HB 111 increases daily civil penalties for water law violations in New Mexico from $100 to $3,400 per day for most infractions, such as unauthorized water diversion or overuse. It directly affects water users, permit holders, and entities violating state water rights or groundwater regulations. Penalties accrue daily during the violation and become enforceable only after a compliance order becomes final, following required hearings. The bill also sets higher penalties of $10,000 per day for violations involving illegal recovery or use of stored water.
HB 95 creates a new judgeship in New Mexico's Second Judicial District, increasing the number of district judges from thirty to thirty-one. The bill appropriates $451,400 from the general fund for fiscal year 2027 to cover the judge's salary, benefits, and necessary office equipment and supplies. This funding is specifically for the new position within the Second Judicial District court system. The bill directly affects the administrative capacity and staffing of that district's courts.
SB 43 changes New Mexico's parole process for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. It requires the parole board to prioritize an inmate's risk level, participation in rehabilitation programs, and readiness to rejoin society when considering release, while also weighing offense details and victim impact. The bill sets a minimum five-year parole period for life sentences (unless reduced for public safety) and mandates a written parole plan and signed conditions of release before an inmate can be freed. Additionally, it updates compensation rules for parole board members and hearing scheduling procedures.
HB 158 requires state agencies receiving funds from the Government Results and Opportunity Expendable Trust to submit detailed accountability and evaluation plans for their programs. These plans must outline goals, evidence-based practices, performance measures, evaluation methods, and public reporting timelines. Agencies must submit initial plans by July 1 each year after funding is approved, with potential revisions by September 1, and final evaluations by July 15 of the program’s last funding year. The bill aims to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes for public spending from this specific trust fund.
SB 58 extends the property tax exemption period for project property in metropolitan redevelopment areas from seven to fourteen years for properties acquired by local governments on or after January 1, 1986. During this extended period, lessees and owners of substantial beneficial interests must pay annual amounts equal to the property taxes that would have been due if the property were not exempt, based on the valuation from the year before acquisition. The county treasurer collects these payments and distributes them as if they were regular property taxes. This change applies only to properties acquired after 1986, leaving existing rules for properties acquired before that date unchanged.
HB 108 allows watershed districts in New Mexico to request soil and water conservation districts to levy property taxes for district operations. Specifically, watershed districts can ask the local soil conservation district board to impose an annual tax (capped at $5 per $1,000 of property value) to fund administration, construction, and maintenance of watershed projects. This bill clarifies the appointment process for watershed district boards, ensuring representation from soil conservation districts that hold minority land within the watershed area. It directly affects watershed districts, soil conservation districts, and property owners within those districts who may be subject to the requested taxes. The key change is creating a formal mechanism for watershed districts to secure dedicated funding through local property tax levies.
HB 109 changes how New Mexico prioritizes water projects funded through the Water Project Fund. It requires the Finance Authority to use a new scoring system evaluating factors like project urgency (based on regional water plans), availability of matching funds, permit readiness, regional impacts, and improvements to water quality or quantity. Crucially, the bill allows the Authority to fund projects without annual legislative approval until December 31, 2028, after which a two-thirds majority vote in both legislative chambers would be needed to extend this exemption. The bill also specifies fund structure details, including dedicated allocations for water rights adjudications.
SB 40, the "Driver Privacy and Safety Act," limits how law enforcement and private entities can share automated license plate reader (ALPR) data. It prohibits sharing ALPR information for immigration enforcement, investigating protected health care activities (like reproductive or gender-affirming care), or targeting constitutionally protected speech. The law makes ALPR data confidential (not public record), requires court orders for private data sales, and mandates quarterly reports to the attorney general on out-of-state data requests. Violations can result in $10,000 fines per incident.
SB 111 clarifies the definition of "personal information" within New Mexico's Motor Vehicle Code. It explicitly states that vehicle ownership details, accident records, driving violations, and driver status do not qualify as "personal information" under this definition. This amendment creates a clear boundary between personal data (like social security numbers) and vehicle-related records for state agencies. The bill is currently progressing through legislative committees after passing a committee report.
HB 61 increases penalties for assaulting police officers in New Mexico. It directly affects individuals who commit battery against officers while they are lawfully performing duties. The bill reclassifies two types of offenses: causing temporary disfigurement or loss of body function becomes a fourth-degree felony, while inflicting great bodily harm or using deadly weapons raises the charge to a second-degree felony. These changes modify existing criminal penalties under Section 30-22-25 of New Mexico law, making the most severe assaults carry significantly higher penalties.
HB 165 clarifies that property lessees under industrial revenue bond leases must pay special assessments for eligible energy, water, or resilience improvements on commercial, industrial, or large residential properties. The bill amends New Mexico law to explicitly include lessees (not just owners) as responsible for these payments under the Improvement Special Assessment Act. Key provisions require counties to record liens securing these assessments against the property, with the payment obligation tied to the lease agreement. This directly affects lessees of properties with five or more dwelling units or industrial facilities financed through such leases. The bill does not change the types of qualifying improvements or create new financing mechanisms.
SB 21 requires New Mexico Medicare supplement insurers to offer annual open enrollment periods for seniors. It directly affects residents aged 65+ with Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) in New Mexico. The bill mandates that each eligible policyholder receives a 60-day enrollment window starting the first day of their birthday month, during which they can switch to policies of equal or lesser value without health-based denial, discrimination, or preexisting condition exclusions. Insurers must also notify policyholders 30-60 days before the window opens about their rights and policy changes.
