HB 124 creates a New Americans Division within New Mexico's Workforce Solutions Department to support immigrants and refugees in the state's workforce. The division will help with job training, streamline license recognition for internationally trained professionals, and connect businesses with immigrant talent. It must report annually on its activities and refugee resettlement impacts, with an initial report due December 2026. This bill directly affects non-citizen residents and refugee resettlement programs in New Mexico.
HB 47 amends New Mexico law to change how school districts and charter schools cover insurance costs for their employees. It requires these entities to pay at least 80% of insurance costs for employees earning under $50,000 annually, 70% for those earning $50,000-$60,000, and 60% for those earning over $60,000. The bill also mandates a study on the long-term sustainability of these insurance programs and includes provisions for cost-containment measures in health benefit plans. This directly affects public school employees and school districts across New Mexico, shifting their contribution responsibilities compared to current law.
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.
HB 270 requires employers working on most New Mexico public works construction projects to contribute to apprenticeship or training programs, or to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund administered by the Workforce Solutions Department. The bill sets a zero contribution rate for trades without approved apprenticeship programs (such as certain street, highway, or utility projects), ensuring employers aren't required to pay if no local program exists. It amends existing law to clarify administration, compliance verification, and penalty enforcement for these contributions. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, directly affecting public works contractors and the state's workforce development system.
HB 7 directs annual transfers from New Mexico's Workforce Development and Apprenticeship Trust Fund to two specific programs: $2.5 million to the Public Works Apprentice and Training Fund and $2.5 million to the Workforce Solutions Department for fiscal year 2026, with amounts reducing to $1.5 million each annually after 2026. These funds support apprenticeship programs under the Apprenticeship Assistance Act, directly aiding job training for workers in public works and other sectors. The bill ensures dedicated funding for workforce development while including a contingency to transfer money to the general fund only if other reserves are exhausted during budget shortfalls.
HB 255 creates a dedicated state fund to help counties and public safety agencies recruit and retain workers in law enforcement, firefighting, corrections, and public defender offices. The program provides competitive grants for recruitment bonuses, training, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and equipment tied to workforce development - *not* for base salaries or new positions. Grant applicants must demonstrate how their initiatives address local staffing gaps, with priority given to areas with high vacancy rates or crime. All funds must be spent within two years, and grantees must submit annual progress reports to the state.
HB 43 amends New Mexico's Public Employees Retirement Act to clarify disability and survivor pension rules, including removing inconsistencies in survivor pension calculations. It creates a disability review committee within the retirement board to handle disability retirement claims. The bill also allows state fire members and other eligible public safety workers (like police officers) to earn retirement service credit during approved workers' compensation leave if their employer continues paying both employee and employer pension contributions. Technical changes are made to service credit purchase and reinstatement procedures for members.
This Senate Memorial (SM 27) acknowledges New Mexico residents affected by radiation from the Trinity nuclear test and uranium mining, urging state agencies to help eligible individuals apply for federal compensation before December 31, 2027. It directly supports downwinders, uranium workers (post-1971), and their families who qualify for a one-time $100,000 federal payment under the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. The memorial directs state departments (Health, Aging, Veterans, Indian Affairs) to collaborate with tribal governments and community groups to provide outreach, education, and application assistance. As a non-binding memorial, it does not create new law but emphasizes state coordination to ensure affected residents access existing federal benefits.
