New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB99: MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CHANGES
Status: Signed into law, March 6, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to medical malpractice; clarifying definitions in the medical malpractice act; limiting punitive damages in medical malpractice cases; requiring payments from the patient's compensation fund to be made as expenses are incurred.
From the enrolled text, March 6, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO MEDICAL MALPRACTICE; CLARIFYING DEFINITIONS IN THE MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ACT; LIMITING PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CASES; REQUIRING PAYMENTS FROM THE PATIENT'S COMPENSATION FUND TO BE MADE AS EXPENSES ARE INCURRED. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 41-5-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1976, Chapter 2, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read: "41-5-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Medical Malpractice Act: A. "advisory board" means the patient's compensation fund advisory board; B. "control" means equity ownership in a business entity that: (1) represents more than fifty percent of the total voting power of the business entity; or (2) has a value of more than fifty percent of that business entity; C. "fund" means the patient's compensation fund; D. "health care provider" means a person, a corporation, an organization, a facility or an institution licensed or certified by this state to provide health care or professional services as a doctor of medicine, a hospital, an HJC/HB Page outpatient health care facility, a doctor of osteopathy, a chiropractor, a podiatric physician, a nurse anesthetist, a physician's assistant, a certified nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist or certified nurse-midwife or a business entity that is organized, incorporated or formed pursuant to the laws of New Mexico that provides health care services …
Sponsors
- Christine Chandler (D, HD-043) · primary sponsor
- Gail Armstrong (R, HD-049)
- Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D, HD-015)
- Sarah Silva (D, HD-053)
- Doreen Y. Gallegos (D, HD-052)
- Brian G. Baca (R, HD-008)
- John Block (R, HD-051)
- Cynthia Borrego (D, HD-017)
- Cathrynn N. Brown (R, HD-055)
- Pete Campos (D, SD-008)
- Jack Chatfield (R, HD-067)
- Nicole Chavez (R, HD-031)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor - Chapter 44 - Mar. 6
- : Passed in the Senate - Y:40 N:2
- : Senate Floor Amendment
- : SJC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
- : Sent to SJC - Referrals: SJC
- : Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:66 N:3
- : HJC: Reported by committee with Do Not Pass but with a Do Pass recommendation on Committee Substitution
- : HHHC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
- : Sent to HHHC - Referrals: HHHC/HJC
- : Sent to HPREF - Referrals: HPREF
Votes
- Senate Floor Vote (February 17, 2026): 40 yea, 2 nay, passed
- House Floor Vote (February 14, 2026): 66 yea, 3 nay, passed
Subjects: HEALTH & HEALTH FACILITIES
Common questions
- What is HB99?
- HB99 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): MEDICAL MALPRACTICE CHANGES.
- What does HB99 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to medical malpractice; clarifying definitions in the medical malpractice act; limiting punitive damages in medical malpractice cases; requiring payments from the patient's compensation fund to be made as expenses are incurred.
- What is the status of HB99?
- Signed into law as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 44 - Mar. 6 (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB99?
- Christine Chandler (D, HD-043), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB99?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=99&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.