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.
In reaction to the signing of HB 99, Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) has issued the following statement:
"The unfortunate reality is that New Mexico's malpractice crisis was largely created by years of policies enacted by Democrat lawmakers in the Legislature. While the damage cannot be undone overnight, House Bill 99 represents an important step toward repairing the system and improving access to care." The Senator continued, "New Mexicans deserve a healthcare system where families can find a doctor and providers can practice without facing an extreme legal climate. While Republicans absolutely applaud the enactment of HB 99, we nonetheless remain committed to fighting to expand access to healthcare, strengthen rural medical systems, and deliver real results for New Mexico families."
Additionally, Senator Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) has issued the following statement:
"Today was a victory for the people of New Mexico who have worked so hard to push their legislators to fix this healthcare crisis. I represent one of the largest districts in the state—and one of the largest in the nation—made up of small, rural communities. In far too many of those communities, families struggle every day just to access basic medical care.
We have been at the tip of the spear on this issue since 2022 because the reality is simple: if doctors cannot afford to practice in New Mexico, patients cannot receive care in New Mexico.
Today's bill signing represents the culmination of years of work by lawmakers, physicians, hospitals, and patients who came to the table determined to find a solution. Along the way we saw how easily a reform effort like this could be derailed by special interests trying to protect the status quo. But the people of this state spoke clearly, and the Legislature ultimately came together to pass a consensus bill focused on restoring access to healthcare.
I'm proud of the work the Legislature did to deliver this reform, and I'm grateful to everyone—on both sides of the aisle—who set aside politics and put the health of New Mexicans first."
