New Mexico | Stop Baby Boxes Now!

Overview of New Mexico law, statistics, legislation, and news stories related to Safe Haven Baby Boxes in the state.

Law

None
Governor has allocated $330,000 for boxes with no law.
Espanola and Hobbs installed a SHBB without authorizing state law; other locations scheduled) (New Mexico is not a Home Rule state)

New Mexico Statistics

Baby Boxes: 10
Cases: 3

Legislation

See appropriate Legislative Year page for details on each bill.) 2025 is here; links to other years on that page.

2025

SB360 – Amends the New Mexico Safe Haven law to authorize installation of baby abandonment boxes located at fire stations, hospitals and clinics. Cleans up language of current law. March 12, 2025: Withdrawn by sponsor.

SB499 -Amends New Mexico safe haven law to authorize use of baby abandonment boxes; secures right to not answer any questions at drop-off-location; codifies “surrender procedures at locations; prohibits Youth U& Family Services, unless there is suspected infant abuse or neglect, from following due diligence in locating parent(s) or family members. March 12, 2025: Tabled indefinitely. March 22, 2025: Sine Die.

2023

SB311 – Authorizes installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, with very specific requirements for installation, operation, monitoring, safety procedures, etc. Includes protections under the Indian Family Protection Act. Allows for first responders to pick up infants at an agreed-upon location that is not a SH site. Eliminates 90-day age limit for SH cases and replaces “age” “with “infant.” Sine Die

HB327 – Companion bill: Sine Die

2022

SB168 – Authorizes installation of Safe Haven Baby Boxes at Baby Safe Haven locations through the state; $330,000 appropriation from the General Fund to the local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration for expenditure in fiscal years 2022 through 2025 to install “surrender safety devices” at state-owned safe haven sites; ( The Associated Press reported an appropriation of $1 million.) $70,000 allocated for BSH education in schools.
HB 157 – House companion bill. Sine Die

2021

HB 18 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agencies. Location must be staffed at time of surrender. Specifically states that the law is not intended to abridge rights and obligations under ICWA. Sine Die

2020

HB190 – Amends state’s Safe Haven Law to authorize use of newborn safety devices at hospitals, fire stations, and law enforcement agencies. Location must be staffed at time of surrender. Specifically states that the law is not intended to abridge rights and obligations under ICWA. Sine Die.

Hearings/Testimony/Letters

2025

VIDEO: Hearing on SB350 and SB 499, Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, March 12 2025 (4:24)

2023

Hearing on SB311, Senate Judiciary Committee, February 20, 2023. Video (no longer available)
Bastard Nation/SSHBBN Comments on SB311, February 20, 2023 (“Comments are limited to 300 words)

Monica Kelsey, founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Inc commenting on raising awareness about Safe Have Baby Boxes in middle and high school curriculums in New Mexico:

When they’re in college somewhere else, they’re going to remember they can take a newborn to a fire station, or a hospital, based on the training they received in high school.

Seriously? Is this a natural progression?