New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB71: COUNTY & MUNICIPALITY ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT
Status: Failed, January 22, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to local government; providing a private right of action for injunctive relief to compel a county or municipality to enforce its ordinances; requiring written notice and a time period for the county or municipality to enforce the ordinance.
From the introduced text, January 14, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT; PROVIDING A PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF TO COMPEL A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY TO ENFORCE ITS ORDINANCES; REQUIRING WRITTEN NOTICE AND A TIME PERIOD FOR THE COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT--WRITTEN NOTICE--PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION.-- A. If a county or municipality fails to enforce an ordinance it has enacted, a resident of or business located in the county or municipality or the attorney general may provide written notice to the governing body of the county or municipality alleging any failures to enforce the ordinance. The county or municipality shall have fourteen days to enforce .232408.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ the ordinance or provide a written response detailing why the alleged conduct was not a violation of the ordinance or why the ordinance was not enforced. B. If after following the procedures pursuant to Subsection A of this section a county or municipality continues to not enforce the ordinance, the resident, business or attorney general may bring a civil action in a district court of competent jurisdiction for injunctive relief compelling the county or municipality to enforce or repeal the ordinance. The court may award reasonable …
Sponsors
- Rod Montoya (R, HD-001) · primary sponsor
- Cynthia Borrego (D, HD-017)
Latest actions
- : Not Printed
- : Action Postponed Indefinitely
- : Sent to HPREF - Referrals: HPREF
Subjects: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Common questions
- What is HB71?
- HB71 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): COUNTY & MUNICIPALITY ORDINANCE ENFORCEMENT.
- What does HB71 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to local government; providing a private right of action for injunctive relief to compel a county or municipality to enforce its ordinances; requiring written notice and a time period for the county or municipality to enforce the ordinance.
- What is the status of HB71?
- Failed as of January 22, 2026. Latest action: Not Printed (January 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB71?
- Rod Montoya (R, HD-001), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB71?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=71&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.