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SM21 • 2026

STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
Senator Heather Berghmans, Senator Rex Wilson
Last action
Official status
[7] SRC/SHPAC-SRC [10] DP-SHPAC [12] DP [17] PASSED/S (35-0) SGND.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

What This Bill Does

  • STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-18 New Mexico Legislature

    Passed in the Senate - Y:35 N:0

  2. 2026-02-14 New Mexico Legislature

    SHPAC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation

  3. 2026-02-09 New Mexico Legislature

    SRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation

  4. 2026-02-04 New Mexico Legislature

    Sent to SRC - Referrals: SRC/SHPAC

  5. New Mexico Legislature

    Signed by one or both houses (for legislation not requiring Governor's signature)

Official Summary Text

STUDY OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SM 21
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A MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO
EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF IMPLEMENTING OVERDOSE PREVENTION
CENTERS IN THE STATE AND TO DETERMINE THE NECESSARY STATUTORY
AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK NEEDED TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT
OVERDOSE PREVENTION CENTERS.
WHEREAS, for the last two decades, New Mexico has had
one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the nation;
and
WHEREAS, most states in the nation observed a decrease
in drug overdose deaths beginning in 2024; and
WHEREAS, following a slight decrease in drug overdose
deaths in 2024, New Mexico is one of only three states that
experienced an increase in drug overdose deaths in 2025, with
a four and one-tenth percent increase in drug overdose deaths
over the previous year; and
WHEREAS, drug overdose deaths continue to
disproportionately impact communities of color, with rates
rising faster among Native American and Black New Mexico
residents; and
WHEREAS, drug overdose deaths can be prevented through
various harm reduction strategies; and
WHEREAS, the establishment of overdose prevention
centers in other jurisdictions has been a particularly
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effective harm reduction strategy; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico has not yet adopted the use of
overdose prevention centers; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico needs to look to new harm reduction
strategies to reverse the current trend of increasing
overdose deaths;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be
requested to conduct a study to evaluate the efficacy of
implementing overdose prevention centers in the state and to
determine the necessary statutory and regulatory framework to
develop and implement overdose prevention centers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of health
be requested to provide a report summarizing the conclusions
of the study to the legislative health and human services
committee and the legislative finance committee by
November 1, 2026; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be
transmitted to the secretary of health and the chairs and vice
chairs of the legislative health and human services committee
and the legislative finance committee.