New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 22 / November 18, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND BOARD MEETING

The New Mexico Landscape Architects Board and the Regulation and Licensing Department will hold a rule hearing on Wednesday, January 14^th, 2026, at 9:00am, immediately followed by a meeting of the Landscape Architects Board for adoption of the proposed rules listed below. The hearing and subsequent board meeting will be held at the Regulation and Licensing Department, located at 5500 San Antonio Dr. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109 in the Sandia Conference Room.

The hearing and subsequent Landscape Architects Board meeting will also be held via Microsoft Teams for those desiring to attend virtually.

Microsoft Teams Meeting Link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting

Meeting ID: 240 938 729 693 5

Meeting (Access) Code: XD2km7Ji

Join by phone: +1 505-312-4308,,248752942#

Access Code: 248 752 942#

The purpose of the rule hearing is to consider the initiation of rulemaking for the following rules:

16.44.8 NMAC, FEES

16.44.9 NMAC, COMPLAINTS

On Saturday, December 13, 2025, copies of the proposed rules may be obtained through the New Mexico Landscape Architects Board website at https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/landscape-architects/board-information/ or by contacting the Board Administrator, Naomi Baldonado at (505) 476-4622 or by email to landscape.architectsbd@rld.nm.gov.

The New Mexico New Mexico Landscape Architects Board and the Regulation and Licensing Department will begin accepting written public comment regarding the proposed rule changes beginning Saturday December 13, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., and ending Monday January 12, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Written public comment may be submitted either by email to landscape.architectsbd@rld.nm.gov, or by postal mail to the following address:

New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department

Attn: New Mexico New Mexico Landscape Architects Board

P.O. Box 25101

Santa Fe, NM 87504

Written comments received during the public comment period (December 13, 2025, and January 12, 2026) will be posted to the website page linked above. Public comments will also be accepted during the rule hearing and may be submitted in writing or presented orally by those attending in-person. The members of the New Mexico Landscape Architects Board will not enter substantive discussion of public comments during the rule hearing but will consider and deliberate any public comment during the regular board meeting immediately following the conclusion of the public rule hearing.

The agenda for the New Mexico New Mexico Landscape Architects Board regular meeting, which will begin immediately after the public rule hearing, will be available no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, and available on the website linked above or by contacting the Board Administrator, Naomi Baldonado at (505) 476-4622.

If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified signed language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or the regular board meeting, please contact the Board Administrator, Naomi Baldonado at (505) 476-4622 at least 7 days prior to the rule hearing and regular board meeting. Public documents, including the proposed rules, meeting agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats.

For inclement weather: If the New Mexico state offices are placed on a two-hour delay to inclement weather, the rule hearing will be pushed back two hours from the noticed hearing time. If New Mexico state offices are closed due to inclement weather, the rule hearing will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Statutory Authority: The rule changes are authorized by the Landscape Architects Board Act, Section 61-24B-1-A-through 61-24B-17 NMSA 1978, which provides explicit authority for the New Mexico Landscape Architects Board to protect public health and safety and adopt rules for the administration of the Act. The rulemaking and public rule hearing is governed by the State Rules Act, Sections 14-4-1 through 14-4-11 NMSA 1978, and the Default Procedural Rule for Rulemaking promulgated by the New Mexico Department of Justice, Parts 1.24.25 through 1.24.25.16 NMAC.

Purpose of the Proposed Rules: The proposed rule changes aim to update and modernize the licensure process by requiring online applications and removing outdated references to paper applications. Provide additional language for failure to respond to Board requests. Change to add a $10.00 administrative electronic license processing fee per year as well as an administrative returned check fee of $35.00. More generally, the proposed rules are intended to provide greater clarity in existing regulatory and statutory requirements, ensure high levels of professionalism among licenses, and to generally satisfy the board’s statutory obligation to promote, preserve, and protect the public health, safety and welfare.

Summary of Proposed Changes: The Board summarizes its proposed changes to its administrative rules as follows:16.44.8 NMAC - Fees. Wording changed from paper to online applications. Administrative Fee added for returned check and electronic license processing fee. 16.44.9 NMAC - Complaints - Wording added for failure to respond to Board requests and audits.