The bill introduces a new section to the New Mexico statutes that mandates the sealing of certain court records related to evictions. It defines key terms such as "authorized attorney," "court record," "eviction," "owner," "resident," and "seal." Upon the initiation of an eviction, the court record will be sealed, and it will remain sealed until specific conditions are met, such as the expiration of a fifteen-day period after an order granting possession is entered, unless an appeal is filed or the order is set aside. The bill also stipulates that the names of the parties involved in sealed records cannot be published online or released to third parties, and residents are not liable for failing to disclose sealed eviction records in inquiries from third parties.

Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for residents to petition for the unsealing of their court records, emphasizing that such petitions will not incur filing fees. It allows for the unsealing of records upon a showing of compelling need, balancing the interests of the resident against those of the requesting party. Furthermore, sealed records can be accessed by authorized attorneys without the need for a compelling need demonstration. The provisions apply to all evictions filed under the Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act and the Mobile Home Park Act after the bill's effective date in 2025.