2026 NM Legislative Session

SANTA FE – A bill that updates New Mexico's burglary laws to give prosecutors clearer tools for holding criminals accountable passed the Senate today with bipartisan support. 

Senate Bill 100, sponsored by Senators Cindy Nava, Linda M. Trujillo and Rep. Andrea Romero, closes a loophole in New Mexico's burglary law.   

A July 2018 incident illustrates the urgency of the fix and the flaw in the existing law.  On the evening of July 30, 2018, a man climbed over a fence into the backyard of Robert Romero's residence in Santa Fe and made his way onto the home's portal—a covered porch in the backyard with furniture, open to the elements on two sides. Romero was asleep on his couch when at around 3:30 a.m. he was awakened by the intruder. Romero confronted the intruder, and a struggle ensued that ultimately resulted in the intruder shooting and killing Romero on the portal in his backyard. 

Santa Fe, N.M. — New Mexico House Republicans are urging Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to veto House Bill 9, the so-called "Immigrant Safety Act", following its passage on the Senate floor. The legislation represents a dangerous step away from public safety, the rule of law, and constitutional cooperation between state and federal government.

HB 9 prohibits public bodies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities to house individuals detained for federal immigration violations and effectively ends New Mexico's participation in the federal 287(g) program. That program allows trained local law enforcement officers to work with federal authorities to identify, detain, and transfer violent criminal offenders who are in the country illegally.

Santa Fe, NM —This evening, House Bill 9 passed the New Mexico State Senate by a vote of (24-15) with Senate Republicans unified in their firm opposition. HB 9 now heads to the Governor's desk for consideration to be signed into state law. If enacted, this bill would further compromise New Mexico's deficient public safety, kill hundreds of New Mexico jobs, and potentially bankrupt several counties. Furthermore, it remains to be seen what the potential consequences may be from the federal government for New Mexico taking this disruptive step towards federal law enforcement.

Lastly, Democrats had the ability to support a Republican floor amendment that would have repaid counties in the inevitable event that they suffer serious economic damages due to the lost federal funding. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats decided against this common sense proposal to support local communities and defeated the amendment by a (20-19) vote.

SB 1 is the eighth compact passed this session​ of House Democrats' wide-ranging platform to make healthcare more affordable and accessible

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously passed Senate Bill 1, which expands access to healthcare by allowing licensed, qualified providers in other states to serve patients in New Mexico through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This legislation now heads to the Governor's desk to be signed into law. 

Santa Fe, NM —Today, Senate Bill 18 'Clear Horizons & Emissions Codification' received a 'Do Pass' recommendation from the Senate Conservation Committee by a (5-4) vote. After hours of debate, public testimony, and Republican scrutiny, SB 18 now advances to its second committee– the Senate Tax, Business, & Transportation Committee. 

SB 18 represents an arguably unattainable environmental initiative that would mandate zero emissions nearly statewide by the year 2050. This bill purports to merely codify Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 2019 Executive Order to "Address Climate Change & Energy Waste Prevention," but sadly it will forcibly drive out our state's vital industries and future economic development. This legislation, if signed into law, mandates a complete reduction of all emissions from our state's industries, local governments, private companies, public utilities, and private citizens. This is an impossible task and highlights the absurdity of the radical 'Green Agenda' that has a chokehold on the New Mexico Legislature. 

Santa Fe, NM — Today, House Bill 9 received a 'Do Pass' recommendation from the Senate Judiciary Committee on a (5-3) party line vote. The current version of HB 9 attempts to ban local government entities from entering into contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain those accused or convicted of immigration violations. New Mexico has three such federal detention facilities located in Torrance, Cibola, and Otero Counties.

In a recent amendment, HB 9 now also restricts all local law enforcement agencies from entering any kind of agreement with ICE when it comes to detention or transport. If enacted into state law, this bill has major consequences for New Mexico. It compromises public safety by undermining the enforcement of federal law, it kills hundreds of New Mexico jobs, and it financially harms several counties in the state that have been engaged in contracts with ICE for years. Lastly, the sponsors of the legislation fail to take into account any potential consequences from the federal government should this political stunt be signed into law.

My friend,

As the 2026 Legislative Session gets underway, I wanted to provide you with a comprehensive update on the work I've been doing on your behalf during the opening weeks at the Roundhouse.

Committee Work and Key Votes

The House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee (HGEIC) held its first meeting, where we heard House Bill 41—a bill I am proud to cosponsor. This legislation strengthens the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) to ensure long-term stability and allows for increased cost-of-living adjustments for public employees who were promised COLAs to help keep up with inflation.

SANTA FE, NM (January 30, 2026)—The State Highway Project Bonds legislation (SB2) passed the House Floor today on a 44-23 vote as amended.

The $1.5 billion bond legislation will ensure predictable, stable funding for road infrastructure projects.

The bill now goes to the governor for her signature.

"We would like to thank Governor Lujan Grisham for prioritizing the road bonding bill," said Dan Lewis, Executive Director of the Asphalt Pavement Association of New Mexico. "New Mexico is one step closer to safer, more reliable roads."