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 Campos
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/12/2025
SHORT TITLE Landscape Architect Licensure
BILL
NUMBER Senate Bill 61
ANALYST Montano
REVENUE*
(dollars in thousands)
Type FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
Fee
No fiscal
impact
Indeterminat
e but
minimal
gain
Indeterminat
e but
minimal
gain
Indeterminat
e but
minimal
gain
Indeterminat
e but
minimal
gain
Recurring
Board of
Landscape
Architects
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
Landscape
Architects
Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Bill 61
Senate Bill 61 (SB61) amends the Landscape Architects Act by modifying the experience
requirements for landscape architect licensure in New Mexico. The bill lowers the required
minimum years of experience for applicants without a degree from ten years to eight years. It
also revises the experience requirements for applicants with related degrees, increasing the
required practical experience for those who graduate from a related field from five years to six
years.
Additionally, SB61 grants the Board of Landscape Architects authority to increase the required
years of experience for all applicants—whether they hold a degree or not—through rulemaking. Senate Bill 61 – Page 2
This provision allows the board to align New Mexico’s licensure requirements with national
model legislation or accreditation standards as they evolve over time.
The bill maintains existing provisions that allow applicants to substitute formal education for
portions of the required experience. For example, each year of study in an accredited landscape
architecture program may replace one year of required practical experience, and a bachelor’s
degree from any field may be accepted in lieu of two years of experience. These changes aim to
modernize New Mexico’s licensure requirements while still ensuring that landscape architects
meet professional competency standards.
The effective date of the legislation is June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The Regulation and Licensing Department (RLD)asserts the department will need to update their
NM plus licensing system with the implementation of SB61. To accurately update the system,
RLD will be required to contract a professional. The fee to contract the professionals and
implement the required updates to the licensing system should roughly $40 thousand in non-
recurring costs.
RLD is expecting that eliminating the one year of practical experience requirements should
increase revenue by allowing more people to be able to be licensed under the Board of
Landscape Architects. However, board has generated an average of only $38 thousand in license
fees per year over the last four years. Any revenue increase associated with SB61 is therefore
likely to be minimal.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
RLD provides commentary on behalf of the Board of Landscape Architects:
The board has indicated strong support for the bill, which is an effort to align licensure
standards for landscape architects nationwide. This effort to create a more uniform
standard is supported by the Council of Landscape Architecture Registration Boards, the
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and other allied professional
councils. This bill reduces barriers to licensure while still protecting the health, safety and
welfare of the public. It should also ease the administrative process for the Board and
RLD staff. These goals are accomplished by reducing the minimum years of experience
required for licensure without a degree from ten (10) years to eight (8) years and
clarifying language for licensing landscape architects. The bill provides multiple clear
pathways to licensure making the licensing process easier administratively for the board
and providing clarity for applicants seeking licensure in New Mexico. Aligning with
national standards will allow licensees relocating to New Mexico to more quickly and
efficiently begin working in the state.
ADMINISTRATIVE IMPLICATIONS
SB61 would make the Board conduct an administrative rulemaking process to adopt specific
rules that are in accordance with the requirements and bylaws of the bill. The agency would also
be expected to update the NM plus licensing system to account for these changes. Senate Bill 61 – Page 3
NM/hj/SL2