SANTA FE — Legislation aimed at expanding New Mexico’s participation in interstate medical licensure compacts took a key step forward this week, as lawmakers in both chambers advanced bills supporters say are essential to addressing the state’s persistent health care workforce shortages.
In the Senate, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Senate Bill 1, an omnibus measure that would allow New Mexico to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, expediting licensure for physicians from other states seeking to practice in New Mexico. The committee’s approval followed direct negotiations between lawmakers and the compact’s governing body to ensure the bill complied with national compact requirements.
The vote marked a significant shift from 2025, when a similar proposal failed to pass after Senate Judiciary adopted amendments that would have prevented New Mexico from joining the compact, according to correspondence from the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission at the time.
Senate Judiciary Chair Joseph Cervantes, D–Las Cruces, said the additional work this year was intentional.
“We’re not in a hurry, and we’re not going to do harm,” Cervantes said, borrowing language from the Hippocratic Oath.
In the House, the House Health and Human Services Committee unanimously advanced a series of medical compact bills covering emergency medical services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, dentistry and other health professions. Advocates testified the compacts would help expand access to care, particularly in rural areas, by reducing licensure barriers and supporting telehealth.
“The single most important and impactful thing the Legislature and the governor can do this session to improve access to care for all New Mexicans would be to pass all the compacts,” said Fred Nathan of Think New Mexico.
Supporters argue the compact framework would help shorten wait times for specialty care and improve workforce flexibility without creating new state licensing programs.
Senate Bill 1 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration, while the House compact bills advance to the House Judiciary Committee.
