HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION DIVISION

SB0127

SENATE BILL 127

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Harold Pope

AN ACT

RELATING TO STATE GOVERNMENT; AMENDING AND ENACTING SECTIONS OF
THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY ACT; CREATING THE HOMELESSNESS
REDUCTION DIVISION OF THE HEALTH CARE AUTHORITY; CREATING THE
INTERAGENCY HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION TASK FORCE AND THE
HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL; MAKING AN
APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
Section 9-8-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1977,
Chapter 252, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"9-8-4. AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED.--The "health care
authority" is created in the executive branch. The authority
is a cabinet department and consists of:

A. the office of the secretary of health care
authority;

B. the administrative services division;

C. the information technology division;

D. the behavioral health services division;

E. the developmental disabilities division;

F. the health improvement division;

G. the medical assistance division;

H. the state health benefits division;

I. the homelessness reduction division;

[
I.
]
J.
the child support enforcement division; and

[
J.
]
K.
the income support division."

SECTION 2.
A new section of the Health Care Authority Act
is enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION DIVISION--DUTIES.--

A. The "homelessness reduction division" is created
in the authority and shall be led by the director of
homelessness reduction, who shall:

(1) oversee the state's homelessness
prevention efforts;

(2) serve as a policymaker and spokesperson on
homelessness prevention;

(3) coordinate the state's efforts through
legislation, rules and budgets; and

(4) communicate with federal and local experts
on issues related to homelessness.

B. The homelessness reduction division shall:

(1) develop and facilitate the implementation
of a statewide strategic homelessness reduction plan directed
at:

(a) decreasing homelessness and
unnecessary institutionalization in the state;

(b) improving health and human services
outcomes for persons who experience homelessness; and

(c) strengthening the safety nets that
contribute to housing stability;

(2) create a statewide data system, which
shall be known as the "homeless data integration system", that
shall collect local data through homeless management
information systems with the goal of matching data on
homelessness to programs impacting homeless recipients of state
programs;

(3) specify the form and substance of the
required data elements of the homeless data integration system;

(4) identify mainstream resources, benefits
and services that can be accessed to prevent and end
homelessness in New Mexico;

(5) coordinate efforts to reduce homelessness
across state agencies;

(6) serve within state government and in the
state as an advocate for persons experiencing homelessness; and

(7) provide leadership for and collaborate
with persons developing and implementing local plans to end
homelessness in New Mexico, including the homelessness
reduction advisory council.

C. Upon the creation of the homeless data
integration system, all continuums of care operating in New
Mexico shall provide collected data elements, including health
information, in a manner consistent with federal law, to the
homeless data integration system.

D. Health information or personal identifying
information provided to or maintained within the homeless data
integration system shall not be subject to inspection pursuant
to the Inspection of Public Records Act."

SECTION 3.
A new section of the Health Care Authority Act
is enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] INTERAGENCY HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION TASK
FORCE--CREATED--DUTIES.--

A. The "interagency homelessness reduction task
force" is created and is administratively attached to the
authority. The task force consists of the following members:

(1) the director of the homelessness reduction
division of the authority;

(2) the chief executive officer of the New
Mexico mortgage finance authority or the chief executive
officer's designee;

(3) the secretary of economic development or
the secretary's designee;

(4) the secretary of finance and
administration or the secretary's designee;

(5) the secretary of public education or the
secretary's designee;

(6) the secretary of higher education or the
secretary's designee;

(7) the secretary of Indian affairs or the
secretary's designee;

(8) the secretary of workforce solutions or

the secretary's designee;

(9) the secretary of corrections or the
secretary's designee;

(10) the secretary of veterans' services or
the secretary's designee;

(11) the secretary of children, youth and
families or the secretary's designee;

(12) the secretary of early childhood
education and care or the secretary's designee;

(13) the secretary of aging and long-term
services or the secretary's designee;

(14) the secretary of public safety or the
secretary's designee;

(15) the secretary of health or the
secretary's designee; and

(16) the chair of the homelessness reduction
advisory council.

B. The chair of the interagency homelessness
reduction task force shall be the director of the homelessness
reduction division of the authority or the director's designee,
and the vice chair of the task force shall be the chair of the
homelessness reduction advisory council. The task force shall
meet at the call of the chair.

C. The interagency homelessness reduction task
force shall advise the homelessness reduction division on
initiatives for decreasing homelessness and unnecessary
institutionalization in New Mexico, improving health and human
services outcomes for persons who experience homelessness and
strengthening the safety nets that contribute to housing
stability.

D. The interagency homelessness reduction task
force shall recommend:

(1) policy, regulatory and resource changes
necessary to:

(a) accomplish goals and objectives set
forth in the statewide strategic homelessness reduction plan;
and

(b) ensure accountability, results and
success in reducing homelessness;

(2) resources for successful implementation of
the statewide strategic homelessness reduction plan and oversee
that implementation; and

(3) strategies for effective interagency
collaboration and system integration to draft policies
addressing the intersection of homelessness and poverty.

E. The interagency homelessness reduction task
force may solicit feedback from stakeholders and advocates to
advise the task force on policy and implementation
recommendations.

F. By October 1, 2026, and each year thereafter,
the interagency homelessness reduction task force shall submit
a report to the governor, the appropriate interim legislative
committee, the legislative finance committee and the
homelessness reduction division regarding:

(1) the task force's work during the prior
fiscal year;

(2) recommendations developed by the task
force and those made by the homelessness reduction advisory
council regarding implementation of the statewide strategic
homelessness reduction plan and initiatives; and

(3) key outcomes and measures related to
homelessness in New Mexico."

SECTION 4.
A new section of the Health Care Authority Act
is enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] HOMELESSNESS REDUCTION ADVISORY COUNCIL--CREATED--DUTIES--MEMBERSHIP.--

A. The "homelessness reduction advisory council" is
created and is administratively attached to the authority. The
advisory council shall advise the interagency homelessness
reduction task force and the director of the homelessness
reduction division of the authority and recommend strategies
to:

(1) prevent and decrease homelessness and
unnecessary institutionalization;

(2) improve health and human services outcomes
for persons experiencing homelessness;

(3) strengthen the safety nets that contribute
to housing stability; and

(4) develop and achieve the goals of the
statewide strategic homelessness reduction plan and initiatives
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of this 2026 act.

B. The homelessness reduction advisory council

consists of the following members appointed by the governor,
who shall reflect the racial, ethnic and geographic diversity
of New Mexico:

(1) three members with lived experience of
homelessness or housing insecurity, which may include formerly
incarcerated persons, veterans and individuals sixteen to
twenty-five years of age;

(2) one member representing individuals with
disabilities;

(3) two members representing the philanthropic
private-funding sector;

(4) one member representing a statewide
behavioral health advocacy organization;

(5) one member representing a statewide
housing advocacy organization;

(6) two members representing local continuums
of care organizations;

(7) three members representing regional or
local units of government;

(8) one member representing an organization
that supports victims of domestic violence; and

(9) four members representing providers of the
homeless response system, including emergency supportive
housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing,
homeless youth programs and homelessness prevention.

C. The director of the homelessness reduction
division may appoint as ex-officio, nonvoting members of the
homelessness reduction advisory council any state agency staff
the director deems necessary.

D. The chair of the homelessness reduction advisory
council shall be elected by the members of the advisory
council.

E. Public members of the homelessness reduction
advisory council may receive per diem and mileage pursuant to
the Per Diem and Mileage Act.

F. The authority shall provide the necessary staff
and administrative support to the homelessness reduction
advisory council.

G. On or before September 1, 2026, and each year
thereafter, the homelessness reduction advisory council shall
submit its findings and recommendations to the interagency
homelessness reduction task force."

SECTION 5.
APPROPRIATION.--One million dollars
($1,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
health care authority for expenditure in fiscal year 2027 to
fund the operation of the homelessness reduction division of
the health care authority, the interagency homelessness
reduction task force and the homelessness reduction advisory
council. Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal
year 2027 shall revert to the general fund.

SECTION 6.
EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
provisions of this act is July 1, 2026.

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