2026 Legislative Session: What Passed

2026 was a 30-day budget session. The Governor has until March 11 to sign the bills or they will be pocket vetoed.

Some highlights in the budget:

• $1 Million for Double Up Food Bucks expansion (allows for the benefit to now be used on certain proteins, such as meats, nuts and eggs)

• $42.2 Million for Healthy Universal School Meals – $42.2 million

• $1 Million for WIC and Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Programs

• $2 Million for Regional Farm to Food Banks Program

• $1.5 Million for New Mexico Grown and raised food for senior meal programs

• $2 Million for Healthy Food Financing Program

• $2.5 Million for SNAP Education

• $4 Million for Health Councils

• $20 Million for Out of School Programs (afterschool, summer learning, youth development)

• $80 Million for Universal Child Care

• $60 Million for Wage and Career Ladder for Early Childhood Professionals

Some highlights in the tax package:

• Decoupling from 3 new federal corporate income tax provisions and conforming to one in the federal tax reconciliation bill, protecting an estimated $121.5M in revenue annually

• Physician tax credit

• Local journalist and local news printer tax credit

• Construction materials GRT deduction

• 1% salary increase for all NM state workers

Bills affecting our communities

Legislators passed interstate licensure compact bills

• SB1, medical interstate licensure compact and HB50, social work interstate licensure compact address the shortages of qualified professionals. These bills have been signed into law.

• HB99, medical malpractice reform passed to help stop the loss of health care professionals.

• HB4 will increase will increase the amount of the health insurance surtax from 55% to 95% by fiscal year 2029, that goes directly to the Healthcare Affordability Fund. The additional funds will support health coverage for more New Mexicans through the BeWell marketplace.

• SB241 creates puts New Mexico’s child care assistance system in statute.

• HB124 creates the Office of New Americans within the Department of Workforce Solutions to coordinate resources that help immigrant children and families reach their full economic potential.

Bill relating to capital outlay

• HB247 will change the rules governing capital outlay, limiting the number of reauthorizations and the amount of time to utilize the funds.

Bill to modernize the legislature

• HJR5 proposes to pay our legislators. Voters have an opportunity to approve or disapprove by voting on a ballot measure in November.