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SM 25

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE TASK FORCE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pete Campos

SM 25 would form a 13-member task force to study New Mexico’s medical malpractice system and report findings and recommendations to the Legislature by Dec 1, 2025.

action postponed indefinitely
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Bill Summary · SM 25

Summary: Senate Memorial 25 (Medical Malpractice Task Force)

Overview

Senate Memorial 25 (SM 25) is a memorial bill introduced on March 17, 2025, titled “Medical Malpractice Task Force.” As a memorial, it does not enact law or create an appropriation. Instead, it requests that state agencies convene a joint task force to study New Mexico’s medical malpractice system and report findings and recommendations to two legislative committees by December 1, 2025. The bill’s status is currently “action postponed indefinitely.”

Purpose and Intent

  • To examine New Mexico’s medical malpractice system, identify issues within the system, and propose solutions.
  • To balance patient rights with factors that affect the health care workforce, notably provider shortages and malpractice insurance costs.

Key Provisions

  • Constituent Agencies: The task force would be convened by the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), the Department of Health, and the Health Care Authority.
  • Task Force Composition: 13 members in total, drawn from three groups plus agency leadership:
    • Four members representing injured patients (appointed by the governor, the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the House minority floor leader, respectively).
    • Four members representing health care providers (appointed by the governor, the House majority floor leader, the Senate majority floor leader, and the Senate minority floor leader, respectively).
    • Two members representing the medical malpractice insurance industry (appointed by the governor and the OSI superintendent, respectively).
    • The superintendent of insurance.
    • The secretary of health.
    • The secretary of the health care authority.
  • Deliverable: A report detailing findings and recommendations, submitted to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee and the Legislative Finance Committee.
  • Deadline: Report due by December 1, 2025.

Fiscal Impact

  • The fiscal note indicates no state appropriation is attached to SM 25.
  • Memorials generally do not create enforceable duties beyond the conduct of business by participating agencies and individuals; any costs would be related to time spent by task force members and staff.
  • No net fiscal impact is anticipated for FY25–FY27 in the analysis.

Affected Parties

  • Health care providers, patients who have experienced malpractice, and the medical malpractice insurance industry.
  • State agencies: OSI, Department of Health, Health Care Authority.
  • Legislative bodies: LHHSC and LFC receive the required report.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced: March 17, 2025.
  • Initial referrals: Senate Rules Committee and Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee (as of introduction).
  • Latest action: June 3, 2025 — action postponed indefinitely.
  • Because it is a memorial, SM 25 does not become law but seeks to inform legislative consideration and potential future policy discussions.

Potential Impact and Considerations

  • Could shape future policy discussions on medical malpractice reform, insurance affordability, and provider recruitment/retention.
  • By aggregating diverse perspectives (patients, providers, insurers, and agency leadership), the task force aims to produce balanced recommendations.
  • The lack of an immediate appropriation means any follow-up actions would require separate legislative approval.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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