The 2025 New Mexico legislative session began on January 21 and ends on March 22, 2025 and 12:00 Noon when adjournment (sine die) is declared. More than 1,200 bills were filed during this year’s 60-day session or roughly 100 bills more than two years ago. As of March 14, with only 8 full days left in the 2025 legislature, the New Mexico legislature has enacted only 3 major pieces of legislation signed into law by the Governor which includes the “feed bill” which funds the  session itself. The laws are the Behavioral Health Reform Package and the Omnibus Crime Package and the Feed Bill that pays for the Legislature and typically passes in the  opening days of the session.

With only 8 days left of the 2025 Legislative session, following is the status of legislation still pending:

COMMITTEE ACTION

On March 10, the on line News Agency Source New Mexico published the following article entitled New Mexico Legislature advances 23 bills over weekend written by its staff reporter  Austin Fisher:

“Nearly two dozen pieces of legislation advanced through chamber votes or committee hearings in the New Mexico Legislature over the weekend [of March 7, 8 and 9].

The House of Representatives on Friday night [March 7] passed House Bill 9, known as the Immigrant Safety Act, which would prohibit state agencies and local governments from entering into agreements used to detain people for violations of civil immigration law, and would require any existing agreements to end as soon as possible.

The legislation still needs to pass through the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee before reaching a vote in the full Senate.

New Mexico Immigrant Law Center Director of Policy and Coalition Building Jessica Martinez said in a statement:

“Behind each detention bed is a human being—parents separated from children, workers torn from their communities, and asylum seekers who fled violence only to face new trauma in detention. … By passing the Immigrant Safety Act, the House has chosen to stand on the right side of history. We urge the Senate to act swiftly to complete this important work and end New Mexico’s complicity in this harmful system.”

On Saturday, the House passed House Bill 255, which would expand community-based services already provided to young people exiting juvenile detention to include children and young adults in the Children, Youth and Families Department’s custody; and extend how long someone remains on supervised release from juvenile detention.

“Evidence shows us that focusing on intervention and rehabilitation will lead to better outcomes for our children, while addressing the root causes of juvenile crime in our state,” lead sponsor Rep. Liz Thomson (D-Albuquerque) said in a statement. “HB 255 helps us guide our at-risk youth down a better path, by providing them with key resources proven to be more effective at deterring crime and reducing recidivism than punitive measures alone.”

On Saturday morning, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee passed Senate Bill 52, which would align mileage reimbursements for lawmakers and their staff with the U.S. General Service Administration rate; a substitute version of Senate Bill 118, which would require the Motor Vehicle Division to distribute to other state agencies’ organ donor application materials; Senate Bill 318, which would regulate firearms and destructive devices under consumer protection law; Senate Bill 352, which would make confidential photographs taken by medical investigators; Senate Bill 377, which would create a special license plate for New Mexico’s professional soccer team, New Mexico United; Senate Bill 408, which would raise the threshold for when a state agency needs to seek competitive bids on a contract; Senate Bill 413, which would allow the State Investment Council to spend more on the Private Equity Investment Program; Senate Bill 422, which would set aside $5 million for grants to nonprofits providing affordable or transitional housing and other services for homeless people; and Senate Bill 460, which would allow the State Investment Council to make zero-interest loans to film production companies.

The Senate Finance Committee on Saturday morning passed Senate Bill 219, which would establish a program for medicinal use of psilocybin mushrooms.

Later on Saturday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 169, which would set aside $24 million for preparing sites for business development; Senate Bill 353, which would ensure potential search-and-rescue incidents are reported to the Department of Public Safety; and Senate Bill 81, which would provide property insurance to homeowners and businesses who struggle to get private insurance due to high risks from things like wildfires.

The Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 480, which would require the Public Education Department to track all school-aged people who haven’t graduated from high school within four years from entering ninth grade; Senate Bill 39, which would prohibit prior authorization or step therapy, when insurance companies and pharmacy benefit management companies refuse to cover a specific drug until after the patient has tried cheaper alternatives, for off-label medications or therapies for rare diseases; and Senate Bill 252, which would allow all licensed social workers to provide telehealth services.

On Saturday afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 78, which would allow certified nurse anesthetists to practice independently; Senate Bill 303, which would remove the need for gaming machines to meet standards set by Nevada and New Jersey and instead require them to meet standards set by the state; Senate Bill 457, which would set aside $20 million for civil legal services to low-income people; Senate Bill 302, which would strengthen background checks for Gaming Control Board contractors; and Senate Bill 375, which would allow early discharge for people who comply with probation and makes other changes to parole.”

The link to the above article is here:

https://sourcenm.com/briefs/new-mexico-legislature-passes-23-bills-over-weekend/

You can subscribe to Source NM here:

https://sourcenm.com/subscribe/

OTHER BILLS TO WATCH

On March 11, and March 14  Source New Mexico published news articles giving an update on further legislation considered by the New Mexico legislature. The articles are  entitled “NM Legislative Recap March 11: Where things stand with 12 days left”,  published March 11,  and  NM Legislative Recap March 14: The rise of the zombie bills” published March 14  written by Source New Mexico reporters Patrick Lohmann, Danielle Prokop and Austin Fisher.  The edited  articles read in part as follows:

HOUSE ACTION

“On Tuesday March 11, the House considered a memorial, which is non-binding statements used to express the House’s agreement that something should be honored or memorialized. The memorial from Rep. Michelle Abeyta (D-To’hajilee) read, in part: “Whereas, uranium mining operations create environmental hazards through the transport and storage of uranium ore, increasing the risk of contamination of land, air and water resources and exacerbating the health threats already faced by Indian and non-Indian communities alike.”  After and attempt was made to amend the memorial by  Rep. John Block (R-Carlsbad) to strike that language from the memorial, which he said stigmatized the uranium industry, the amendment failed and the memorial passed 38-23.

The House bounced House Bill 212,  a bill aiming to phase out products with intentionally added PFAS back to committee Monday, after no Republicans expressed willingness to sponsor floor amendments. …  Per-and-polyfluoroalkyl substances, shortened to PFAS are a class of toxic chemicals manufactured to withstand breaking down in water, heat or other environmental conditions and are used in everyday items from cookware to carpets to firefighting foams. PFAS exposure has been linked to certain cancers, fertility issues, low birth weights or fetal development issues, hormonal imbalances and limiting vaccine effectiveness. PFAS contamination caused the euthanization of more than 3,600 dairy cows and impacted water sources around New Mexico. … HB 212, if adopted, would ban the sale of items with added PFAS and carve out exceptions for essential uses, including in pharmaceuticals, electronics and cars.

Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces), a co-sponsor of House Bill 212, said  the House Judiciary scheduled HB 212 for a Friday, March 15 hearing to amend the bill. If the committee accepts amendments, the bill would return to the House Floor, leaving it little time to clear committees and the floor in the Senate.” 

[On March 14,]the House of Representatives debated House Bill 17 for three hours before passing the bill, which would create a commission to study grocery prices and propose ways to lower consumer costs for essential household foods. The chamber also passed House Bill 76, which would require hospitals and other institutions to screen newborn children for congenital cardiac conditions; House Bill 372, which would increase the weight limit for recreational off-highway vehicles, and allow drivers under the age of 18 to carry a passenger if they are properly licensed and supervised; House Bill 7, which would would establish a trust fund for children born in New Mexico after Jan. 1, 2025; and House Bill 571, which would create a program and certification process under the Department of Finance and Administration to acknowledge municipalities that adopt strategies that increase housing affordability and accessibility.

[On March 14] The House Health and Human Services Committee passed Senate Bill 53, which would amend the Professional Psychologist Act to include allopathic and osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists to the list of prescribing psychologists; Senate Bill 45, which would amend the Indigent Hospital and County Health Care Act to allow coverage for premium and out-of-pocket costs; Senate Bill 105, which would allow New Mexico to join the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact; Senate Bill 118, which would require the Motor Vehicles Division to create materials explaining how to apply to be an organ donor and distribute to state agencies; House Memorial 53, which would require the Department of Health and the Aging and Long-Term Services Department to update material on Alzheimer’s disease and related diseases; seek federal funding for updating dementia-related public health programs; and create a report for the Legislative Council and governor; House Memorial 56, which would recognize May as “National Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month;” and House Memorial 29, which would require the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee to review driving rules for people with diabetes during the 2025 interim session and develop legislation updating driver’s license requirements for people with diabetes.

[On March 14] the House Education Committee passed Senate Bill 11, which would require local school districts to adopt policies for student cell phone use with guidelines from the Public Education Department. The committee also voted to table Senate Bill 242, the Advancing the Science of Reading Act, introduced by President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque). The committee debated the bill last week and agreed to roll it while amendments were considered. House Education Committee Chair G Andrés Romero (D-Albuquerque) said last week that he couldn’t promise the bill would be scheduled for a hearing again. One of the big sticking points was over using student outcomes to determine how successful teacher preparation programs are in preparing teachers to use structured literacy.

[On March 14] the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 299, which would require the Secretary of State to notify the governor, presiding officer of the chambers and the county commissioners within five days of a legislative vacancy in their area; House Bill 292, which would distribute 8% of the general fund’s gross receipts tax collection to the newly created all cities and counties fund; House Bill 456, which would allow state agencies to use a price agreement for architectural or engineering services up to $2 million, not exceeding $15 million over four years; Senate Bill 353, which would amend the Search and Rescue Act establishing response protocols for federal, state, local and tribal agencies when New Mexico Search and Rescue is called to assist in emergencies; House Bill 570, which would amend the Prior Authorization Act of the Insurance Code to restrict prior authorization for chemotherapy, dialysis, elder care and home health care services, as well as for prescribed diabetes and high blood pressure medications; House Bill 618, a dummy bill that would clarify the role of Department of Information when approving information technology projects conducted by state agencies; Senate Bill 507, which would amend the Concealed Handgun Carry Act to create qualifications, licensing procedures and renewal requirements for concealed handgun licenses; and Senate Bill 63, which would describe how the New Mexico state flag is to be retired when no longer used, such as by burning, a private ceremony or public ceremony held by military personnel or a patriotic society. 

“[On March 14] The House Taxation and Revenue Committee passed House Bill 14, which would effectively eliminate the state income tax for about 20,000 families.”

SENATE ACTION

“The Senate Conservation Committee passed House Bill 93, which would allow public utilities to include advanced power grid technology projects in their grid modernization plans; House Bill 284, which would allow fertility control, relocation and adoption of free-roaming horses; and Senate Memorial 3, which would ask three state agencies to come up with a beaver management plan by October.

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee passed Senate Bill 146, which would fix language in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children; Senate Bill 247, which would require the Public Education Department to publish annually statewide testing results and break them down by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and special education status; Senate Bill 315, which would make tortillas the official bread of New Mexico; and Senate Bill 404, which would create greater protections for health records related to reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, mental health care, and alcohol or substance use disorder treatment.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 66, which would prohibit criminal convictions from automatically barring an applicant from public employment or a professional license; a substitute version of Senate Bill 166, which redefines defining “harm to self” and  “harm to others,” in state law; Senate Bill 259, which would make third-party vendors helping a charitable organization raise money subject to state regulation; Senate Bill 357, which would create a framework for the state to help  local government infrastructure projects; Senate Bill 364, which would allow people with work authorizations from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to work as police officers; Senate Bill 488, which would strengthen the powers of and make permanent the interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee; House Bill 47, which would create property tax exemptions for veterans approved by voters in November; and House Bill 214, which would  establish a voluntary credentialing process for doulas, allowing them to enroll as Medicaid providers.

The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee passed House Bill 11, which would create a state-administered paid leave program.

The Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 327, which would create a special “lowrider capital of the world” license plate; Senate Bill 377 which would create a special New Mexico United license plate; and Senate Bill 434, which would require schools to notify parents if their student has having math or reading deficiency.

[On March 14] after lengthy debate, the Senate passed House Bill 5, which would create the Office of the Child Advocate to oversee the Children Youth and Families Department.

[On March 14]  the Senate Rules Committee passed House Bill 84, which would enact the Employee Free Speech Act.

[On March 14] the Senate Finance Committee passed Senate Bill 401, the Broadband for Education bill, which among other facets would move the Statewide Education Network from the Public School Facilities Authority Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

The link to the full unedited articles are  here:

https://sourcenm.com/2025/03/11/nm-legislative-recap-march-11-where-things-stand-with-12-days-left/

https://sourcenm.com/2025/03/14/nm-legislative-recap-march-14-the-rise-of-the-zombie-bills/

You can subscribe to Source NM here:

https://sourcenm.com/subscribe/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

On February 27, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the Behavioral Health Reform Package and the Omnibus Crime Package. In summary,  the two major pieces of legislation provide as follows:

The Behavioral Health Reform Package consists of  3 Senate Bills that will make sweeping changes to how New Mexico’s mental health and drug abuse treatment programs are run statewide. Senate Bill 1 creates the Behavioral Health Trust Fund for the state of New Mexico to support mental health and substance abuse treatment, prevention, and intervention programs throughout the state. Senate Bill 2  allocates $200 million to expand regional behavioral health services such as crisis response and outpatient care. Senate Bill 3 requires regional plans be crafted for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment. The plans would be overseen by the state judicial branch and would include time lines and regional funding priorities

The Omnibus Crime Package. House Bill 8, is a compilation of six different bills that were consolidated into a single bill. It includes provisions dealing with fentanyl trafficking, auto theft and drugged driving (DWI). It also includes outlawing the devices used to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons. It makes changes to how New Mexico handles criminal defendants deemed incompetent to stand trial and adding a dangerousness evaluation in such cases and giving judges more options for treatment programs.

Despite the passage of so few bills, Democratic leaders of both chambers are quick to point out the bills passed so far this year are actually omnibus bills representing months of work by both chambers and parties to tackle the state’s behavioral health and criminal justice challenges in multi-faceted legislation.  Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), the Senate Majority Leader, said this:

“We’ve made great progress in this year’s session. We hit the ground running and met our commitment to deliver a comprehensive behavioral health and public safety package to the Governor in 30 days, and those bills are now signed into law. There hasn’t been early action like that since the ‘rocket docket back’ in 2019.”

Senator Wirth said the Senate’s next priorities include reform of the Children, Youth and Families Department, passing the budget and taking up more public safety bills.  He’s confident that the Legislature will, come closing day March 22, have “delivered meaningful results for the people of New Mexico.”

Camille Ward, spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus, echoed the sentiments that lawmakers are “well on track to deliver results” also noting the passage of the behavioral health and public safety packages. Ward said this  in a written statement:

“We will continue at a strong, steady pace in the final days of the session, as many more bills move through the final steps of the legislative process up to the Governor’s desk.”

Republican leaders have  criticized the Democratic majority for delays and refusing to hear bills they sponsored, a tactic that is preventing real anti-crime measures from getting a fair shake.

The link to the relied upon or quoted news source is here:

https://sourcenm.com/2025/03/11/nm-legislative-recap-march-11-where-things-stand-with-12-days-left/

MAD DASH TO ADJOURNMENT

Given the extent of legislation reported upon as being voted in committee and still pending final enactment, the legislature is once again faced with its traditional mad dash to the very end over the remaining 8  days of the session.

If there was ever a realistic chance for the New Mexico Legislature to enact major legislation measures, 2025 is the year to do it. Lujan Grisham will have only one more Legislative session before she leaves office, but the 2026 session is a “short session” of 30 days and primarily focused on budgetary matters.

This year, Democrats have a commanding 43-26 majority in the House and a 26-16 majority in the Senate. The biggest problem every year is the amount of time wasted to get legislation through the committee process which results in major legislation failing.

Republicans consistently rely on the filibuster in the last few days of the session to kill Democrat initiatives  to run out the clock and the Democrats have only themselves to blame given their majorities in both chambers.