New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB128: FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT
Status: Signed into law, March 5, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to occupational disease disablement; including additional conditions that are presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter; specifying employment periods for certain cancers that are presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter.
From the enrolled text, March 6, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT; INCLUDING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE PRESUMED TO BE PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY EMPLOYMENT AS A FIREFIGHTER; SPECIFYING EMPLOYMENT PERIODS FOR CERTAIN CANCERS THAT ARE PRESUMED TO BE PROXIMATELY CAUSED BY EMPLOYMENT AS A FIREFIGHTER. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 52-3-32.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2009, Chapter 252, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read: "52-3-32.1. FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATIONAL CONDITIONS.-- A. As used in this section, "firefighter" means a person who is employed as a full-time non-volunteer firefighter by the state or a local government entity and who has taken the oath prescribed for firefighters. B. If a firefighter is diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions after the period of employment indicated, and the condition was not revealed during an initial employment medical screening examination or during a subsequent medical review pursuant to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and rules promulgated pursuant to that act, the condition is presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter: (1) the following cancers after five HB Page (b) breast if diagnosed without a breast cancer 1 or breast cancer 2 genetic predisposition to breast cancer; (c) brain; (d) cervical; (e) colon; (f) colorectal; (g) esophageal; (h) kidney; (i) leukemia; (j) lung; (k) …
Sponsors
- Reena Szczepanski (D, HD-047) · primary sponsor
- Cindy Nava (D, SD-009)
- Patricia Roybal Caballero (D, HD-013)
- Cynthia Borrego (D, HD-017)
- Charlotte Little (D, HD-068)
- Cristina Parajón (D, HD-025)
- Andrea Reeb (R, HD-064)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor - Chapter 36 - Mar. 5
- : Passed in the Senate - Y:39 N:0
- : SHPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to SHPAC - Referrals: SHPAC
- : Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:61 N:1
- : HLVMC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : HHHC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to HHHC - Referrals: HHHC/HLVMC
- : Withdrawn from committee or daily calendar, ordered printed and referred to
- : Not Printed
Votes
- Senate Floor Vote (February 18, 2026): 39 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Floor Vote (February 10, 2026): 61 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: EMPLOYER & EMPLOYEE (including workers' comp), HEALTH & HEALTH FACILITIES
Common questions
- What is HB128?
- HB128 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): FIREFIGHTER OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE DISABLEMENT.
- What does HB128 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to occupational disease disablement; including additional conditions that are presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter; specifying employment periods for certain cancers that are presumed to be proximately caused by employment as a firefighter.
- What is the status of HB128?
- Signed into law as of March 5, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 36 - Mar. 5 (March 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB128?
- Reena Szczepanski (D, HD-047), with 6 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB128?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=128&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.