NM HJR8

Proposes amending Article 8 of the New Mexico Constitution to require municipalities or counties to refund property taxes to owners whose property is damaged due to the local government's failure to enforce public nuisance laws

Refund amount is limited to costs reasonably incurred by the property owner to mitigate effects of the enforcement failure, capped at the property taxes paid to that municipality or county in the prior tax year

Property owners bear the burden of proving actual and bona fide ownership of the property and documenting mitigation costs when claiming a refund

Constitutional amendment would be submitted to voters for approval or rejection at the next general election or a special election called for that purpose

Introduced by Representative Rod Montoya during the 57th Legislature, Second Session, 2026