All Roll Calls
Yes: 97 • No: 3
New MexicoHB 1782025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
NURSING PRACTICE CHANGES
Sponsored By: Doreen Y. Gallegos (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Independent care from advanced practice nurses
Licensed nurse practitioners can independently provide primary, acute, chronic, long-term, and end-of-life care. Licensed clinical nurse specialists can make independent care decisions and provide treatments within their specialty. Both can prescribe, administer, and distribute dangerous drugs, including Schedule II–V controlled substances, after meeting Board prescriptive-authority requirements. Nurse practitioners first licensed after January 1, 2001, need a qualifying program at the master's level or higher. Nurse practitioners licensed since December 2, 1985, must hold national certification.
Trained nurses can give moderate sedation
Currently licensed nurse anesthetists can give general anesthesia to any person. Other currently licensed registered nurses can give anesthetics up to moderate sedation after completing required, Board-approved training. A licensed physician or independent provider must order it, or the employer's protocol must authorize it.
Nursing license fee caps and waivers
Registered nurse license fees are capped at $200 without an exam or $150 through a first New Mexico exam. Later exams cost no more than $60. An initial nurse practitioner, nurse anesthetist, or clinical nurse specialist license can add up to $200. These fees are nonrefundable, subject to the exception in Section 61-1-34 NMSA 1978. The Board of Nursing can waive initial registered or practical nurse license fees for New Mexico public nursing school graduates.
Retired nurses get no-fee advisory licenses
The Board must create a no-fee license category for retired registered nurses. It covers retired nurses able to serve on community or nonprofit advisory and policy boards. The law also establishes inactive licenses and allows an inactive reserve to perform limited emergency functions at no cost to nurses.
Nurses face discipline for conversion therapy
The Board can discipline nurses for using conversion therapy on anyone under 18. This includes practices aimed at changing a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity. Supportive or exploratory mental health care is excluded when it does not seek that change. Disciplinary cases follow the Uniform Licensing Act.
Nursing Board must set AI standards
The Board of Nursing must adopt standards for using artificial intelligence in nursing. The law does not specify what those standards must include or impose a direct duty on patients.
Nursing schools get clinical placement help
The Board of Nursing must create and maintain a system to help all nursing schools coordinate clinical placements before licensing. The law specifies no funding amount and does not guarantee each student a placement.
Faster nurse licensing with added requirements
Qualifying registered nurses, practical nurses, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists licensed elsewhere get expedited licenses without exams within 30 days. Applicants must be in good standing; registered and practical nurses need valid, unrestricted licenses from Board-approved jurisdictions. The Board posts approved and disapproved jurisdiction lists and reviews them yearly. The Board can require an exam before renewal when the previous jurisdiction did not require one. Applicants licensed under territorial or foreign-country law must demonstrate English proficiency.
Multistate nursing licenses carry extra costs
The Board must offer single-state or multistate license options at initial licensing and renewal, consistent with the Nurse Licensure Compact. Applying for a multistate license can add a fee of up to $50. The Board can also recover investigation and case costs from nurses facing discipline while practicing under a Compact multistate privilege. The law does not specify those disciplinary costs.
Nurse renewal fees support confidential rehabilitation
Nursing licenses renew every two years by the renewal month's end, with a renewal fee capped at $150. Renewal requires Board-defined continuing education; active-duty military members may be exempt. Restoring a lapsed license costs the current two-year renewal fee plus a reinstatement fee capped at $200. The Board can add up to $20 per renewal to fund rehabilitation instead of discipline for nurses with substance-related impairment. Program files are confidential with limited disclosure, but failure to comply can trigger discipline.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Doreen Y. Gallegos
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Cynthia Borrego
Democratic • House
D. Wonda Johnson
Democratic • House
Dayan Hochman-Vigil
Democratic • House
Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics
Democratic • Senate
Janelle Anyanonu
Democratic • House
Jenifer Jones
Republican • House
Mark Duncan
Republican • House
Pamelya Herndon
Democratic • House
Yanira Gurrola
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/20/2025
Final Senate Vote
Yes: 41 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2025
Final House Vote
Yes: 56 • No: 3
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor - Chapter 101 - Apr. 8
4/8/2025SenateHouse has concurred with Senate Amendments
3/22/2025HousePassed in the Senate - Y:41 N:0
3/20/2025SenateSenate Floor Amendment
3/20/2025SenateWithdrawn from committee or daily calendar for subsequent action
3/18/2025legislatureSJC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
3/17/2025SenateSent to SJC - Referrals: SJC/SFC
3/5/2025SenatePassed in the House of Representatives - Y:56 N:3
3/4/2025HouseHJC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
2/25/2025HouseHHHC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
2/13/2025HouseSent to HHHC - Referrals: HHHC/HJC
1/28/2025Senate
Bill Text
Final Version
4/9/2025
Senate Floor Amendment 1 3/20/25
3/20/2025
SJC Committee Report 3/17/25
3/17/2025
HJC Committee Report 2/25/25
2/25/2025
HHHC Committee Report 2/13/25
2/13/2025
Introduced
1/28/2025