New Mexico Bills

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 205: TOXICOLOGY REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

SB 205 requires New Mexico's Medicaid program to reimburse independent reference laboratories for toxicology testing (like drug screening) at rates matching the average Medicaid fee-for-service rate for drug testing. It mandates reimbursement only when tests are medically necessary (as determined by a provider) and follow evidence-based protocols, including specific frequency guidelines: weekly for new substance use disorder treatment, monthly for stable recovery, and randomized testing when appropriate. The bill defines "independent reference laboratories" as those not affiliated with hospitals, insurers, or physician groups, and appropriates $100,000 for administration in fiscal year 2027. This affects Medicaid patients receiving substance use disorder treatment, the laboratories providing tests, and the state's Medicaid authority.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

died · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 267: WILDFIRE UTILITY MITIGATION & LIABILITY ACT

HB 267, the Wildfire Utility Mitigation & Liability Act, requires electric utilities (including cooperatives) to develop and get approval for wildfire prevention plans by August 2026. Utilities must submit detailed plans covering infrastructure maintenance, vegetation management, public safety shutoff procedures, and community outreach, with the Public Regulation Commission reviewing them within 180 days. If a utility follows an approved plan, it receives a compliance certificate that limits its liability for wildfires caused by its equipment and allows cost recovery through special charges on customer bills. The bill also mandates annual compliance reports and creates a statute of limitations for certain wildfire-related lawsuits against utilities.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SJR 3: APPOINTED STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION, CA

This constitutional amendment (SJR 3) proposes replacing New Mexico's elected State Board of Education with an appointed board. The appointed State Board of Education would set public school policy, control school operations, and appoint a Superintendent of Public Instruction to lead the public education department. It retains the elected Public Education Commission solely as the chartering authority for state-chartered charter schools, with current board members transitioning to this commission role until their terms expire. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 97: TECH "QUALIFIED EXPENDITURE"

SB 97 expands New Mexico's Technology Jobs and Research and Development Tax Credit by including property owned by municipalities or counties for industrial revenue bond projects as eligible "qualified expenditures." This change directly affects tech businesses and research facilities that use such municipal-owned property for their operations, allowing them to claim tax credits for related costs. The bill amends the existing tax credit definition to remove a current exclusion for these specific property expenditures. It does not alter the credit's calculation method or eligibility thresholds for businesses. The policy change aims to broaden access to the tax credit for qualifying tech investments funded through local government bonds.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 194: LUNA COLLEGE BASEBALL FIELD

SB 194 allocates $5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a new softball and baseball field at Luna Community College, to be spent in fiscal year 2027. Any unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. The bill directly affects Luna Community College by funding a specific athletic facility and the Higher Education Department as the administering agency. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the appropriation.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 60: REVISE CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSE DEFINITIONS

HB 60 amends New Mexico's Victims of Crime Act to expand the definition of "criminal offense" to specifically include certain crimes committed against peace officers, such as aggravated assault, battery, or assault with intent to commit a violent felony. This change directly affects victims of these specific offenses by ensuring they qualify for victim services and compensation under the Act. The bill adds 3 new provisions (22-24 in the definition list) referencing crimes against officers under Section 30-22-22 to 30-22-25 of the state criminal code. It does not alter criminal penalties but adjusts eligibility for victim support programs. The bill was referred to committee with a "DO PASS" recommendation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 262: SCHOOL TRANSPORT EMERGENCY FUND USES

HB 262 amends New Mexico's Transportation Emergency Fund to explicitly allow grants for small rural school districts to purchase buses specifically for student activities. This change directly affects small rural school districts by creating a new, targeted funding source for transportation needs beyond existing uses like fuel price spikes. The bill adds this provision to the fund's existing purpose, ensuring money remains available year-to-year without reverting to the general fund. The state education secretary must track and report all distributions to the governor and relevant legislative committees, as required by current fund rules.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

failed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 103: CAP RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY TAX RATES

HB 103 caps annual increases in residential property tax assessments at 103% of the prior year's value or 106.1% of the value from two years prior, whichever is higher. This limit does not apply if a property's zoning changed or if ownership transferred in the year before the tax year. The bill also requires counties with low property sales ratios to reassess properties to meet a minimum threshold before the cap applies. It takes effect for tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 27: TECHNOLOGY JOBS R&D TAX CREDIT EXPANSION

HB 27 expands New Mexico's Technology Jobs and Research & Development Tax Credit by broadening the definition of "qualified expenditure" to include property owned by municipalities or counties for industrial revenue bond projects. This change directly affects technology companies and research facilities in New Mexico that qualify for the credit, allowing them to claim tax credits for costs related to local government-owned facilities used in qualifying R&D activities. The bill modifies existing tax code definitions to include these previously excluded property costs, without altering the credit's base eligibility criteria or calculation method. The amendment applies to businesses meeting standard requirements under the Technology Jobs and R&D Tax Credit Act, such as conducting qualified research in New Mexico facilities.

Topics ✗ Budget & Taxes ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 36: ACCESSIBILITY ACT & OFFICE

HB 36, the Accessibility Act, creates the Office of Accessibility within New Mexico's Department of Health to improve access for people with disabilities in state services. The Office will develop accessibility standards, provide training to state agencies on digital and physical accessibility, and assist agencies in identifying barriers in websites, apps, and facilities. State agencies must annually report their accessibility efforts to the Office, which will then issue public reports detailing progress, barriers, and recommendations to the governor and legislature. The bill appropriates $350,000 for the Office's operations during fiscal years 2026-2027.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Technology

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 7: STUDY STATE GOV'T WORK WITHOUT BENEFITS

House Memorial 7 requests a study of New Mexico state government practices that result in long-term employment without standard benefits or protections. The study will examine how agencies classify workers (e.g., as temporary or seasonal) to avoid providing benefits like health insurance, retirement, or job stability, particularly affecting lower-wage public employees in service roles. It will analyze current patterns, fiscal impacts of extending benefits, and equity effects on rural communities before November 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 260: CRIME OF FALSE STATEMENT TO LEGISLATURE

HB 260 would create a new fourth-degree felony for knowingly making a false statement to the legislature during a testimony request in a committee hearing about a specific issue. It applies to anyone testifying before a legislative committee on a matter they were asked to address, excluding public comments during designated public comment periods. The bill defines the offense as making an untrue statement the person knows to be false in such proceedings, with a legislator who heard the testimony able to refer the case to the district attorney for prosecution. This law directly affects witnesses testifying before committees on requested topics, not the general public during open comment times.

Bill results