New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 20 / October 20, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND PHYSICAL THERAPY BOARD MEETING

The New Mexico Physical Therapy Board and the Regulation and Licensing Department will hold a rule hearing on Monday, December 7, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., immediately followed by a meeting of the Physical Therapy board for adoption of the proposed rules listed below. The hearing and subsequent board meeting will take place at the Regulation and Licensing Department, located at 5500 San Antonio Dr. SE., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109.

The hearing and subsequent Physical Therapy board meeting may also be accessed virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Meeting Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/266777351912874?p=QwocsEdAQuJe5Iog3s

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

Meeting ID: 266 777 351 912 874

Passcode: ps9WA9Ax

Dial in by phone

1 505-312-4308, passcode: 624486229# United States, Albuquerque

(888) 506-1357, passcode: 624486229# United States (Toll-free)

Phone conference ID: 624 486 229#

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

Rule 16.20.5 NMAC – SCHEDULE OF FEES

On Friday, November 4, 2026, copies of the proposed rules may be obtained through the New Mexico Physical Therapy Board website at https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/physical-therapy/board-information/physical-therapy-board-meetings/

or by contacting the Board Administrator, Alejandro Ortiz at (505) 476-4622

The New Mexico Physical Therapy Board and the Regulation and Licensing Department will begin accepting written public comment regarding the proposed rule changes beginning Friday, November 3, 8:00 a.m. and ending Friday December 4, 2026, 11:30 a.m. Written public comment may be submitted either by email to the Physical Therapy Board email:

or by postal mail to the following address: physical.therapy@rld.nm.gov

Attn: New Mexico Physical Therapy Board

P.O. Box 25101

Santa Fe, NM 87504

Written comments received during the public comment period (November 3, 2026, and December 4, 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 Physical Therapy 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 Physical Therapy 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 Alejandro Ortiz at physical.therapy@rld.nm.gov.

If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign 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 at (505) 476-4622 at least 7 days prior to the rules 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 Physical Therapy Act (Act), Section 61-12D-1 through 61-12D-19 NMSA 1978, which provides explicit authority for the Physical Therapy 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 1.24.25.1 through 1.24.25.16 NMAC.

Purpose of Proposed Rules: The proposed rule changes aim to implement changes to the fees to align with the Board’s intent. More generally, the proposed rules are intended to provide greater clarity in existing regulatory and statutory requirements, ensure continued high levels of professionalism among licensees, and to generally satisfy the Physical Therapy Board’s statutory obligation to promote, preserve and protect the public health, safety and welfare.

Summary of Proposed Changes: 16.20.5 NMAC -Schedule of Fees. License fees will revert back to the amount required prior to the latest rule change:

Application for full licensure

Physical Therapist from $160 to $250

Physical Therapist Assistant from $120 to $200

Biennial renewal

Physical Therapist from $85 to $160

Physical Therapist Assistant from $60 to $120.