New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB255: PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE BUILDING PROGRAM
Status: Signed into law, March 3, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to public safety; creating the public safety workforce building program; creating the public safety workforce capacity building fund as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury; providing for expenditures from the fund; providing grant award criteria prioritizing recruitment, jurisdictional collaboration and investigations; limiting the uses of grant money; requiring reports…
From the enrolled text, March 4, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY; CREATING THE PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE BUILDING PROGRAM; CREATING THE PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING FUND AS A NONREVERTING FUND IN THE STATE TREASURY; PROVIDING FOR EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND; PROVIDING GRANT AWARD CRITERIA PRIORITIZING RECRUITMENT, JURISDICTIONAL COLLABORATION AND INVESTIGATIONS; LIMITING THE USES OF GRANT MONEY; REQUIRING REPORTS; TRANSFERRING TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING FUND THE REMAINING BALANCES FROM THE LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING FUND, THE PUBLIC ATTORNEY WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING FUND AND THE DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS WORKFORCE CAPACITY BUILDING FUND; REPEALING SECTIONS 9-6-17 THROUGH 9-6-19 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 2023, CHAPTER 188, SECTIONS 1 THROUGH 3); MAKING APPROPRIATIONS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE BUILDING PROGRAM-- GRANTS.-- A. The "public safety workforce building program" is created in the department to provide grant funding for initiatives to increase the state's available workforce and capacity for employment of public safety professionals in law enforcement, firefighting, detention or corrections and licensed attorneys working in district attorney offices or HB Page public defender offices and to purchase equipment in furtherance of the program's objectives. B. To receive a grant, an applicant shall apply to the department on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department. An application shall include: (1) a description …
Sponsors
- Charlotte Little (D, HD-068) · primary sponsor
- Meredith A. Dixon (D, HD-020)
- Sarah Silva (D, HD-053)
- Cathrynn N. Brown (R, HD-055)
- D. Wonda Johnson (D, HD-005)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor - Chapter 19 - Mar. 3
- : Passed in the Senate - Y:36 N:0
- : SFC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to SFC - Referrals: SFC
- : Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:63 N:0
- : HAFC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : HGEIC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to HGEIC - Referrals: HGEIC/HAFC
Votes
- Senate Floor Vote (February 18, 2026): 36 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Floor Vote (February 15, 2026): 63 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: PUBLIC SAFETY (emergency services, etc.), LAW ENFORCEMENT (sheriffs, police)
Common questions
- What is HB255?
- HB255 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): PUBLIC SAFETY WORKFORCE BUILDING PROGRAM.
- What does HB255 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to public safety; creating the public safety workforce building program; creating the public safety workforce capacity building fund as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury; providing for expenditures from the fund; providing grant award criteria prioritizing recruitment, jurisdictional collaboration and investigations; limiting the uses of grant money; requiring reports…
- What is the status of HB255?
- Signed into law as of March 3, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 19 - Mar. 3 (March 3, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB255?
- Charlotte Little (D, HD-068), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB255?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=255&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.