New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB303: UTILITY CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE
Status: Passed one chamber, February 17, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to public utilities; providing that no public utility shall provide service to new mexico customers from any public utility plant or system without obtaining a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the service; declaring an emergency.
From the introduced text, February 3, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES; PROVIDING THAT NO PUBLIC UTILITY SHALL PROVIDE SERVICE TO NEW MEXICO CUSTOMERS FROM ANY PUBLIC UTILITY PLANT OR SYSTEM WITHOUT OBTAINING A CERTIFICATE THAT PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY REQUIRE THE SERVICE; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 62-9-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1941, Chapter 84, Section 46, as amended) is amended to read: "62-9-1. NEW CONSTRUCTION--RATEMAKING PRINCIPLES.-- A. No public utility shall [begin the construction or operation of] provide service to New Mexico customers from any public utility plant or system or [of] any extension of any plant or system without first obtaining from the commission a certificate that public convenience and necessity require or .233643.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ will require [such construction or operation] the service. This section does not require a public utility to secure a certificate for an extension within any municipality or district within which [it] the utility lawfully commenced operations before June 13, 1941 or for an extension within or to territory already served by [it] the utility, necessary in the ordinary course of its business, or for an extension into territory contiguous to that already occupied by [it] the utility and that is not receiving similar service from another utility. If …
Sponsors
- Raymundo Lara (D, HD-034) · primary sponsor
- Joseph Sanchez (D, HD-040)
- Art De La Cruz (D, HD-012)
Latest actions
- : Sent to SJC - Referrals: SJC
- : Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:49 N:16
- : House of Representatives Floor Amendment
- : HCEDC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
- : Sent to HCEDC - Referrals: HCEDC
- : Withdrawn from committee or daily calendar, ordered printed and referred to
- : Not Printed
- : Action Postponed Indefinitely
Votes
- House Floor Vote (February 16, 2026): 49 yea, 16 nay, passed
Subjects: UTILITIES (sewer, electric, gas, water, telephone)
Common questions
- What is HB303?
- HB303 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): UTILITY CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE.
- What does HB303 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to public utilities; providing that no public utility shall provide service to new mexico customers from any public utility plant or system without obtaining a certificate that public convenience and necessity require the service; declaring an emergency.
- What is the status of HB303?
- Passed one chamber as of February 17, 2026. Latest action: Sent to SJC - Referrals: SJC (February 17, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB303?
- Raymundo Lara (D, HD-034), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB303?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=303&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.