New Mexico House Bill 58 Expands Telephone Harassment Law to Cover Electronic Communication and Social Media

Original title: TELEPHONE CRIMES

Last action · February 6, 2026: HCPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendationSponsors: John Block and 4 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

House Bill 58 expands New Mexico's telephone harassment law to explicitly include electronic communications such as text messages, emails, instant messages, and social media posts. The measure makes sending obscene, threatening, or harassing messages through any of these digital channels a misdemeanor or a for repeat offenders.

Why it matters

Residents and internet users face potential criminal misdemeanor or felony charges for sending harassing, threatening, or obscene messages via text, email, or social media platforms, whereas the prior law applied strictly to traditional telephone calls.

Background

House Bill 58 was introduced during the 2026 Regular Session of the 57th Legislature of the State of New Mexico. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

New Mexico residents

Residents gain legal protections against harassment transmitted via text messages, emails, and social media, while also becoming subject to misdemeanor and felony penalties if they send prohibited communications.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of digital communication are covered under House Bill 58?

The bill covers wire line, cable, wireless, or cellular telephone calls, text messages, instant messages, electronic mail, and social media posts.

Where can an offense under this bill be legally prosecuted?

An offense can be prosecuted either at the place where the electronic communication originated or where it was received.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Feb 6, 2026House
HCPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee
Sent to HCPAC - Referrals: HCPAC/HJC
Jan 27, 2026New Mexico LegislatureCommittee
Withdrawn from committee or daily calendar, ordered printed and referred to
Jan 22, 2026New Mexico Legislature
Not Printed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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