COVID-19: New Mexico

Restrictions on Private Business Operations

• The New Mexico Department of Health has issued several orders with increasing restrictions affecting business operations. The Orders affect various businesses differently. The latest Order, dated April 6, 2020 instructs non-essential businesses to suspend operations and generally instructing New Mexicans to stay home, is dated March 24, 2020.

• Source: link.

Health Care Provisions

• Governor Grisham has:

• Directed the Department of Health and the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to “credential out-of-state professionals who can render aid and necessary services during the pendency of the Executive Order declaring public emergency; and

• Directed the Superintendent of Insurance to “promulgate emergency regulations maximizing the available insurance coverage for New Mexicans suffering from COVID-19, pneumonia, or influenza, while simultaneously ensuring that medical cost do not create barriers to testing and treatment,” followed up by an emergency rule prohibiting insurers from requiring cost sharing for treatment and testing for COVID-19, pneumonia, influenza, “or any disease or condition which is the case of, or the subject of, a public health emergency.”

• The Department of Health also issued an Order limiting visitation to nursing homes and facilities providing assisted living, adult day care, hospice, and rehabilitation for older patients.

• The Department of Health has issued an order temporarily limiting non-essential health care services, procedures, and surgeries and requiring reporting from certain health care providers.

Support for Impacted Businesses

• The State is looking at ways to blunt the economic impact to businesses. The Economic Development Department has announced a loan guarantee program for businesses.

• The State has issued a series of public health orders, including an Order dated March 19 2020, specifically providing that “typical business environments that are not engaged in the provision of an essential service should limit operations to the greatest extent possible and minimize employee contact.”

Support for Impacted Workers

• The State has expanded unemployment benefits eligibility for workers impacted by COVID-19.

Travel Restrictions and Advisories

• The State has issued travel restrictions requiring incoming travelers by plane to self-isolate for 14 days or be forced to isolate/quarantine by the NM Department of Health.

Current Status of Legislature

• The 2020 Legislative Session ended on February 20, 2020. It appears that a special session will be called to address the state budget in light of falling oil prices and the challenges presented by COVID-19, but the timing of such a session and the procedures under which it will operate remain unclear.

State and Local Tax

• State tax deadline is extended to July 15 2020.

Tenant Landlord Issues

• The New Mexico Supreme Court has issued two orders suspending certain residential evictions of residents unable to pay monthly rent, including removal of mobile homes from mobile home parks and foreclosures on mobile homes.