New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 341: CYFD FOSTER PARENT ID CARDS

HB 341 requires New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to issue identification cards to licensed foster parents who provide care for children in CYFD custody. The bill applies directly to foster parents with full, non-provisional licenses, providing them a physical card to verify their status as licensed providers during care. The key provision mandates CYFD to issue these cards upon full licensure, creating a standardized identification method. The bill passed committee review in February 2025 but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 358: INTERIM ADMIN. RULES OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

HB 358 creates a 12-member "Interim Administrative Rule Oversight Committee" to review proposed state agency rules before public hearings. The committee, appointed equally from both parties in each chamber, analyzes rules for fiscal impact (requiring a statement for rules costing over $1 million), necessity, and legal compliance, then recommends changes to agencies. This directly affects executive agencies proposing rules and stakeholders impacted by those rules, adding a legislative review step before public comment periods. The bill amends New Mexico's State Rules Act to mandate fiscal impact statements for high-cost rules and establishes the committee's procedures.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 351: CORRECTIONAL REENTRY WORKFORCE PROGRAM

SB 351 allocates $13.5 million from the state general fund to the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District for a correctional reentry workforce program. The bill directly provides funding to create job training and employment support services for formerly incarcerated individuals in North Central New Mexico. Key provisions include requiring the program to operate during fiscal year 2026, with any unspent funds reverting to the state treasury by year-end. This legislation establishes a concrete funding mechanism to support reentry workforce development, focusing on practical job placement assistance for this specific population.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 438: EMPLOYEE PAYMENT FOR UNUSED LEAVE

HB 438 requires New Mexico state and local government employees to receive payment for unused compensatory leave (time off earned through overtime) at the end of each calendar year. It directly affects public sector workers covered by state or local government employment. The bill mandates annual payment of the full value of unused compensatory leave, rather than carrying it forward. This provision does not apply to employees covered by existing collective bargaining agreements under the Public Employee Bargaining Act.

Topics ✓ Labor & Employment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 496: IDENTIFY AGENCIES FAILING TO MEET STANDARDS

SB 496 requires New Mexico's Legislative Finance Committee to annually identify state agencies that fail to meet performance standards set by the Accountability in Government Act and specified in the prior year's budget law. It directly affects all state agencies subject to these performance standards, mandating the committee to recommend budget reductions for underperforming agencies. The bill establishes a process where agencies must submit budget requests to the committee simultaneously with the Department of Finance and Administration, and the committee must provide these recommendations to lawmakers before each session. This is a procedural bill focused on budget accountability, not creating new agency standards or policies.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 275: STRATEGIC BITCOIN RESERVE ACT

SB 275, the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, allows New Mexico to invest up to 5% of certain permanent state funds (like land grant, severance tax, and tobacco settlement funds) in bitcoin or digital assets. It requires all investments to be held through secure custody solutions that keep private keys exclusively controlled by the state, with strict security measures like multi-party transaction approval and encrypted storage. The bill also mandates that any taxes paid in bitcoin be converted to U.S. currency within 60 days and transferred to the general fund, and permits retirement funds to invest in bitcoin-related exchange-traded products. This policy directly affects the state treasurer, investment council, and retirement boards by establishing new investment rules for digital assets.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 549: PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, SAFETY & WELFARE

The provided context does not include the actual text or provisions of SB 549, only its title, introduction details, and procedural history (referred to committee but postponed indefinitely). Without the bill's specific language or policy content, a substantive summary of what it does or who it affects cannot be generated. The bill's broad title ("Public Peace, Health, Safety & Welfare") does not indicate its concrete provisions. Since the context lacks the bill's policy details, a factual summary cannot be provided.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 527: INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS COSTS

HB 527 would require New Mexico health insurers to cover medical cannabis for patients with qualifying debilitating conditions (like cancer, chronic pain, or multiple sclerosis) as defined in the state's Compassionate Use Act. Insurers must provide coverage for an "adequate supply" (three months' worth from in-state retailers) either through direct payment to cannabis retailers or reimbursement to patients. This applies to both private insurance plans under the Health Care Purchasing Act and public assistance programs under the Public Assistance Act. The bill specifies that coverage must align with medical standards and comply with department of health rules, but it remains pending after being postponed indefinitely in June 2025.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 490: CENTRAL NM SCHOOL RE-ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS

SB 490 appropriates $200,000 from the general fund to the Workforce Solutions Department for fiscal year 2026 to support evidence-based school re-engagement programs for youth in central New Mexico who have disengaged from school. The bill directly affects disengaged youth by funding programs that provide career exploration, skill development, and support for transitioning into work or higher education. Key provisions include requiring programs to be evidence-based and mandating any unspent funds at year-end revert to the general fund. The legislation focuses on concrete funding for targeted services, not broader policy changes or outcomes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 334: RURAL ELECTRIC CO-OP WILDFIRE LIABILITY ACT

HB 334, the "Rural Electric Co-op Wildfire Liability Act," requires New Mexico's rural electric cooperatives to create and maintain detailed wildfire prevention plans. These plans must cover risk assessments, vegetation management, system inspections, emergency procedures, and public safety considerations, and must be reviewed by the Forestry Division and approved by the Public Regulation Commission. If approved, the cooperative can limit liability for wildfire-related damages (including economic and noneconomic losses) and claims must be filed within two years. The law also mandates public posting of the plans and annual compliance reports on the cooperatives' websites.

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 116: BOARDING FOR CERTAIN HEALTH DISCHARGES

HB 116 requires the New Mexico Department of Health to pay licensed boarding homes $200 monthly for each resident discharged from the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute (Las Vegas) or the University of New Mexico Adult Psychiatric Center, starting January 1, 2026. This applies only to boarding homes licensed by the Department of Health and mandates the department to create rules for documentation and fraud prevention. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the general fund for fiscal year 2026 to cover these payments, with any unspent funds reverting to the general fund by year-end. It directly affects licensed boarding homes housing individuals transitioning from state psychiatric facilities.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Jun 3, 2025

HB 316: INTERFERENCE WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW

HB 316 prohibits New Mexico state or local governments from adopting laws, ordinances, or regulations that restrict law enforcement personnel or resources from assisting federal immigration authorities or interfere with federal immigration enforcement. It directly affects cities, counties, and local police departments that might have implemented "sanctuary" policies. The bill's key provision bans any local rules that prevent cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, such as limiting data sharing or resource allocation. The bill was referred to committees but was postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025, and did not advance further.

Topics ✗ Immigration

Bill results