HB66 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN FUND CHANGES.

What is the status of HB66?

Signed into law as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 45 - Mar. 6 (March 6, 2026).

Christine Chandler (D, HD-043), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB66?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=66&year=26

New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session

New Mexico HB66: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN FUND CHANGES

Q: What does HB66 do?

In its own words: An act relating to health care professional loan repayment; requiring award recipients to be health professionals who currently maintain practice in new mexico or agree to relocate to and commence practice in new mexico; requiring the higher education department to determine and disburse award amounts; providing additional award criteria; adding definitions; allowing fees to be assessed upon breach of contract; amending the health professional loan repayment fund; repealing sections of the nmsa 1978; making an appropriation.

Status: Signed into law, March 6, 2026

What the bill says

An act relating to health care professional loan repayment; requiring award recipients to be health professionals who currently maintain practice in new mexico or agree to relocate to and commence practice in new mexico; requiring the higher education department to determine and disburse award amounts; providing additional award criteria; adding definitions; allowing fees to be assessed upon breach of contract; amending the health professional loan repayment fund; repealing sections of the nmsa 1978; making an appropriation.

From the enrolled text, March 6, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT; REQUIRING AWARD RECIPIENTS TO BE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO CURRENTLY MAINTAIN PRACTICE IN NEW MEXICO OR AGREE TO RELOCATE TO AND COMMENCE PRACTICE IN NEW MEXICO; REQUIRING THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE AND DISBURSE AWARD AMOUNTS; PROVIDING ADDITIONAL AWARD CRITERIA; ADDING DEFINITIONS; ALLOWING FEES TO BE ASSESSED UPON BREACH OF CONTRACT; AMENDING THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT FUND; REPEALING SECTIONS OF THE NMSA 1978; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 21-22D-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1995, Chapter 144, Section 18, as amended) is amended to read: "21-22D-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Health Professional Loan Repayment Act: A. "award" means the grant of money to repay eligible education debt; B. "department" means the higher education department; C. "health professional" means a professional licensed pursuant to (2) Physical Therapy Act; HHHC/HB 66/a Page (3) Occupational Therapy Act; (4) Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act; (5) Pharmacy Act; (6) Nutrition and Dietetics Practice Act; (7) Respiratory Care Act; (8) Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Health and Safety Act; (9) Dental Health Care Act; (10) Professional Psychologist Act; (11) Counseling and Therapy Practice Act; (12) Nursing Practice Act; (13) Optometry Act; (14) Chiropractic Physician Practice Act; (15) Dental Amalgam Waste …

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New Mexico HB66: HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL LOAN FUND CHANGES

What the bill says

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