State members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) in New Mexico have expressed strong support for increased transparency in legal advertising, health insurance mandates, and state agency rulemaking, according to NFIB’s annual survey released ahead of the 2026 legislative session.
The survey revealed that more than 88 percent of NFIB members back a requirement for attorney or law firm advertisements mentioning settlements to also disclose the amount paid in attorney fees.
“Our members want to see greater transparency, not just from legal advertisers, but state officials as well,” said NFIB State Director Jason Espinoza. “Flashy settlement figures have a way of distorting reality, especially in a legal environment like New Mexico’s. Ensuring consumers have a clear, honest picture of what legal outcomes actually look like would go a long way in level-setting expectations.”
Espinoza added that members are also seeking greater openness in how laws and rules are made. “When crafting health insurance mandates, our members want lawmakers to be informed by real cost data and coverage impacts, not guesswork. Giving the Legislature the tools it needs to make smarter decisions that protect small business health insurance premiums is a commonsense solution,” he said.
He continued: “Finally, small businesses have to contend with a vast regulatory state here in New Mexico. They participate in hearings and submit feedback on rules, only to see little to no acknowledgment of their concerns. Requiring a written response from state agencies will provide accountability for how these officials consider stakeholder input and ensure small business owners are no longer ignored. NFIB will continue working with lawmakers to address these issues and elevate the voice of small business owners in the Roundhouse.”
According to the survey findings:
- Ninety-two percent favor requiring state agencies to respond in writing to significant public comments on proposed rules before adoption.
- Eighty percent believe that New Mexico should calculate potential costs and premium impacts before mandating private insurers cover new health insurance requirements.
During the previous legislative session in 2025, NFIB supported several bills addressing these issues:
- HB 262 aimed at increasing transparency by requiring attorneys who advertise settlements or judgments to also disclose related attorney fees.
- HB 425 would have required agencies to provide written responses to every public comment received during rulemaking and publish those responses.
- HB 279 proposed an optional process for lawmakers seeking independent actuarial reviews on proposed health insurance mandates.
