2026 NM Legislative Session

Santa Fe, NM — Today marks a major victory for patients, doctors, and rural communities across New Mexico as House Bill 99 has officially been signed into law.

This long-overdue reform is a major step in the right direction in terms of fixing New Mexico's broken medical malpractice system. This is one of the primary factors driving medical providers out of our state and worsening the healthcare shortage in rural communities. HB 99 brings necessary balance to our state's toxic legal environment by addressing excessive litigation while still protecting patients.

Republican lawmakers played a critical role in pushing this reform across the finish line. For years, our caucus has consistently warned that New Mexico's malpractice climate was forcing physicians to leave and discouraging new providers from coming here. Despite fierce resistance from powerful trial attorney interests that have long held a chokehold on the Legislature, Republicans refused to back down.

House Democrats deliver major victories for working families, including: pay raises for public workers,  access to affordable healthcare, sustainable universal childcare, protections for our immigrant communities, meaningful public safety solutions, and cradle-to-career opportunities 

Santa Fe, NM - The second session of New Mexico's 57th Legislature came to a close at Noon today, concluding a highly-productive 30 days. House Democrats passed more than 100 bills and made targeted investments to expand access to healthcare and housing, improve public safety, and make life better and more affordable for New Mexico families and communities. 

Despite slowing state revenue projections and growing economic uncertainty at the federal level, the House delivered a responsible state budget that invests in key areas of need for New Mexicans now, while continuing to save for the future. 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Legislature has sent Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham a bill permanently establishing the Office of New Americans within the Department of Workforce Solutions, cementing the state's long-term commitment to immigrant workforce integration and economic opportunity.

HB 124, sponsored by Representative Cristina Parajón, Senator Cindy Nava, House Majority Leader Representative Reena Szczepanski, House Democrats' Caucus Chair Representative Raymundo Lara, and Representative Yanira Gurrola codified an office originally created in 2024 through grant funding, giving it statutory standing and long-term stability. New Mexico joins a national network of similar offices in more than 20 states convened by the American Immigration Council and World Education Services.

After unanimous votes in both chambers, legislation will create a new removal process for the State Wildlife Commission

Santa Fe, N.M. – Feb. 19, 2026 – Today wildlife advocates issued the following statement after SB104 was enshrined into law. SB104 will create a new removal process for commissioners on the New Mexico State Wildlife Commission, an independent body that oversees the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. 

"This is a historic win for New Mexico wildlife and communities that have long needed a transparent and fair system to ensure wildlife, habitat and food supplies are managed effectively," said Brittany Fallon, Ph.D., policy manager at Western Resource Advocates. "We could not have reached this point without Senator Wirth. Thanks to his leadership, New Mexico's wildlife system is finally ready to stand the test of time."

SANTA FE – A bill raising the maximum penalty for illegal water use from $100 to $3,400 per day—the first major update to New Mexico's water enforcement authority in more than a century—is headed to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk after passing the legislature with near-unanimous bipartisan support.

House Bill 111 modernizes the Office of the State Engineer's (OSE) enforcement tools against illegal water use at a moment when scarcity is intensifying across New Mexico. Once signed, the measure will mark one of the most significant updates to water enforcement authority since the original penalty structure was set in 1907.

Citing Affordability, Universal Child Care, Health Care & Infrastructure Investments

Statement of Lt. Governor Morales in Santa Fe:

"The 2026 New Mexico Legislature completed its work today - my final regular session presiding in the Senate - and I am extremely proud of the results for residents during this 30-day budget session.  A robust state economy and continued strong revenues empowered our lawmakers to make historic investments to address affordability, infrastructure and roads, economic development, classrooms and health care. 

Lawmakers approve medical malpractice, universal child care, public safety, road improvement and education bills 

SANTA FE — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham today celebrated passage of landmark bills approved by the New Mexico Legislature during her final session, including medical malpractice reform, universal child care and new public safety, health care and education initiatives. 

The 2026 legislative session delivered a responsible, forward-looking budget that reflects New Mexico's fiscal strength and the governor's commitment to investing in New Mexicans. The FY 2027 budget totals $33.4 billion  — including more than $11 billion from the general fund — and increases recurring general fund spending by $277 million, a 2.6% boost, while dedicating approximately $3 billion in nonrecurring appropriations. The budget maintains reserves at a healthy 27%. 

SB 37 strengthens evidence-based reading instruction for students 

SANTA FE — A bill that would ensure New Mexico students receive high-quality, research-based literacy instruction aligned with the science of reading has cleared both chambers of the legislature, and the governor plans to sign it into law. 

The New Mexico House of Representatives unanimously approved Senate Bill 37 — the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act — last night following the Senate's unanimous vote in favor of the bill on Jan. 29.