2026 NM Legislative Session

Measures would support New Mexico's workforce and modernize and strengthen state government 

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives passed seven pieces of legislation in a busy, five-hour floor session. All of these proposals now head to the Senate. 

The House passed House Bill 124, which formally establishes the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department (WSD), by a vote of 40-21. The division, which helps immigrant families integrate into New Mexico's workforce and communities, has operated as a pilot program through private grant funding since 2024. 

Bills address mental health intervention, support for police and families 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives on Monday passed Senate Bill 3, House Bill 43 and House Bill 61 to improve mental health crisis intervention, correct sentencing disparities for assaults on law enforcement officers and strengthen benefits for families of police, firefighters and correctional officers killed in the line of duty. 

"These three bills represent an important part of my administration's ongoing strategy to make New Mexico safer and to support law enforcement officers and first responders who put their lives on the line each day to protect us," Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. "I look forward to signing each of the bills when they arrive on the Fourth Floor." 

Bipartisan bills would expand treatment options for people who may pose a threat to themselves or others, and increase penalties for battery on a peace officer

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives passed two important public safety bills with strong bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 3 makes it easier to proactively intervene and direct someone into treatment if they are suffering from severe mental illness and pose a high risk of harming themselves or others. The bill passed by a vote of 58-10.

Under current statute, it can be difficult to direct individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others into treatment, unless they have already caused serious bodily injury to themselves or others, or have experienced repeated hospitalizations or incarceration. SB 3 provides clear and expanded criteria for what constitutes a risk of "harm to self" and "harm to others," so judges can make informed decisions based on a person's recent conduct, rather than having to speculate about their future actions.

State Rep. John Block:

I want to update you on another consequential week at the Roundhouse—one that underscored just how aggressively far-left lawmakers are pushing to permanently alter New Mexico's governing structure, weaken public safety, and ram through extreme policies with minimal accountability.

Threat to New Mexico's Legislative Structure

On Monday in the House Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee (HGEIC), we heard House Joint Resolutions 6 and 7—two dangerous constitutional amendments that would annihilate New Mexico's long-standing legislative framework.

Santa Fe, NM - Today, Senate Democrats passed the knowingly unconstitutional Senate Bill 17 in the New Mexico State Senate by a vote of (21-17). Despite fierce debate from Senate Republicans, this measure now advances to the House of Representatives. In an attempt to eliminate the bill's most blatantly unconstitutional section, Republicans proposed to strike section 7 of SB 17– the section that effectively bans most semi-automatic rifles, magazines with a capacity higher than 10 rounds, and all .50 caliber rifles. However, Senate Democrats voted against this measure, ensuring the bill's worst components remained. 

In reaction to the passage of SB 17, Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer (R-Farmington) has issued the following statement: 

Santa Fe, N.M. — New Mexico House Republicans strongly condemn the Senate's passage of SB17, a sweeping and unconstitutional gun control bill that directly attacks the rights of law-abiding citizens, harms small businesses, and does nothing to address violent crime.

SB17 bans multiple types of commonly owned firearms, targets federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs), and places heavy new regulatory burdens on small businesses across the state. The bill also creates a de facto state gun registry, raising serious privacy and constitutional concerns for responsible gun owners.

"Senate Bill 17 is an attack on the Second Amendment and on the law-abiding New Mexicans who follow the rules. This bill punishes responsible citizens and small business owners while doing nothing to stop criminals who ignore the law." - House Republican Leader Gail Armstrong

Santa Fe, N.M. (February 6, 2026) - Joy Garratt's House Bill 253, gutting virtual education for New Mexico, rolled in the House Education Committee after hours of public comment and debate.

Parents opposing the bill packed the committee room and gave passionate public comment to voice their concerns about the bill and its effects on virtual learning students.

"HB 253 as it is currently written does not put the needs of kids and their families first and I strongly advise our legislators to take families more into consideration," said Luke Martz, Parents for School Options New Mexico advocacy director. "The bill's language does not take families' safety concerns into consideration, it doesn't consider students with special needs, and it also sends a message to rural families that the state does not care about them."

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives passed three important pieces of legislation to support students and teachers and strengthen educational institutions across the state. 

House Bill 8, which passed by a vote of 45-23, creates a first-of-its-kind dedicated funding source for higher education projects. This Higher Education Major Projects Fund would fully fund the UNM School of Medicine expansion, a mixed-use humanities building at NMSU, and student life and housing projects statewide.