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State Policy Priorities

The Second Session of New Mexico's 57th Legislature

Each year, NMHA's policy priorities are informed by the knowledge, experience and insights of our members and staff and our collaboration with other organizations.
 
The Second Session of New Mexico's 57th Legislature opened on January 20, 2026.  In New Mexico, 30-day sessions take place every-other-year and are limited to bills that are  budget related, reintroductions of bills vetoed in the prior session and bills added to the agenda via a message from the governor.  While legislators may introduce bills on any topic, a bill cannot be assigned to a committee nor debated unless the governor issues an executive message approving its subject as germane to the session. 

During the 2026 New Mexico legislative session, NMHA, on behalf of  our 48 community hospital members, will champion proposals that protect and expand access to quality healthcare statewide:
 
WORKFORCE

  • Supporting our current healthcare workforce

  • “Growing our own” New Mexico healthcare professionals

  • Removing barriers to recruitment and retention and joining interstate licensing compacts

 
OPERATIONS

  • Promoting financial stability and sustainability in light of federal Medicaid funding changes

  • Reducing barriers to viability, growth and innovation

  • Challenging onerous regulation and government overreach

 
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

  • Protecting the rights of patients to seek justice if harmed by medical malpractice

  • Addressing the factors causing an exodus of insurers and providers

  • Keeping hospitals in the Patient’s Compensation Fund

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NMHA will oppose proposals that threaten or further limit access to quality healthcare statewide. 
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The Health Care Delivery and Access Act (SB 17)

A Transformative Moment for Healthcare in New Mexico

On Friday, March 1, 2024, at Sierra Vista Hospital in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law Senate Bill 17, officially enacting the Healthcare Delivery and Access Act (HDAA) — the New Mexico Hospital Association’s (NMHA) top legislative priority for the 2024 session. With an impact of $1.5 billion, New Mexico’s hospitals will be able to invest and reinvest in the patients, facilities, and staff and providers who power their hospitals thanks to this state directed payment program.

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Read more about HDAA and find the resources and contacts to help your hospital. 

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NMHA HealthPAC: 

What We Do

 

  • Contributions to committees to elect hospital-friendly legislators from all parties

  • Non-partisan contributions to committees to reelect members of influential, hospital-relevant legislative committees

  • Contributions to elected officials who can impact hospital-related policy

  • Political advertising, like the messages we ran in major newspapers around New Mexico, encouraging the governor to sign the 2022 tax and budget bills

  • Political education for lawmakers and the public, infographics, viseos and presentations that explain complex healthcare policy

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Contribute to HealthPAC

NMHA members, including all salaried employees of member hospital and health system organizations who have professional/administrative and/or managerial/supervisory roles are eligible to join our community of donors, year-round. Do your part today.

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