Bills We Support – 2025 Legislative Session
- Erin Spurgeon
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
New Mexico is facing a health care crisis. From severe shortages of health care workers to federal policy changes that could undermine affordability and access for thousands of New Mexicans, our state is reckoning with significant policy issues. As such, Health Action New Mexico is supporting legislation that addresses our shortage of healthcare workers, reduces the cost of care, and reaffirms patients' rights to privacy and autonomy.
A few bills to watch:
Health Care Worker Compacts
Interstate healthcare worker compacts make it easier for workers with licensure in other states to practice in New Mexico. Here is a list of the proposed compacts:
SB 1 - Physicians Compact
HB 10 - Physicians Assistant Compact
HB 11 - Audiology and Speech Pathology Compact
HB 12 - Physical Therapy Licensure Compact
HB 13 - Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact
HB 14 - Dental and Hygienists Compact
HB 31 - EMS Compact
HB 32 - Counseling Compact
HB 33 - Psychology Interjurisdiction Compact
HB 44 - Dental & Hygienist Compact
HB 45 - Physician Assistant Compact
HB 50 - Social Worker Compact
HB 2 - General Appropriations Act of 2026
This bill appropriates over $17.1 billion in recurring funding for health, hospitals, and human services agencies. This bill would maintain lower costs for those on BeWell health plans, provide coverage options to immigrants with certain legal statuses no longer eligible for government plans, and shields over 88,000 low-income New Mexicans from a double federal penalty.
HB 4 - The Health Care Affordability Fund Distribution Bill
This bill raises the distribution of the state health insurance surtax to the health care affordability fund from the current 55 percent to 100 percent. This would allow money that is already being generated by the healthcare system to go towards helping New Mexicans afford care. Due to the work of the legislature and the governor in October, premium costs for New Mexicans have increased very little in comparison to most of the country. We’ve protected New Mexicans from the worst of it for the moment–- but there is still work to be done. More New Mexicans will lose health care over the next 2 years as new federal policy changes are implemented.
HB 99 - Medical Malpractice Changes
Medical malpractice reform is necessary to retain and attract healthcare workers. New Mexico is one of only a few states without caps on punitive damages in malpractice claims. In a survey conducted by the Legislative Finance Committee in December, they found that 65% of physicians are considering leaving the state, with 83% of those citing the state’s medical malpractice laws and the risk of punitive damages. Health Action New Mexico is supporting HB 99, which balances justice for patients with the sustainability of our healthcare system.
Full List of Leglislation We Support: | |
General Appropriations | |
General Appropriations ACT | |
Health Care Affordability Fund Distribution | |
Immigrant Safety Act | |
Physicians Assistant Compact | |
Audiology and Speech Pathology Compact | |
Physical Therapy Licensure compact | |
Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact | |
Dental and Hygienists Compact | |
EMS Compact | |
Counseling compact | |
Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact | |
Dental & Hygienist Compact | |
Physician Assistant Compact | |
Social Worker Compact | |
Professional HC Loan Repayment | |
Medical Malpractice Changes | |
Rural Health Care Tax Credit Changes | |
Physicians Compact | |
SB 4 | Medical Resident and Fellow Salaries |
Behavorial Health Trust Fund | |
SB 9 | Medicaid Trust Fund |
SB 10 | Health Training Corps |
Health Care Access Delivery & Access Act Repeal | |
Create Health & Human Services Permanent Cmt | |
Chatbox Safety Act | |
Reproductive Health Coverage Act | |
Hospital Price Transparency | |
Reporting of Induced Abortions | |
Prior Auth Exemptions | |
Permanent HC Committee | |
Reproductive Health Coverage Act | |
Health Care Information Privacy Protections | |
Prohibit Certain Health Care Faciliity Fees | |
Affordable Broadband | |
HB 28 | AI Transparency Act |
Veterans Behavioral HC | |
HealthCare Recruitment Funding | |
Personal Care Services Medicaid Reimbursement | |
Medical Provider loan PGMS | |
Health Council Funding | |
Expand Bucks Food Program | |
Medical BD expedited Licensure for Physicians | |
Health Care Provider Coverage | |
HCA to set up centralized credentialing process | |
Stocking of certain drugs in Pharmacies | |
Health Care Changes | |
Plans on Use of Certain Funds | |
Student Mental Health Platform | |
Supervision of Physican Assistants | |
Safe Staffing and Nursing Homes | |
Rural Hospital Malpractice Act | |
Collection of Malpractice Judgements | |
Health Information Exchange Info | |
Private Equity Infrastructure Ownership | |
Environmental Rights | |
Expand certain Physician Residencies | |
New School of Medicine Facilty | |
Increase Clinician Facility Pay | |
Nurse Loan Repayment Act | |
Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment | |
SB 33 | Right to Individualized Investigative Treatment |
Primary Care capital funding | |
Health Professional AutonomyAct | |
Create physician tax credit | |
Establish policies for AI for public bodies | |
Opoid Addiction Pilot | |
Health Care Gross Receipt Deduction | |
SB 14 | Health Care Professional Advisory Council |
Health Care Provider Coverage | |
SB 53 | Community and Health Info Privacy and Safety |
Abandoned Uranium Mine Cleanup | |
Medical Malpractice Court notices | |
Farm to Regional food bank | |
Increase Tax on Tobacco Products | |
Pediatric Palliative Care Medicaid Benefit | |
Reimbursement Medicaid Personal Services | |
Wheelchair coverage act | |
FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT | |
HB 115 | Protection for Nurses Invoking Safe Harbor |
Dementia Care Specialist Program | |
Universal Basic income Pilot for Pregnant Women | |
SB 179 | UNM Spanish Medical Education Program |
Medicare Expense Tax Deduction | |
Address Forced Sterilization | |
HC Preceptor Income Tax Credit | |
Dental Hygienists in the Dental Health Act | |
Vagus Nerve Stimulation Reimbursement | |
Medical Malpractice Task Force | |
Electronic Medical Records Tax Credit | |
Nurse Shortage Task Force | |
Medicaid Personal Care Reimbursement | |
HCA to create Physician Residency and Positions | |
Scope of Practice Advisory Committee | |