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HM 40

STUDY OFFICE OF PEACE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Andrea Romero

HM 40 – Study Office of Peace (House Memorial 40)A concise, non-binding memorial requesting a formal study of creating a state Office of Peace, with a small, university-led work gr

action postponed indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HM 40

HM 40 – Study Office of Peace (House Memorial 40)

A concise, non-binding memorial requesting a formal study of creating a state Office of Peace, with a small, university-led work group and Legislative Council Service support.

Purpose and intent

  • To determine the feasibility and merits of establishing a state Office of Peace.
  • To provide findings and recommendations to the appropriate interim legislative committees.

Key provisions

  • Creates a study group of seven members drawn from representatives of the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Law.
  • The Legislative Council Service (LCS) would coordinate meetings and assist in preparing a final report detailing the group’s findings and recommendations.
  • The memorial does not contain an appropriation and does not itself create a new state office or authorize new spending or legal obligations.

What would be affected

  • State government structure: would assess whether New Mexico should have a state-level Office of Peace.
  • UNM School of Law: would provide representatives to the study group.
  • Legislative Council Service (LCS): would incur minimal administrative costs to support meetings and reporting.
  • Other state entities are not required to implement recommendations without further legislative action.

Fiscal and administrative implications

  • Fiscal Note: No new appropriation; costs are indeterminate but expected to be minimal. LCS operations would incur minor, within-scope administrative costs to coordinate meetings and prepare the final report. UNM Law may incur minimal costs related to participating in the study.
  • Administrative impact is described as minimal for LCS and possibly UNM.

Timeline and status

  • Introduced: February 21, 2025.
  • Committee action: House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee recommended DO PASS (March 7, 2025).
  • Legislative actions: DO PASS committee report adopted (March 7, 2025); action subsequently reported as postponed indefinitely (June 3, 2025).
  • Effective date if enacted: Memorials do not carry law; if enacted, it would take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourns (target around June 20, 2025).

Significance and considerations

  • There is no existing state office of peace in the U.S.; several national and NGO bodies operate in related spaces, but a formal state office does not currently exist.
  • The bill would enable a fact-finding process to assess feasibility, benefits, costs, constitutional or governance considerations, and implementation challenges before any future legislative action.
  • As a memorial, HM 40’s outcome is limited to guidance and study results, not immediate creation or funding of a new agency.

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

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