The bill amends various sections of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated (NMSA) 1978 to ensure that during public emergencies, rules or directives issued by government entities that close or limit businesses must include exemptions for facilities operated by religious organizations that are tax-exempt under federal law. Specifically, it introduces new language that mandates these exemptions in the context of the All Hazard Emergency Management Act, the Public Health Emergency Response Act, the Riot Control Act, and the Energy Emergency Powers Act. Additionally, the bill allows individuals or entities harmed by violations of these provisions to seek legal remedies, including declaratory or injunctive relief and potential punitive damages for malicious or reckless enforcement.

The bill also repeals and enacts a new section regarding restrictions on places of worship, emphasizing that any government orders must treat religious facilities equitably with other businesses. Furthermore, it updates the language throughout the statutes to reflect a more inclusive approach to emergency management, ensuring that religious organizations are not disproportionately affected during states of emergency. The effective date for these provisions is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 12-10-1, 12-10-4, 12-10-5, 12-10-10.1, 12-10-18, 12-10A-17, 12-12-3