New Mexico 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted 3 D cosponsors

HB 352 — CLOSE & RELOCATE CERTAIN MAGISTRATE COURTS

Last action — Signed

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 11, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic) on April 11, 2025.

Prognosis

Advancing 56% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 3 sponsors

    3 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (3 D).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

248 added · 215 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of House Bill 352 has added clarifying language to specify that the proposed changes to the court structure may include amendments that have been suggested but not yet adopted. This addition ensures transparency about the legislative process as it moves forward. Additionally, some details about the court closures and relocations have been streamlined, which could help clarify the intent and impact of these changes. Overall, these modifications aim to enhance the bill's clarity and effectiveness in addressing court operations in various districts.

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HOUSE BILL 352 57TH LEGISLATURE - STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Susan K.
AN ACT RELATING TO COURTS;
Herrera and Joseph L.
CLOSING MAGISTRATE CIRCUIT COURTS IN THE MCKINLEY, SANTA FE, TORRANCE, DONA ANA AND LEA DISTRICTS;
Sanchez and Leo Jaramillo This document may incorporate amendments proposed by a committee, but not yet adopted, as well as amendments that have been adopted during the current legislative session.
RELOCATING A CIRCUIT COURT IN THE RIO ARRIBA DISTRICT.
The document is a tool to show amendments in context and cannot be used for the purpose of adding amendments to legislation.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
h AN ACT g o RELATING TO COURTS;
SECTION 1.
CLOSING MAGISTRATE CIRCUIT COURTS IN THE t hr g e i k MCKINLEY, SANTA FE, TORRANCE, DONA ANA AND LEA DISTRICTS;
Section 35-1-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
h r i s HJCº RELOCATING MAGISTRATE DISTRICT COURTS IN THE GRANT AND SAN h , t, JUAN DISTRICTS;»HJC RELOCATING A CIRCUIT COURT IN THE RIO e u g e b l e e h ARRIBA DISTRICT.
n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d i a º e BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
r i = r t e w d m a n o SECTION 1.
Section 35-1-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, d m :
b e d s º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d Chapter 62, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall operate as a single court in Las Cruces and shall rotate riding circuit to Anthony [and Hatch ] on a regularly scheduled basis." HJCºSECTION 2.
Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 shall operate as a single court in Las Cruces and shall rotate riding circuit to Anthony on a regularly scheduled basis." SECTION 2.
Section 35-1-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 14) is amended to read:
Section 35-1-16 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 18, as amended) is amended to read:
"35-1-12.
"35-1-16.
MAGISTRATE COURT--GRANT DISTRICT.-- A.
MAGISTRATE COURT--LEA DISTRICT.-- A.
Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Grant magistrate district, division 1 in Silver City and division 2 in Bayard.
There shall be four magistrates in the Lea magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in Lovington.
The division 3 magistrate shall ride circuit to Hobbs as needed.
Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Grant magistrate district, and divisions 1 and 2 shall operate as a single court in Silver City."»HJC SECTION HJCº3.»HJC HJCº2.»HJC Section 35-1-16 NMSA 1978 h g (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 18, as amended) is o t hr amended to read:
g e i k "35-1-16.
MAGISTRATE COURT--LEA DISTRICT.-- h r i s [A.
Through December 31, 2010, there shall be five h , t, e u g magistrates in Lea magistrate district, division 1 in e b l e e h Lovington, divisions 2 and 5 operating as a single court in n d d i = = o h Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4.
The division 3 l ] b ,d i a º e r i = r magistrate shall ride circuit to Jal on a regularly scheduled t e w d m a n o basis and shall ride circuit to Hobbs as needed.
The division d m :
b e d s º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e - 2 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d magistrate shall ride circuit to Lovington, Hobbs and Eunice.
B.
On January 1, 2011] A.
there shall be four magistrates in the Lea magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in Lovington.
The division 3 magistrate [shall ride circuit to Jal on a regularly scheduled basis and] shall ride circuit to Hobbs as needed.
[C.
] B.
Magistrate judges shall reside in their divisions but shall have district-wide jurisdiction.
Magistrate judges shall reside in their divisions but shall have district-wide HB 352/a Page 1 jurisdiction.
h (2) division 2 is composed of Lea county g o t hr precincts 33 through 35, 44, 51 through 55 and 61;
(2) division 2 is composed of Lea county precincts 33 through 35, 44, 51 through 55 and 61;
g e i k (3) division 3 is composed of Lea county h r i s precincts 20, 22, 31, 36, 62 and 71 through 74;
(3) division 3 is composed of Lea county precincts 20, 22, 31, 36, 62 and 71 through 74;
and h , t, (4) division 4 is composed of Lea county e u g e b l e e h precincts 2, 3, 10 through 18 and 21." n d d i = = o h SECTION HJCº 4.»HJC HJCº3.»HJC Section 35-1-20 NMSA 1978 l ] b ,d i a º e (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 22, as amended) is r i = r t e w d m a n o amended to read:
and (4) division 4 is composed of Lea county precincts 2, 3, 10 through 18 and 21." SECTION 3.
d m :
Section 35-1-20 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 22, as amended) is amended to read:
b e d s º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e - 3 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d "35-1-20.
"35-1-20.
MAGISTRATE COURT--MCKINLEY DISTRICT.--There shall be three magistrates in McKinley magistrate district, divisions 1, 2 and 3 operating as a single court in Gallup.
MAGISTRATE COURT--MCKINLEY DISTRICT.--There shall be three magistrates in McKinley magistrate district, divisions 1, 2 and 3 operating as a single court in Gallup." SECTION 4.
[The division 3 magistrate shall ride circuit to Thoreau.
Section 35-1-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 26, as amended) is amended to read:
]" SECTION HJCº 5.»HJC HJCº4.»HJC Section 35-1-24 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 26, as amended) is amended to read:
Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and operating as a single court in Espanola.
Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola.
Show all 67 changed rows (27 more)
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Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and operating as a single court in Espanola.
Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 HB 352/a Page 2 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola.
The magistrates shall ride circuit to Tierra Amarilla as needed." h HJCºSECTION 6.
The magistrates shall ride circuit to Tierra Amarilla as needed." SECTION 5.
Section 35-1-27 NMSA 1978 (being Laws g o t hr 1968, Chapter 62, Section 29, as amended) is amended to read:
Section 35-1-29 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 31, as amended) is amended to read:
g e i k "35-1-27.
MAGISTRATE COURT--SAN JUAN DISTRICT ELECTION h r i s DIVISION PRECINCTS.-- h , t, e u g A.
Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be six e b l e e h magistrate divisions in San Juan magistrate district, each n d d i = = o h division having its own magistrate.
Divisions 1, 4 and 6 shall l ] b ,d i a º e r i = r operate as a single court in Aztec and divisions 2, 3 and 5 t e w d m a n o shall operate as a single court in Farmington.
d m :
b e d s º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e - 4 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d B.
Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be six magistrate divisions in San Juan magistrate district, each division having its own magistrate.
Divisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 shall operate as a single court in Aztec.
[B.] C.
Magistrate judges shall not be elected at large from the district, but shall be elected by the voters of the division for which the magistrate sits.
Magistrate judges may reside anywhere within the magistrate district and shall have district-wide jurisdiction.
The composition of the divisions for elections purposes is:
(1) division 1 is composed of San Juan county precincts 41, 48, 55, 57, 58, 60 through 67 and 72;
(2) division 2 is composed of San Juan county precincts 1 through 7, 20, 21, 23, 24 and 50;
(3) division 3 is composed of San Juan county precincts 28, 31, 32, 38 through 40, 42 through 44, 46, 47, 49 h g and 59;
o t hr (4) division 4 is composed of San Juan county g e i k precincts 8 through 19, 52, 53, 71 and 77;
h r i s h (5) division 5 is composed of San Juan county , t, e u g precincts 22, 25 through 27, 29, 30, 33 through 37, 45 and 51;
e b l e e h and n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d (6) division 6 is composed of San Juan county i a º e r i = r precincts 54, 56, 68 through 70 and 73 through 76."»HJC t e w d m a n o d m :
b e d s º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e - 5 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d SECTION HJCº7.»HJC HJCº5.»HJC Section 35-1-29 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 31, as amended) is amended to read:
MAGISTRATE COURT--SANTA FE DISTRICT.--There shall be four magistrates in the Santa Fe magistrate district, divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 operating as a single court in Santa Fe [however, one magistrate shall ride circuit to Pojoaque on a regularly scheduled basis]." SECTION HJCº 8.»HJC HJCº6.»HJC Section 35-1-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 35, as amended) is amended to read:
MAGISTRATE COURT--SANTA FE DISTRICT.--There shall be four magistrates in the Santa Fe magistrate district, divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 operating as a single court in Santa Fe." SECTION 6.
Section 35-1-33 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1968, Chapter 62, Section 35, as amended) is amended to read:
MAGISTRATE COURT--TORRANCE DISTRICT.--There shall be one magistrate in Torrance magistrate district whose principal court is in Moriarty.
MAGISTRATE COURT--TORRANCE DISTRICT.--There shall be one magistrate in Torrance magistrate district whose principal court is in Moriarty." HB 352/a Page 3 25
[The magistrate shall ride circuit to Estancia on a regularly scheduled basis.]" - 6 - h u » r t h g e l i h r i s h , e h t u g e b l e e , gh n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d i a º r e r = t e w d m a n o d m :
b r e t º o t n = .230349.1AIC March 9, 2025 (11:48am) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d
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How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends existing law to close certain magistrate circuit courts and relocate a circuit court in New Mexico.

  • Section 35-1-10

    There shall be seven magistrates in Dona Ana magistrate district. → There shall be seven magistrates in Dona Ana magistrate district.

    No change was made in the number of magistrates for the Dona Ana district.

  • Section 35-1-16

    There shall be four magistrates in the Lea magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in Lovington. → There shall be four magistrates in the Lea magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Hobbs, division 3 in Eunice and division 4 in Lovington.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the Lea district.

  • Section 35-1-20

    There shall be three magistrates in McKinley magistrate district, divisions 1, 2 and 3 operating as a single court in Gallup. → There shall be three magistrates in McKinley magistrate district, divisions 1, 2 and 3 operating as a single court in Gallup.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the McKinley district.

  • Section 35-1-24

    Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The magistrates shall rotate riding circuit to Chama as needed. → Prior to January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The magistrates shall rotate riding circuit to Chama as needed.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the Rio Arriba district before 2027.

  • Section 35-1-24

    Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The magistrates shall ride circuit to Tierra Amarilla as needed. → Beginning January 1, 2027, there shall be two magistrates in Rio Arriba magistrate district, divisions 1 and 2 operating as a single court in Espanola. The magistrates shall ride circuit to Tierra Amarilla as needed.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the Rio Arriba district after 2027.

  • Section 35-1-29

    There shall be four magistrates in the Santa Fe magistrate district, divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 operating as a single court in Santa Fe. → There shall be four magistrates in the Santa Fe magistrate district, divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 operating as a single court in Santa Fe.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the Santa Fe district.

  • Section 35-1-33

    There shall be one magistrate in Torrance magistrate district whose principal court is in Moriarty. → There shall be one magistrate in Torrance magistrate district whose principal court is in Moriarty.

    No change was made in the organizational structure of the Torrance district.

Action History

  1. Signed

  2. passed Senate

  3. DO PASS committee report adopted

  4. Sent to Senate Finance Committee

  5. passed House

  6. DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

  7. DO PASS committee report adopted

  8. Sent to House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee & House Judiciary Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 109 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (109)

109 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety elections
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 352?
HB 352 is sponsored by Leo Jaramillo (Democrat), Joseph Sanchez (Democrat), and Susan K. Herrera (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 352?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 11, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 352?
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