New Mexico Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee Needs to Stop Piecemeal Approach to Advancing Interstate Health Compacts out of Committee

Chairwoman Linda Lopez only schedules House Bills 10 and 11 for a Committee Vote on Friday while Other Popular Compacts Remain in Limbo in the Final Days of the 30-Day Short Session

SANTA FE, N. MEX – The New Mexico Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee is considering House Bills 10 and 11 on its hearing agenda for Friday February 13, 2026.  Absent from the agenda are the popular Counseling, Psychology, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Licensing compacts.  Americans for Autism Advocacy (AFAA) would like to outline the reasons why there is no excuse for Senator Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo) to not advance these compacts sooner than later:

Physical Therapy Compact HB 12  –  House of Representatives Approved Bill 67-0 on January 28, 2026 

• Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Texas are already member states of the Physical Therapy Compact Commission.

Source: PT Compact, States Map 

• A November 24, 2024 op-ed published in The Rio Rancho Observer cited Think New Mexico urging the legislature to join all health licensing related interstate compacts.

Source: RIo Rancho Observer, November 14, 2024 

Occupational Licensing Compact HB 13 – House of Representatives Approved Bill 68-0 on 1/28/2026

• New Mexico has a severe shortfall of licensed occupational therapists that help individuals with moderate to severe (profound) Autism.
  • This is 14 percent below the national average.
• Passing HB 13 would bring New Mexico to join Arizona, Colorado. And Utah that are already member states of the Occupational Licensing compact.

Sources: Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, Think New Mexico, How to Solve New Mexico’s Health Care Worker Shortage, 2024

Counseling Compact HB 32-  House of Representatives Approved Bill 63-0 on 2/5/2026

• New Mexico has a 1:440 student to school counselor ratio for 2024 worse than Colorado and Texas. When compared to their neighboring states:
  • Arizona 1:645
  • Colorado 1:253
  • Texas 1:392
  • Utah 1:487

Arizona, Colorado, and Utah are member states of the Counseling Compact. Texas failed to enact the compact during their 140 day legislative session in 2025.

Source: American School Counselor Association, 2023-2024 State Ratios 

PSYPACT HB 33– House of Representatives Approved Bill 64-0 on 2/5/2026

• New Mexico currently has a shortfall in licensed psychiatrists.  The documented shortfall in psychiatrists as previously reported by KOAT TV 7 is below the national average. Not passing the PSYPACT would mean access delayed, means care denied and more lives are at risk.

Source: KOAT TV 7, September 24, 2024 

• Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Utah are already member states of PSYPACT.

With close to one week remaining in the 30-day Legislative session, Chairwoman Lopez should do the right thing and immediately schedule a committee hearing on the remainder of the outstanding interstate compacts.  There is no excuse that these compacts cannot be swiftly approved.