New Mexico’s 30‑day legislative session is in full swing, and there is a lot on the table that touches veterans, military families, and the communities that support them. Lawmakers are working under tight deadlines through February 19, but several key bills and proposals are already moving that will shape benefits, tax policy, medical access, and even how the Legislature itself operates.

On the Veterans and Military front, a few measures stand out: 

HB 29 would bolster funding for communities affected by military bases and is currently in the House Labor, Veterans’ and Military Affairs Committee; 

HB 56 would appropriate new money to the Department of Veterans’ Services to help veterans and their families find and access behavioral‑health care statewide, and is scheduled for its first hearing in that same committee; 

In the Senate, SB 116 and SB 117 propose state income‑tax exemptions for uniformed service retirement pay and active‑duty salary, potentially putting more money back into the pockets of military retirees and currently serving personnel.

Several other bills indirectly strengthen the system veterans rely on by tackling workforce and licensing bottlenecks. SB 1, which has already passed the Senate 40–0, would bring New Mexico into the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, making it easier for physicians to practice here and improving recruitment for VA, military, and rural clinics. 

HB 50 would join New Mexico to the social‑work licensure compact and has cleared its first House committee, adding flexibility to bring in more behavioral‑health professionals. 

HB 127 would expedite medical licensure through the Medical Board and, while still waiting on its first committee action, aligns with the broader push to get providers to the bedside faster.

There is also a cluster of measures about how the Legislature itself is structured and compensated, which will affect the long‑term policy environment for veterans and all New Mexicans. 

HB 102, along with HJR 5, would move New Mexico toward paid legislators, with the constitutional amendment component sent to voters if it advances. 

HJR 6 and HJR 7 would change what can be heard in 30‑day sessions and potentially allow all bills to be considered every year, while SJR 2 on the Senate side proposes term limits and salaries for legislators. 

While these are not veterans‑specific, they are important in context for how future veterans’ legislation is developed and heard.

All of this is happening as major veteran benefits passed in 2025 are being implemented. Expanded property‑tax exemptions for veterans under HB 47 take effect with the 2026 tax year, including adjustments tied to VA disability ratings. 

At the same time, HB 161 has opened the door to free state‑park access for New Mexico resident veterans, including day‑use and camping in State Parks areas, a benefit that began July 1, 2025 and continues this year. The practical work now underway in county assessor offices and State Parks is what turns those statutes into real, on‑the‑ground savings and recreation opportunities.

A focal point for engagement this session will be Military and Veterans Day at the Legislature, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, with a formal ceremony at noon in the Rotunda. NMDVS, the National Guard, veteran service organizations, and community partners will staff information tables in the Capitol’s halls, creating a one‑stop space for veterans and families to learn about benefits, ask questions, and talk directly with legislators about bills like HB 29, HB 56, SB 116, and SB 117 that could significantly impact their lives.  If you would like to participate, please reach out.  United, we stand.