Compliance Stuff

Employers will be required to report, by July 1, 2025, the number of children in New Mexico covered by their employer-sponsored group health plans. The reporting requirement comes from regulations under the state’s Vaccine Purchasing Act , one of a handful of state laws that put surcharges on health insurers, group health plans, third-party administrators, or some combination, to fund states’ purchases of vaccinations for children in the relevant state. Quick Hits New Mexico’s Vaccine Purchasing Act requires employers that sponsor plans and health insurers to report the total number of children covered during the past year. The purpose of the reporting is to help the state determine the quantity of vaccines to purchase. The deadline to report the information is July 1, 2025. Employers and health insurers must report to the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance the total number of children in New Mexico who were enrolled in the plan during any part of the previous year a...

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  New Mexico Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date New Mexico HB 586 Healthcare Provides whistleblower protections for healthcare employees. 7/1/2025 This article provides a general snapshot of generally applicable labor and employment laws taking effect soon. Please note that while some of the laws listed below are industry-specific, this article is not meant to be all-inclusive. In addition, many state legislatures are still active, so new laws are taking effect on a near-daily basis. Littler monitors federal, state and local legislation, executive orders, and administrative regulations and other agency activity that impact the labor and employment landscape. Employers that want to keep abreast of new laws in the jurisdi...

 Rates Up, Dude – Surfing the Wave of U.S. Minimum Wage, Tipped, and Exempt Employee Pay Increases that Will Occur on July 1, 2024 While some across the United States are working on their tans, many employers are working on managing their labor budgets so they don’t get burned by increases in minimum pay standards for non-exempt, tipped, and certain overtime-exempt employees that will take effect on July 1, 2024. Before lathering up for summer rates, however, we briefly highlight some notable rate-related developments that occurred in the preceding seasons. Of course, employers should watch out for sneaker waves – pending or future legislation – that could wipe out (change) other rates in 2024, and consider checking in with the lifeguard on duty (knowledgeable employment counsel) before diving headfirst into the compensation waters to confirm your pay practices are, like the sun’s rays, golden. Selected Rate-Related Highlights Occurring After January 1, 2024 Federal Increased Minim...

 A federal court in Colorado refuses to join the US Department of Labor implementing EO 14026. The Tenth Circuit Court finds that the EO had a sufficient connection to promoting economy and efficiency in the federal government contracting, thus making it permissible under the Procurement Act .   The Tenth Circuit has jurisdiction over federal courts in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. Source(s): JacksonLewis , received on May 17, 2024; Office of Federal Procurement Policy , accessed on May 17, 2024.

  The minimum wage rates for the City of Santa Fe and Santa Fe County, New Mexico will increase to $14.60 .   The city and county minimum wage rates adjust each year in accordance with the regional increase in inflation, which is calculated based off the percentage increase in the consumer price index (CPI-W) over the last 12 months.  The jurisdictions announce the upcoming minimum wage changes in the month prior, providing employers a short turnaround time to review and update employee wages.   Considering the quick turnaround time, employers should review the following key highlights of the local ordinances and upcoming minimum wage changes.   Source:  GovDocs , received on March 4, 2024.