House Passes Broad Slate of Legislation in Productive Day
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.
“The Office of New Americans has already achieved impressive results as a pilot program – expanding career pathways for New Mexicans, protecting workers’ rights, and connecting local businesses with the workforce they need to succeed,” said lead sponsor Rep. Cristina Parajón (D-Albuquerque). “This legislation will make sure the division’s important work can continue for years to come, to support New Mexico workers and local businesses, while strengthening our economy.”
Immigrants account for 24% of New Mexico’s workforce in construction, 21% in agriculture, and 18% in manufacturing, and pay over $770 million in state and local taxes. The Office of New Americans is one of 23 similar offices in other states, creating a national network of experts and best practices on state immigration policy.
HB 124 has a dozen sponsors including House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Chamberino), Rep. Yanira Gurrola (D-Albuquerque) and Senator Cindy Nava (D-Bernalillo).
The House also passed House Bill 128 to increase Workers’ Compensation protections for New Mexico firefighters by a vote of 61-1. The legislation expands the list of cancers and other serious medical conditions covered, and shortens the qualifying length of service to five years.
The House advanced several pieces of legislation to improve government transparency and efficiency, as well.
House Joint Resolution 7, which passed by a vote of 59-3, would allow New Mexico voters to help modernize the state legislature by removing restrictions on what legislation can be considered in 30-day legislative sessions. Currently, under the state’s Constitution, 30-day sessions are limited to the state budget and topics determined by the governor. It would also allow the legislature to consider overriding vetoes for legislation vetoed in the previous session.
If it is passed by both chambers of the legislature, HJR 7 would be put on ballot in the November 2026 election to allow voters to decide whether to amend the state’s constitution to make these changes. The bipartisan measure is sponsored by Reps. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo), D. Wonda Johnson (D-Church Rock), and Rod Montoya (R-Farmington).
House Bill 180 would establish an official process and dedicated funding sources for the state to address natural disasters and other emergencies. The bill centralizes federal reimbursements and emergency-related revenues into a single fund, to better track spending on Executive Orders and ensure proper legislative oversight for the use of state reserves. This bipartisan legislation passed the House unanimously.
House Bill 158 would bring greater transparency and accountability to projects funded through the Government Results and Opportunity (GRO) Program Fund by requiring state agencies to submit evaluation plans for funded programs and projects. The submission process will be developed jointly by the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) and the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC). HB 158 passed the House unanimously.
House Bill 109, which also passed unanimously, streamlines the process for funding water infrastructure projects across the state. Currently, the Water Trust Board is the only state program of its kind required to receive legislative authorization for each of the projects it funds. This legislation temporarily empowers the New Mexico Finance Authority to award funds to qualifying water projects through the end of 2028, speeding up the implementation of critical water projects and allowing the agency to more quickly and nimbly to address emergency situations.
Earlier in the day, the House passed House Bill 49 to enhance penalties for individuals convicted of a serious, violent felony who are later found in unlawful possession of a firearm. This legislation is part of the House Democrats’ wide-ranging package of bills and investments this session to ensure all New Mexicans feel safe in their communities.
The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 30-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.
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