New Mexico Bills | MyRepTracker

signed · New Mexico · House Apr 29, 2026

HJR 1: BOARDS OF REGENTS NOMINATING COMMITTEES, CA

This constitutional amendment proposal (HJR 1) would require New Mexico to establish nominating committees for each public university board of regents. These committees would provide the governor with candidate lists for nonstudent regent appointments, ensuring no more than three appointees are from the same political party and that appointees haven't changed party registration in the six months prior. Student regents would be appointed from lists provided by elected student governing bodies at each institution, except for three specialized schools (New Mexico School for the Deaf, Military Institute, and School for the Blind). The amendment must be approved by voters to take effect, as it would change how regents are selected across all state educational institutions.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 209: FINANCIAL ASSURANCE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY

SB 209 requires owners or operators of renewable energy facilities (like solar, wind, or geothermal plants) in New Mexico to provide financial assurance before starting operations. This assurance, in forms like bonds or cash, must cover all costs for removing equipment, cleaning up sites, and remediating land after a facility stops operating. The bill creates a "Renewable Energy Decommissioning Fund" to manage these costs, which can be used by the state if a facility owner fails to cover decommissioning expenses. The fund also receives forfeited financial assurance when owners don’t comply, ensuring cleanup costs are covered without burdening taxpayers.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 289: SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

HB 289 clarifies how New Mexico allocates transportation funding to school districts and state-chartered charter schools, requiring that funds cover the full route cost - including miles traveled to pick up the first student and return the bus after dropping off the last student. It establishes a new calculation method using a base amount for all districts plus a variable amount based on historical transportation costs, site characteristics, and operational days. If a district’s allocation exceeds required transportation costs, 50% of the excess must go to a transportation emergency fund, and at least 25% must be used for transportation services (excluding salaries). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 281: FINANCIAL ASSURANCE FOR SOLAR & WIND

HB 281 requires owners of solar and wind energy facilities to provide financial assurance (like bonds or insurance) totaling at least $250,000 per facility to cover future decommissioning costs. This applies to all new facilities starting July 1, 2026, and existing facilities by January 1, 2028. The bill creates a Solar and Wind Decommissioning Fund, which collects forfeited financial assurance if owners fail to comply or if decommissioning costs exceed the provided amount. The fund is used by the state to cover cleanup costs when facilities are shut down, ensuring sites are properly remediated without relying on taxpayer funds.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Environment

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 207: FLASHING RED LIGHTS ON RECOVERY & REPAIR CARS

SB 207 allows recovery and repair vehicles (like tow trucks) to display flashing lights (other than red) while actively removing disabled vehicles on highways. This directly affects roadside assistance companies and towing services operating in New Mexico. The bill amends existing law to explicitly permit this use during the removal process, while prohibiting flashing red lights for these vehicles (only fire, police, ambulance, and school buses may use front-facing red lights). It does not permit flashing lights during travel to or from a disabled vehicle scene. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 274: NONCONFORMING MOBILE HOME PARK LOTS

HB 274 allows mobile home park owners in New Mexico to sell individual mobile home spaces as separately owned lots without needing to meet standard zoning requirements like minimum lot size or building setbacks. This directly affects mobile home park residents and owners who wish to purchase their specific lot. The bill amends the Mobile Home Park Act to create a new provision enabling this transfer of ownership without requiring infrastructure improvements typically needed for subdivision development. It removes barriers that previously forced park owners to conform to zoning rules when selling spaces, streamlining the process for residents seeking ownership.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 217: LIQUOR TAX CHANGES

SB 217 modifies New Mexico's liquor excise tax system. It imposes a new surtax on liquor retailers and redirects the revenue to create a dedicated Tribal Alcohol Harms Alleviation Fund, which will receive 5% of liquor excise tax revenue starting July 2019. The bill also amends definitions to exclude liquor excise taxes from the calculation of "gross receipts" for other state taxes. This directly affects liquor retailers (through the surtax), tribal governments (receiving new funding), and local governments (which will see adjusted allocations for alcohol treatment services and drug courts). The changes are purely procedural, reallocating existing tax revenue streams rather than creating new taxes or services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 273: WOMEN'S SAFETY & PROTECTION ACT

HB 273, the Women's Safety & Protection Act, requires domestic violence shelters, public schools, and juvenile detention facilities in New Mexico to designate separate sleeping quarters and restrooms for males and females. It mandates that these facilities provide reasonable accommodations (like single-occupancy spaces) for individuals who cannot use facilities matching their sex, but prohibits access to opposite-sex areas when others of that sex are present. The bill explicitly allows exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, maintenance, and ADA accommodations, while ensuring facilities remain compliant with federal disability law. It directly affects residents of these facilities, staff, and students in New Mexico's public schools and shelter systems.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 269: CHILDCARE PROGRAM USE OF FUNDS

HB 269 restricts how licensed childcare programs in New Mexico can use state funds received through contracts with the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. It prohibits using these funds to pay parent company fees, executive bonuses for investment firms, or for operations outside New Mexico, and bans paying dividends to investors or selling real property to lease back to other entities. The bill also requires these programs to submit annual reports to the legislature detailing ownership structures, executive pay, debt levels, acquisitions, and real estate transactions. These provisions directly affect all licensed childcare programs receiving state contracts under the Early Childhood Education and Care Department. The bill aims to ensure state funds are used solely for childcare services within New Mexico.

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SJM 2: RESPONSIBILITY FOR FEDERAL ED. PROGRAMS

SJM 2 is a New Mexico Senate Joint Memorial requesting the Public Education Commission to create a comprehensive plan for the state to take over education programs currently managed by the U.S. Department of Education. The plan must include recommendations for state and federal legal changes, strategies for managing education funding (including potential federal waivers or grants), and identification of unnecessary federal education mandates. The Commission must gather input from local communities, teachers, and families, and submit the final plan to state leaders by December 31, 2026. This is a procedural request, not a law changing current responsibilities.

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 286: ELECTRIC VEHICLE WEIGHT ALLOWANCE

HB 286 establishes a higher weight allowance for heavy-duty electric vehicles (such as delivery trucks and buses) under New Mexico's vehicle weight regulations. It amends Section 66-7-410 to allow these vehicles to exceed standard gross weight limits, accommodating their heavier battery systems. This change directly affects operators of heavy-duty electric commercial vehicles by permitting greater payload capacity on New Mexico roads. The bill modifies existing weight tables to create specific weight allowances for electric vehicles meeting the defined criteria, without changing the core definitions of electric vehicles. This policy adjustment aims to support the practical use of electric fleets while maintaining highway safety standards.

Topics ✓ Energy ✓ Transportation

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 215: LOANED PROGRAM MONEY IN DISASTER FUND

SB 215 requires local governments (political subdivisions) that receive disaster relief loans under specific 2023 and 2024 laws to deposit all program income earned from those loans into New Mexico’s Natural Disaster Revolving Fund. Program income includes fees, rental income, sales from property bought with loan funds, and other direct earnings from activities supported by the loans. This policy change ensures that money generated by these loans - such as from services or property rentals - replenishes the fund used to provide future disaster loans, rather than going to local government general funds. The bill directly affects cities, counties, and electric cooperatives that receive federal disaster funding through state loan programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes