The 2025 New Mexico Legislative Session officially concluded on April 11, with Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's deadline to sign or veto bills expiring that evening. The session saw 1,182 bills introduced, with only 160 gaining passage, reflecting a passage rate of around 13.5%.
Numerous new bills were presented this session, with eleven out of thirteen priority bills being newly drafted. Key successes include SB417, which streamlines adoption processes for same-sex couples using assisted reproduction, ensuring the protection and recognition of LGBTQ families across the US. SB16 allows non-major party voters to participate in primary elections, while SB36 enhances privacy protections by safeguarding sensitive personal information held by state agencies. SB267 brings new transparency to housing by capping rental screening fees and mandating disclosure of all rental-related fees upfront.
Despite some legislative wins, several proposals did not advance. HB9, aimed to distance New Mexico from immigration detention practices, failed to pass. The Clear (Queer) Horizons Act, SB4, which was designed to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by prioritizing affected communities, did not pass either. Joint Resolutions HJR18/SJR1, aiming to create a commission on legislative salaries in New Mexico—the only state without legislative salaries—also did not succeed.
Efforts to strengthen privacy and data protection through HB307 and SB420 focused on requiring consent before data collection did not succeed in this session. Similarly, HB430, targeting health-related data protection by preventing apps outside HIPAA's reach from mishandling medical information, also failed.
Proposals for civic engagement did not move forward, including HB526, which sought to grant voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds in local elections. SB258, aimed at implementing comprehensive, inclusive, and accurate sexual health education, did not advance.
Despite these setbacks, advocacy groups remain committed to pursuing these legislative goals in future sessions.
