New Mexico HB208: LAW ENFORCEMENT ID AND CONCEALING IDENTITY

What the bill says

An act relating to law enforcement; requiring peace officers to carry and present for inspection identifying credentials to a member of the public in certain circumstances; prohibiting a peace officer from concealing the peace officer's identity or the name of the peace officer's law enforcement agency of employment in certain circumstances; providing exceptions; providing a penalty; declaring an emergency.

From the introduced text, January 27, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT; REQUIRING PEACE OFFICERS TO CARRY AND PRESENT FOR INSPECTION IDENTIFYING CREDENTIALS TO A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; PROHIBITING A PEACE OFFICER FROM CONCEALING THE PEACE OFFICER'S IDENTITY OR THE NAME OF THE PEACE OFFICER'S LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OF EMPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS; PROVIDING A PENALTY; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 29, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: "[NEW MATERIAL] REQUIRING PEACE OFFICERS TO CARRY IDENTIFICATION AND PRESENT IDENTIFICATION FOR INSPECTION UPON REQUEST--PROHIBITING THE CONCEALMENT OF IDENTITY--EXCEPTIONS-- PENALTY.-- .232237.4 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ A. A peace officer shall not wear a face covering while interacting with the public in the performance of the peace officer's duties, except for medical-grade surgical masks or N95 or similar respirators designed to prevent the transmission of airborne diseases or masks designed to protect against exposure to smoke during a declared state of emergency related to wildfire. B. At all times when a peace officer is on duty or responds to a call for service or upon initiation of any law enforcement or investigative encounter between the peace officer and a member of the public, the peace officer shall: (1) carry on …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Janelle Anyanonu (D, HD-019) · primary sponsor
• Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D, HD-015)
• Javier Martínez (D, HD-011)
• Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (D, SD-016)
• Eleanor Chávez (D, HD-026)
• Heather Berghmans (D, SD-015)
• Cristina Parajón (D, HD-025)

Latest actions

1. January 27, 2026: Not Printed
2. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is HB208?

HB208 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): LAW ENFORCEMENT ID AND CONCEALING IDENTITY.

What does HB208 do?

In its own words: An act relating to law enforcement; requiring peace officers to carry and present for inspection identifying credentials to a member of the public in certain circumstances; prohibiting a peace officer from concealing the peace officer's identity or the name of the peace officer's law enforcement agency of employment in certain circumstances; providing exceptions; providing a penalty; declaring an emergency.

What is the status of HB208?

Failed as of January 27, 2026. Latest action: Not Printed (January 27, 2026).

Who sponsored HB208?

Janelle Anyanonu (D, HD-019), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB208?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=208&year=26