2025 NM Legislative Session

 SANTA FE – A bipartisan bill authorizing $1.5 billion in transportation bonds cleared its first legislative hurdle today, winning unanimous approval from the House Transportation, Public Works & Capital Improvements Committee to help address New Mexico's $5.6 billion road funding shortfall.

The House Appropriations and Finance Committee will next consider House Bill 145, sponsored by Reps. Dayan Hochman-Vigil, Patricia A. Lundstrom, Art De La Cruz, Cathrynn N. Brown, and Nathan P. Small. The legislation would empower the State Transportation Commission to issue bonds for highway projects, backed by federal funds and state transportation taxes.

Santa Fe, NM — Today, all twenty-six Democrat Senators voted to pass Senate Bill 36. This measure directly prohibits state agencies such as the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) from complying with information requests by federal law enforcement agencies regarding illegal immigrants. Even worse, this prohibition jeopardizes billions of federal dollars as it is in direct contradiction to our current federal administration under President Donald Trump, who was elected by a majority of American citizens last November.

Updated proposal reflects input from community stakeholders and small business owners

Santa Fe, N.M. – The Welcome Child and Family Wellness Leave Act, an updated parental and medical leave proposal, is headed to the House Floor after passing the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee (HCEDC) today by a vote of 6-5. The HCEDC committee substitute for House Bill 11 preserves the core components of prior proposals while also reflecting community input and significantly reducing contributions required from both employers and employees.

Bill would create more funding for research, prevention, and treatment and modernize how alcohol is taxed in New Mexico

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, Representatives Micaela Lara Cadena (D-Mesilla), Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) and Cristina Parajón (D-Abuquerque) and Senators Shannon Pinto (D-Tohatchi) and Antionette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Albuquerque) presented a new plan to address the harms caused by alcohol across New Mexico and modernize the way the state taxes alcoholic beverages. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 6-4 to advance their proposal, House Bill 417, Liquor Tax Changes and Programs.

HB 417 is the result of many months of work by lawmakers to develop an evidence-based approach to help reduce excessive alcohol consumption and increase funding for prevention and treatment.

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee voted 4-2 to advance House Bill 9, which would prohibit state-funded entities from detaining individuals as a part of federal mass deportation efforts.

HB 9 would prevent state agencies, local governments, commissions, school districts, colleges, universities, and any other state taxpayer-funded bodies from being used to detain people for civil immigration violations. The bill would not interfere with law enforcement's authority to detain individuals for investigatory purposes.

"In New Mexico, we know immigrants play an essential role in our workforce, economy, culture, and communities," said lead sponsor Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque). "As the federal government threatens to separate mothers from their children and uproot our friends and neighbors, New Mexico is stepping up to protect our people and prevent our state resources from being misused to facilitate mass deportations that would create a humanitarian crisis and upend our economy."

SANTA FE –This afternoon, the Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee passed by a 9-0 vote a proposal to allow state agencies to have wireless towers on their properties--a move that would also directly provide sustainable 5G cellular service to nearby constituents.

The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion's (OBAE) bill, SB 164, will enable state entities to install the wireless towers. OBAE Acting Director Drew Lovelace testified before the committee alongside Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla, the bill's sponsor.

Legislation protects service workers' tipped income and shields consumers from ticket scams

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to protect service worker pay and safeguard affordable access to public events.

House Bill 22, which passed by a vote of 62-5, amends the Minimum Wage Act to close a loophole that allows for credit card fees to be deducted from tipped income. This legislation would ensure that when a customer tips by credit card, the employee receives the full amount of the tip.

Legislation protects housing affordability and expunges eviction records after five years

Santa Fe, N.M. – Two measures to protect the rights of renters in New Mexico are now headed to the House Floor after passing the House Judiciary Committee today.

House Bill 215, which passed by a vote of 6-4, prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to unfairly manipulate rent prices. Renters harmed by violations of this policy would have the right to seek legal recourse. The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe) and Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces).