New
Mexico Register / Volume XXXVI, Issue 19 / October 7, 2025
NOTICE OF
PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND NEW MEXICO PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY BOARD MEETING
The
New Mexico Public Accountancy Board and the Regulation and Licensing Department
will hold a rule hearing on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.,
immediately followed by a meeting of the New Mexico Public Accountancy 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
Drive N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109.
The
hearing and subsequent New Mexico Public Accountancy Board meeting will also be
held via Microsoft Teams for those desiring to attend virtually.
Virtual
link for meeting
Meeting
ID: 286 822 774 595 7
Passcode:
Fx9ke2nk
Dial
in by phone
+1
505-312-4308,,307846933# United States, Albuquerque
The
purpose of the rule hearing is to consider the initiation of rulemaking for the
following rules:
16.60.1
NMAC, General Provisions
16.60.2
NMAC, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination Requirements
16.60.3
NMAC, Licensure and Continuing Professional Education Requirements
16.60.4
NMAC, Firm Permit, Peer Review Requirements, and Business Name Prohibitions
16.60.5
NMAC, Code of Professional Conduct
The
agenda for the rule hearing and board meeting will be posted and available at
least 72 hours before the meeting on the New Mexico
Public Accountancy Board website at https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/accountancy/board-information/accountancy-board-meetings.
Copies of the agenda may also be obtained by contacting the Deputy Director, Amanda
Lewis at (505) 416-4622.
The New
Mexico Public Accountancy Board will begin accepting written public comment
regarding the proposed rule changes beginning on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. and ending Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 5:00
p.m. Written comments may be submitted by email to accountancy.board@rld.nm.gov
or by postal mail to the following address:
New
Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department
Attn: NM
Accountancy Board
5500 San
Antonio Drive SE
Albuquerque,
NM 87109
*Public
comment will also be accepted during the rule hearing and may be presented
orally, or in writing. Individuals who would like to participate and offer
public comment must appear in person. The members of the New Mexico Public
Accountancy Board will not engage in substantive discussion of public comments
during the rule hearing but will consider all public comments during the board
meeting following the conclusion of the rule hearing.
For inclement weather: If New Mexico state
offices are placed on a two-hour delay due 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.
An
individual with a disability who is in need of a
reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or other form of
auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing, please
contact Deputy Director Amanda Lewis at 505-476-4622 at least 7 days prior to
the rule hearing and regular board meeting.
Statutory
Authority:
The
rule changes are authorized by the Public Accountancy Act (ACT), Section 61-28B-1
through 61-28B-29 NMSA 1978, which provides explicit authority for the New
Mexico Public Accountancy Board (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 implement changes to reflect the modifications make
to the Act during the 2025 legislative session. The changes also are being made
to implement fees for returned checks and for an administrative electronic
application annual fee. 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 certificate holders.
Summary
of Proposed Changes:
The
Board summarizes its proposed changes to its administrative rules as follows:
16.60.1 NMAC –
General Provisions adding definitions, amending education requirements pursuant
to modifications of the Public Accountancy Act enacted during the 2025
legislative session. Fees are also being implemented for returned checks and
for the processing of electronic applications (annual fees) to be paid for the
ongoing technological expenses incurred while using Salesforce/NMPlus.
16.60.2 NMAC –
Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Examination Requirements, amending education
requirements pursuant to modifications of the Public Accountancy Act enacted
during the 2025 legislative session.
16.60.3 NMAC – Licensure and
Continuing Professional Education Requirements amending education requirements pursuant to
modifications of the Public Accountancy Act enacted during the 2025 legislative
session, cleaning up administrative processes, and clarifying hardship
exceptions.
16.60.4 NMAC –
Firm Permit, Peer Review Requirements, and Business Name Prohibitions amending administrative
processes, and adding “natural disasters” as a cause for an extension request.
16.60.5 NMAC –
Code of Professional Conduct amending education requirements pursuant to
modifications of the Public Accountancy Act enacted during the 2025 legislative
session and clarification of administrative processes.