New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico SB206: RELINQUISHMENT OF INFANTS AT SAFE HAVEN BOXES
Status: In committee, January 30, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to children; allowing a parent to relinquish an infant in a safe haven baby box located at a safe haven site; providing that reunification of an infant relinquished at a safe haven site and the infant's parents shall not be required under certain circumstances; requiring the children, youth and families department to file a motion to terminate parental rights if the parents of an infant relinquished at a safe haven site do not contact the department within a specified time period; prescribing guidelines for permanency plans of an infant relinquished at a safe haven site…
From the introduced text, January 30, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO CHILDREN; ALLOWING A PARENT TO RELINQUISH AN INFANT IN A SAFE HAVEN BABY BOX LOCATED AT A SAFE HAVEN SITE; PROVIDING THAT REUNIFICATION OF AN INFANT RELINQUISHED AT A SAFE HAVEN SITE AND THE INFANT'S PARENTS SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES; REQUIRING THE CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT TO FILE A MOTION TO TERMINATE PARENTAL RIGHTS IF THE PARENTS OF AN INFANT RELINQUISHED AT A SAFE HAVEN SITE DO NOT CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN A SPECIFIED TIME PERIOD; PRESCRIBING GUIDELINES FOR PERMANENCY PLANS OF AN INFANT RELINQUISHED AT A SAFE HAVEN SITE; PROVIDING IMMUNITY FOR SAFE HAVEN SITES THAT INSTALL SAFE HAVEN BABY BOXES; AMENDING THE ABUSE AND NEGLECT ACT. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 24-22-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, .233338.1 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ Chapter 31, Section 2 and Laws 2001, Chapter 132, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read: "24-22-2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Safe Haven for Infants Act: A. "fire station" means a fire station that is certified by the state fire marshal's office; B. "hospital" means an acute care general hospital or health care clinic licensed by the state; C. "Indian child" means an Indian child as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare …
Sponsors
- David M. Gallegos (R, SD-041) · primary sponsor