2025 NM Legislative Session

Santa Fe, NM — Today, Senate Bill 258 "Human Sexuality Education" advanced on a (6-4) party line vote in the Senate Education Committee despite unified opposition from the Republican members.

Republicans attempted to amend the proposal to prevent the law from requiring instruction in gender identity—including the notion that there are more than two biological sexes—for middle and high school students. Traditionally, content standards are never placed directly in the law; instead, the law identifies the areas (including language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and more) in which the Public Education Department will develop standards for use by schools. SB 258 marks the first attempt to have the legislature mandate exactly what school districts must teach. Furthermore, the specific subject matter in this proposal is highly objectionable to many New Mexican families and communities.

SANTA FE – Today, the Senate Rules Committee advanced Senate Bill 283, CYFD & USE OF FEDERAL BENEFITS, on a vote of 8-0 with 2 members excused. The bill, sponsored by Senator Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte), Senator Nicole Tobiasson (R-Albuquerque), Senator Katy Duhigg (D-Albuquerque), and Senator Heather Berghams (D-Albuquerque), seeks to ensure that federal funds awarded to New Mexico for the benefits of children in foster care or protective custody are actually awarded to the child rather than used for operating expenses of the department charged with their care the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD).

"This is the session where we as a legislature say enough is enough," said Senator Brantley. "Our north star in bringing CYFD reform has always been ensuring the child's best interest is put first. This bill does just that and I'm pleased to have strong bipartisan support behind this commonsense reform that ensures our taxpayer dollars meant to help these kids get to them instead of lost in the bureaucratic mess."

Integrated crime package would reduce recidivism by connecting people involved
in the criminal justice system with appropriate behavioral healthcare,
while also addressing gun safety, fentanyl trafficking, vehicle thefts, and DWIs

Santa Fe, N.M. – Democratic lawmakers' public safety package is now headed to the House Floor after passing the House Judiciary Committee (HJC) today by a vote of 7-4, along party lines.

House Bill 8 incorporates six key public safety proposals that have already been heard and passed in their first committee into an integrated crime package.

Santa Fe, NM — Regrettably, the New Mexico State Senate today rejected an effort to bring transparency to monetary payments received by lawmakers.

An amendment to Senate Bill 85 offered by Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer sought to require all sitting legislators to annually disclose any monetary payment received from any source, ensuring that New Mexicans would know who is exerting financial influence over their lawmakers.

"NASCAR drivers wear patches to show the world who sponsors them in their races," Senator Sharer pointed out during debate on the Senate floor. "It makes perfect sense that New Mexico residents know who is sponsoring their representatives and senators."

Despite bipartisan support for this important transparency measure, twenty-five Democrat Senators voted to kill the amendment.

Joint Resolution would allow voters to decide whether to give the state greater oversight to improve accountability of regents and at higher education institutions

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, legislation that would allow voters to decide whether to strengthen oversight of regents at the state's higher education institutions passed the House Education Committee unanimously.

House Joint Resolution 12 would clearly detail regents' responsibilities to the students and institutions they serve and provide the state with authority to take disciplinary actions, including potential removal, of regents who violate their duties.

SANTA FE —A bill that aims to establish a visionary Strategic Water Supply for New Mexico cleared its first legislative hurdle on Tuesday.

The House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee passed
House Bill 137 on a 5-4 vote. This is an important step toward realizing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's goal of ensuring that the state has enough water to support future economic growth without depleting or endangering its valuable freshwater supplies, part of her 50-Year Water Action Plan.

Legislation to Open Medicaid Access Clears House Health & Human Services Committee with Strong Support

SANTA FE, NM – Today, the House Health & Human Services Committee advanced House Bill 186 (HB 186), a transformative step toward expanding Medicaid access and lowering healthcare costs for thousands of New Mexicans. Sponsored by Rep. Reena Szczepanski, the bill passed with a vote of 6-4 and now moves forward to House Appropriations & Finance Committee.

Legislation cracks down on illegal activity within the state's recreational cannabis market

Santa Fe, N.M. – Legislation to enhance regulation of New Mexico's recreational cannabis industry is now headed to the House Floor, after unanimously passing the House Judiciary Committee today.

House Bill 10 would establish an Enforcement Bureau within the Cannabis Control Division (CCD) at the Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) to investigate potential criminal violations of New Mexico's cannabis laws. Under this legislation, CCD agents would be able to undertake lawful searches of cannabis facilities, confiscate suspicious products, pursue legal orders to destroy illegal products, and arrest those found to be in violation of state cannabis laws.