New Mexico 2025 2025 Regular Session

New Mexico House Bill HB242 Introduced / Fiscal Note

Filed 02/13/2025

                    Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance 
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they 
are used for other purposes. 
 
F I S C A L    I M P A C T    R E P O R T 
 
 
SPONSOR Matthews 
LAST UPDATED 2/13
/2025 
ORIGINAL DATE 02/11/2025 
 
SHORT TITLE Psychology Interjurisdictional Act 
BILL 
NUMBER House Bill 242 
  
ANALYST Montano 
  
REVENUE* 
(dollars in thousands) 
Type FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29 
Recurring or 
Nonrecurring 
Fund 
Affected 
Fee 
No fiscal 
impact 
*See fiscal 
implications 
*See fiscal 
implications 
*See fiscal 
implications 
*See fiscal 
implications 
Recurring 
Board of 
Psychologist 
Examiners 
Fund 
Parentheses ( ) indicate revenue decreases. 
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation. 
  
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT* 
(dollars in thousands) 
Agency/Program 
FY25 FY26 FY27 
3 Year 
Total Cost 
Recurring or 
Nonrecurring 
Fund 
Affected 
RLD 
No fiscal 
impact 
$40.0 
No fiscal 
impact 
$40.0 Nonrecurring 
Board of 
Psychologist 
Examiners 
Fund 
RLD 
No fiscal 
impact 
At least $8.0 At least $8.0 $16.0 Recurring 
Board of 
Psychologist 
Examiners 
Fund 
Total 
No fiscal 
impact 
At least $48.0 At least $8.0 At least $56.0 
Board of 
Psychologist 
Examiners 
Fund 
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases. 
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation. 
 
Duplicates Senate Bill 106 
 
Sources of Information
 
 
LFC Files 
 
Agency Analysis Received From 
Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) 
Department of Health (DOH) 
 
 
 
  House Bill 242 – Page 2 
 
SUMMARY 
 
Synopsis of House Bill 242   
 
House Bill 242 (HB242) enacts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT), which 
is already in place in multiple states across the U.S. The compact standardizes the process for 
licensed psychologists to provide telepsychology services and temporary in-person psychological 
care across member states without requiring separate licenses in each jurisdiction. 
 
By passing HB242, New Mexico would become a member of PSYPACT, aligning its regulations 
with those of other participating states. This would allow New Mexico-licensed psychologists to 
practice in other PSYPACT states and enables out-of-state PSYPACT-licensed psychologists to 
provide services in New Mexico under the compact’s rules. 
 
Under the compact, psychologists must hold a valid New Mexico license and obtain additional 
EPassport and Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate credentials to participate. The bill also 
creates a coordinated licensure information system, enabling states to share disciplinary and 
licensing data on participating psychologists. Additionally, an oversight commission is 
established to monitor compliance, investigate complaints, and enforce compact rules. 
 
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the 
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025. 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS  
 
The Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD) states HB242 will require RLD to update the 
NM plus licensing system at a cost $40 thousand and incur $8,000 in recurring travel costs.  
 
RLD notes: 
With respect to Article 7 of the bill, “Adverse Actions,” the issuing state would incur 
expenses related to taking adverse action against a psychologist’s privilege to practice 
within a member state. The issuing state is responsible for paying any witness fees, travel 
expenses, mileage and other fees required by the service statutes of the state in which the 
witnesses or evidence are located. Potential expenses that may be incurred by the RLD on 
behalf of the Board of Psychological Examiners under this provision cannot be 
reasonably estimated at this time. 
 
RLD does not attempt to project the loss in revenue associated with HB242. The purpose of the 
bill is to allow licensed psychologists outside of New Mexico to practice within New Mexico 
while not needing to apply for a New Mexico state license. This will lead to a decrease in 
potential revenue, as RLD will no longer collect license fee revenue from out-of-state 
psychologists. Vermont predicted that joining PSYPACT would result in the state’s regulation 
department losing $17.8 thousand in licensing fees and application fees. LFC staff have 
requested this data from RLD to calculate an estimate for New Mexico.  
 
 
 
  House Bill 242 – Page 3 
 
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES 
 
RLD notes: 
RLD consulted Board of Psychological Examiners members about whether it is believed 
the Board would support the passage of HB242. At this time, it appears the Board has not 
reached a consensus on joining the compact. There is significant concern among some 
board members about the ability to discipline psychologists who cause harm to New 
Mexico clients. There is also a concern that enforcement may be inconsistent across state 
lines leading to public harm. 
 
RLD also notes: 
Individual licensed psychologists can apply for one or more of the certificates required to 
participate in the compact: the EPassport to practice telepsychology and the 
Interjurisdictional Practice Certificate for the temporary in‐person, face‐to‐face practice 
of psychology. The costs to obtain these certificates are passed down to licensees. The 
costs for the E. Passport are $40.00 one-time APIT application fee, $400.00 Application 
Fee and $100.00 Annual Renewal Fee. The costs for the IPC are $40.00 one-time TAP 
fee, $200.00 Application Fee and $50.00 Annual renewal fee. 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS  
 
HB242 would require the New Mexico State Board of Psychologist Examiners to adopt rules to 
better align with compact regulations. It would also require administrative staff to develop and to 
document procedures for reporting disciplinary action and submitting licensing information to 
the coordinated database managed by the PSYPACT commission.  
 
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP 
 
HB242 duplicates Senate Bill 106. 
 
OTHER SUBSTANT IVE ISSUES 
 
Forty-two other states have joined the compact, which increases the number of licensed 
psychologists New Mexicans will have access to.  
 
 
NM/SL2/rl