New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 186: NO USE OF SNAP FOR SOFT DRINKS & CANDY

SB 186 prohibits New Mexico SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiaries from using federal benefits to purchase sweetened drinks or candy. The bill defines "candy" as sugar-based products (like bars or pieces) and "sweetened drink" as nonalcoholic beverages with 5g+ added sugar or artificial sweeteners (excluding milk, soy milk, or drinks with 50%+ fruit/vegetable juice). It directly affects SNAP recipients in New Mexico who would no longer be able to use benefits for these specific items. The bill amends the Public Assistance Act to implement this restriction, pending further legislative action.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 225: EIB & SALE OF ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES

HB 225 prohibits New Mexico's Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) from creating or enforcing rules that would require vehicle manufacturers to produce or sell a specific percentage of zero-emission vehicles each year. The bill directly affects the EIB, preventing it from implementing such regulatory requirements, and indirectly impacts vehicle manufacturers who might otherwise have been subject to these rules. It blocks a mechanism for controlling emissions through mandated vehicle sales percentages, rather than creating new sales obligations. The legislation does not alter current vehicle sales standards or consumer choices but restricts a potential future regulatory path. This is a procedural bill focused on limiting regulatory authority, not on direct policy changes for consumers or manufacturers.

Topics ✗ Energy ✗ Environment ✗ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 192: DATA BROKER PRIVACY ACT

SB 192, the Data Broker Privacy Act, regulates companies that collect and sell personal data without a direct relationship to consumers (data brokers). It requires data brokers to register with New Mexico's Economic Development Department, pay fees funding a privacy fund, and disclose specific practices like whether they collect sensitive data (reproductive health, location, or minors' information). The bill establishes a public website and a centralized deletion tool allowing New Mexico residents to request removal of their personal data from all registered brokers with one request, including protections for accessibility and multilingual access. Data brokers must also annually report on how they handle deletion requests, including reasons for denials.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

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

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 219: ATTENDANCE FOR SUCCESS ACT CHANGES

HB 219 modifies New Mexico's Attendance for Success Act to require schools and juvenile probation services to collaborate on addressing student absenteeism. It defines "chronic absence" as missing 10% or more school days (whether excused or not), and mandates juvenile probation to review attendance records, initiate interventions, and refer cases to court for students who remain excessively absent after school-level efforts. Schools must document outreach to families, differentiate between absence types, and prohibit out-of-school suspensions for absenteeism. The bill also requires children's court attorneys to start legal proceedings under the Family In Need of Court-Ordered Services Act for chronically absent students.

Topics ✓ Education

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

passed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 17: STOP ILLEGAL GUN TRADE ACT

This New Mexico bill (SB 17) requires gun dealers to implement security measures like alarms, reinforced doors, and video surveillance to prevent thefts, and mandates background checks for employees handling firearms. It prohibits sales of "extremely dangerous weapons" (including certain .50 caliber rifles and modified semiautomatic firearms) and requires dealers to report crime gun traces, multiple sales, and thefts. Dealers must also maintain detailed records and post safety notices for firearm purchasers. The bill passed the Senate in February 2026 but remains pending in the House.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

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.

Bill results