for cleanup actions during fiscal years 2027-2029, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2029. The legislation focuses solely on addressing existing contamination through state-funded cleanup, without altering liability or creating new regulatory requirements.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SJR 5: NONRESIDENTIAL PROPERTY VALUATION, CA

This bill (SJR 5) proposes a constitutional amendment to allow New Mexico’s legislature to limit annual increases in the assessed value of **residential property** for property tax purposes. It would amend the state constitution to authorize rules restricting how much a home’s taxable value can rise each year, potentially based on factors like owner-occupancy, homeowner age, or income. These limits could apply statewide or be chosen by local governments, with tax rates applied to the property’s full value if the limit isn’t used. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election. (Note: The bill title incorrectly states "nonresidential"; the text specifically addresses residential property.)

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Housing

Bill results