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HB 306NEW MEXICOSession 2026State BillSigned into law
Enacted

New Mexico bans outpatient facility fees for preventive care, vaccinations, and telehealth starting January 1, 2027

Original title: PROHIBIT CERTAIN HEALTH CARE FACILITY FEES

Last action · March 6, 2026: Signed by Governor - Chapter 43 - Mar. 6Sponsors: Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics and 1 other

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Beginning January 1, 2027, New Mexico hospitals and health systems are prohibited from charging outpatient s directly to patients for s, vaccinations, and telehealth. The measure also bans facility fees for uninsured patients across all settings, requires advance notice and signage regarding fee policies, and mandates data reporting to the .

Why it matters

Patients receiving routine outpatient, vaccination, or telehealth services will no longer face extra hospital overhead charges, and uninsured individuals are entirely exempted from s, lowering direct out-of-pocket medical expenses.

Background
  • Elizabeth 'Liz' Stefanics is a member of the New Mexico Legislature who sponsored House Bill 306 during the 2026 Regular session. context

Who It Affects

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

Directly affected

Patients

Patients receiving preventive care, vaccinations, or telehealth will no longer be billed outpatient facility fees directly, and uninsured patients are exempt from all facility fees.

Directly affected

Hospitals and Health Systems

Hospitals and health systems are restricted from collecting direct facility fees for specified outpatient services, must update billing and signage practices, and must report fee data to the state.

Directly affected

Insurers

Insurers may still be billed facility fees pursuant to agreements or law, and bills must itemize charges billed to insurance plans.

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

When does the ban on certain facility fees take effect?
The restrictions on charging s for preventive care, vaccinations, and telehealth begin on January 1, 2027.
Are rural hospitals required to comply with the outpatient facility fee ban?
No, the provisions restricting s for outpatient, vaccination, and telehealth services do not apply to hospitals or hospital clinics located in rural areas.
Can I be charged a facility fee if I do not have health insurance?
No. Hospitals and health systems are strictly prohibited from charging, billing, or collecting a directly from any patient who does not have health insurance coverage.
What happens if I cancel an appointment because the facility fee is too high?
If you decline, cancel, or reschedule an appointment after being notified that a may be charged and before services are rendered, the provider cannot impose a cancellation fee, no-show fee, or other penalty.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

8 actions
  1. Mar 6, 2026Governor of New MexicoEnrolled
    Signed by Governor - Chapter 43 - Mar. 6
  2. Feb 19, 2026SenateFloor
    Passed in the Senate - Y:39 N:0
  3. Feb 18, 2026Senate
    STBTC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
  4. Feb 15, 2026SenateCommittee
    Sent to STBTC - Referrals: STBTC
  5. Feb 14, 2026HouseFloor
    Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:69 N:0
  6. Feb 11, 2026House
    HHHC: Reported by committee with Do Not Pass but with a Do Pass recommendation on Committee Substitution
Show 2 earlier actions
  1. Feb 9, 2026House
    HCPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
  2. Feb 4, 2026HouseCommittee
    Sent to HCPAC - Referrals: HCPAC/HHHC

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

Elizabeth "Liz" StefanicsHousePrimary sponsor
Reena SzczepanskiHouse · District 47DemocraticCosponsor

Connected Entities

Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics, Health Resources and Services Administration, United States Preventive Services Task Force and 3 more
PersonElizabeth "Liz" Stefanics“Primary sponsor of House Bill 306”Map →
OrganizationHealth Resources and Services Administration“Designates rural counties and unincorporated areas”Map →
OrganizationUnited States Preventive Services Task Force“Defines recommended preventive health care services”Map →
PersonReena Szczepanski“Cosponsor of House Bill 306”Map →
OrganizationCenters for Medicare and Medicaid Services“Determines hospital campus boundaries on a case-by-case basis”Map →
OrganizationHealth Care Authority“Licenses health facilities and freestanding emergency departments”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.nmlegis.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance85
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy45
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz40
    Current news / social attention level

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