New Mexico HB333: TORT ACTIONS FOR LIBEL & SLANDER

What the bill says

An act relating to torts; providing that a prevailing defendant in an action for libel, slander, invasion of privacy or other certain torts may recover damages, treble damages, attorney fees and costs from the plaintiff if the action was based on a statement that is made without malice, factually true and regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment or unlawful discriminatory practice experienced by the prevailing defendant; making conforming amendments.

From the introduced text, February 4, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO TORTS; PROVIDING THAT A PREVAILING DEFENDANT IN AN ACTION FOR LIBEL, SLANDER, INVASION OF PRIVACY OR OTHER CERTAIN TORTS MAY RECOVER DAMAGES, TREBLE DAMAGES, ATTORNEY FEES AND COSTS FROM THE PLAINTIFF IF THE ACTION WAS BASED ON A STATEMENT THAT IS MADE WITHOUT MALICE, FACTUALLY TRUE AND REGARDING AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL HARASSMENT OR UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE EXPERIENCED BY THE PREVAILING DEFENDANT; MAKING CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 41-7-1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1955, Chapter 50, Section 1) is amended to read: "41-7-1. LIMITATION OF TORT ACTIONS FOR LIBEL, SLANDER OR INVASION OF PRIVACY--DAMAGES RECOVERABLE.-- A. No person shall have more than one cause of .233136.1 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ action for damages for libel, [or] slander, [or] invasion of privacy or any other tort founded upon any single publication, [or] exhibition or utterance, such as any one edition of a newspaper, [or] book or magazine or any one presentation to an audience, [or] any one broadcast over radio or television or any one exhibition of a motion picture. Recovery in any action shall include all damages for any such tort suffered by the plaintiff in all jurisdictions. B. A prevailing defendant in an action for libel, slander, …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Yanira Gurrola (D, HD-016) · primary sponsor
• Pamelya Herndon (D, HD-028)

Latest actions

1. February 4, 2026: Not Printed
2. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is HB333?

HB333 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): TORT ACTIONS FOR LIBEL & SLANDER.

What does HB333 do?

In its own words: An act relating to torts; providing that a prevailing defendant in an action for libel, slander, invasion of privacy or other certain torts may recover damages, treble damages, attorney fees and costs from the plaintiff if the action was based on a statement that is made without malice, factually true and regarding an incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment or unlawful discriminatory practice experienced by the prevailing defendant; making conforming amendments.

What is the status of HB333?

Failed as of February 4, 2026. Latest action: Not Printed (February 4, 2026).

Who sponsored HB333?

Yanira Gurrola (D, HD-016), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for HB333?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=333&year=26