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Read. Follow. Verify.New Mexico Senate Requests Department of Health Study on Overdose Prevention Centers
Last action · February 18, 2026: Passed in the Senate - Y:35 N:0Sponsors: Heather Berghmans and 1 other
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What This Bill Proposed
The New Mexico Senate has passed a requesting the Department of Health to study the effectiveness of overdose prevention centers and determine the regulatory framework needed to implement them by November 1, 2026.
Directs state health officials to evaluate a new harm-reduction strategy in response to rising drug overdose fatality rates, with a findings report due to legislative committees by November 1, 2026.
- New Mexico has faced persistently high drug overdose death rates over the past two decades compared to national averages. 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.
Department of Health
Must conduct the requested study and submit a report to legislative committees by November 1, 2026.
Legislative Health and Human Services Committee
Receives the study report summarizing the conclusions on overdose prevention centers.
Legislative Finance Committee
Receives the study report summarizing the conclusions on overdose prevention centers.
Communities of color
Disproportionately impacted by drug overdose deaths, with rates rising faster among Native American and Black residents.
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 does SM 21 direct the Department of Health to do?
When is the study report due?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This resolution did not become law - Died at adjournment · passed the Senate.
Procedural history
4 actions- Feb 18, 2026SenateFloorPassed in the Senate - Y:35 N:0
- Feb 14, 2026SenateSHPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- Feb 9, 2026SenateSRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- Feb 4, 2026SenateCommitteeSent to SRC - Referrals: SRC/SHPAC
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
www.nmlegis.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 45)
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz35Current news / social attention level
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