Healthcare

passed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 14: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

SB 14 creates a Health Professions Advisory Committee to select recipients for loan repayment awards under New Mexico’s existing health professional loan program. The committee, composed of state health and education officials, evaluates applicants who must be licensed health professionals currently practicing in New Mexico or agree to relocate and begin practice in the state. Award recipients must work in designated underserved areas, with the Higher Education Department determining award amounts and disbursing funds. The bill amends prior laws to formalize this committee structure and streamline the selection process for loan repayment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates committee to fund loan repayments for health professionals in underserved areas, enhancing access to healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 50: LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

SB 50 removes annual in-service training requirements for certified police officers and telecommunicators in New Mexico. It specifically eliminates the need for yearly refreshers on topics like domestic abuse incident training, child abuse incident training, mental health interaction, crisis de-escalation, and trauma kit use that were previously mandated under existing law. The bill retains basic training requirements but reduces the frequency of mandatory annual updates for officers and telecommunicators. This directly affects all certified law enforcement personnel and public safety telecommunicators statewide. The change streamlines training obligations without altering the core curriculum content for initial certification.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill eliminates mandatory annual crisis de-escalation and mental health training for officers, weakening accountability measures and reducing oversight in law enforcement practices.90% confidence ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRemoves mandatory mental health interaction training for law enforcement, reducing requirements supporting crisis response in healthcare contexts.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 66: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN FUND CHANGES

HB 66 updates New Mexico's health professional loan repayment program. It creates a Health Professions Advisory Committee to select recipients of loan repayment awards, replacing the previous commission. The bill requires applicants to be licensed health professionals currently practicing in New Mexico or to agree to relocate and begin practice there. The Higher Education Department will determine award amounts and administer the program, with new criteria for selecting applicants and allowing fees if recipients breach their service agreements. This affects health professionals seeking repayment for education loans in exchange for practicing in the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpdates loan repayment program for health professionals, strengthening workforce retention and access to care in New Mexico.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 3: COMMITMENT PROCEDURE CHANGES & DEFINITIONS

SB 3 clarifies key definitions in New Mexico's mental health laws, specifically adding precise criteria for "harm to self" and "harm to others" within the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code. It defines "harm to self" to include both imminent suicide risk and an inability to meet basic needs (like food or safety) that would cause serious harm without treatment. Similarly, it defines "harm to others" as past violent behavior likely to recur, based on observable actions causing reasonable fear. These definitions directly affect courts, healthcare providers, and legal decisions regarding involuntary treatment commitments under the law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeClarifies mental health commitment criteria to prevent unnecessary criminal justice involvement, aligning with reform goals like diversion from courts.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies mental health commitment criteria to improve patient access and treatment eligibility under defined harm scenarios.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Mar 6, 2026

SB 101: HEALTH CARE DELIVERY & ACCESS ACT REPEAL

SB 101 repeals a delayed repeal of New Mexico's Health Care Delivery and Access Act (enacted in 2024). It specifically removes Section 13 of Laws 2024, Chapter 41, which had postponed the original act's repeal. This action restores the full provisions of the Health Care Delivery and Access Act, meaning it directly affects healthcare providers and patients covered under the original legislation. The bill does not change the act's content but ensures it remains in effect without further delay.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestores full provisions of Health Care Delivery & Access Act, maintaining current patient/provider protections and access without delay as originally enacted.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 38: WHEELCHAIR INSURANCE COVERAGE

HB 38 requires New Mexico health insurance plans to cover wheelchairs and activity chairs for individuals with permanent mobility-limiting conditions (such as paralysis, limb loss, or neuromuscular disorders) without more restrictive terms than other medical benefits. The bill mandates coverage equivalent to Medicare standards, including all necessary services like fittings, repairs, replacements, and instruction, while prohibiting separate cost-sharing or lifetime limits for these devices. It also ensures insurers must cover out-of-network providers when in-network options are unavailable and reimburse at in-network rates. This applies to all group health plans under the Health Care Purchasing Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates comprehensive wheelchair coverage without restrictive terms, expanding insurance benefits for mobility devices under healthcare policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 34: SCHOOL NURSE LICENSURE PROVISIONS

HB 34 updates New Mexico's school nurse licensure rules to clarify that charter schools must follow the same requirements as public school districts. It establishes three license levels: Level One (a 3-year provisional license requiring mentorship and annual evaluations for new nurses without 3+ years of experience), Level Two (a 9-year license for nurses who complete Level One or have 3+ years of experience), and Level Three (a 9-year license requiring advanced education and leadership skills). The bill sets minimum salaries for each level equal to corresponding teacher salary grades and mandates annual competency reviews by school districts or charter schools. These changes apply to all school nurses employed in New Mexico public and charter schools starting July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies charter school compliance with nurse licensure standards and establishes structured license levels to improve nurse competency and support in schools.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes standardized licensure for school nurses, ensuring qualified healthcare professionals in schools, strengthening student health services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 6, 2026

HB 128: FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT

HB 128 presumes that certain cancers and health conditions diagnosed after specific employment periods are caused by firefighting work, directly affecting full-time non-volunteer firefighters in New Mexico. It lists 17 cancer types (like bladder, breast, lung, and leukemia) that are presumed work-related after 5-15 years of service, along with infectious diseases (e.g., hepatitis) and PTSD requiring physical impairment. The bill shifts the burden of proof: employers must rebut these presumptions with evidence showing non-work causes, and medical treatment for covered conditions must be provided as if work-related. This aims to streamline access to workers' compensation for firefighters facing job-linked health issues without requiring them to prove causation in court.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePresumes work-relatedness of 17 cancers/conditions for firefighters, easing access to healthcare benefits via workers' comp.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentPresumes work-related illness for firefighters, shifting burden to employers and expanding workers' comp access for 17 cancers/PTSD, strengthening occupational health protections.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Feb 16, 2026

SM 14: ADDRESS FORCED STERILIZATION POLICY

Senate Memorial 14 (SM 14) is a non-binding resolution requesting New Mexico's Indian Affairs Department and Commission on the Status of Women to study the historical forced or coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color in the state. The study will identify past cases, gather survivor testimony using culturally safe methods, assess current reproductive healthcare access, and recommend actions to address harm. It aims to inform a state truth and reconciliation commission, a public memorial, and a Native American-led reproductive justice program, culminating in a 2027 report to the legislature. The resolution focuses on documenting historical violations and planning healing measures, not implementing new laws.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAssesses current reproductive healthcare access to identify gaps and inform recommendations, advancing patient access and rights in healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · New Mexico · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SM 2: PEDIATRIC PALLIATIVE CARE MEDICAID BENEFIT

This bill (SM 2) requests New Mexico's Health Care Authority to create a Medicaid benefit for pediatric palliative care, directly affecting children with serious, complex, or life-limiting illnesses and their families. It would allow these children to receive palliative care - managing pain, symptoms, and emotional support - while continuing curative treatments, unlike current hospice rules that require a terminal prognosis. The request includes specific provisions for coordinated care, 24/7 nurse access, and quality standards based on a UNM-developed model. Studies cited show similar programs improve quality of life, reduce hospital visits, and can save Medicaid costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates new Medicaid benefit for pediatric palliative care, expanding coverage for children with serious illnesses while allowing continued curative treatment, directly advancing healthcare access and services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare