New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII,
Issue 11 / June 9, 2026
NOTICE
OF PUBLIC RULE HEARING AND BOARD MEETING
The New Mexico Athletic
Commission and Regulation and Licensing Department will hold a rule hearing on Monday,
July 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Immediately following the rule hearing, the Board
will convene a regular board meeting to consider adoption of rules and take
care of regular business. The hearing and board meeting will be held at the
Regulation and Licensing Department, located at 5500 San Antonio Dr.,
Albuquerque, NM in the Sandia Conference Room.
The hearing and
subsequent New Mexico Athletic Commission meeting may also be accessed
virtually via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting Link: TEAMS MEETING LINK
Meeting ID: 242
053 573 991 534
Passcode: cy2dV2YQ
Dial in by phone
1 505-312-4308,
United States, Albuquerque
Phone conference
ID: 543 073 736#
The purpose of the
hearing rule is to consider the initiation of the rule making for the following
rules:
Rule 15.6.1 NMAC
General Provisions
Rule 15.6.2 NMAC
Contracts
Rule 15.6.4 NMAC
Duties and Conduct of Licenses
Rule 15.6.6 NMAC
The Officials
Rule 15.6.9 NMAC
Scoring System
Rule 15.6.14 NMAC
Fee Schedule
Rule 15.6.17 NMAC
Licensure Provisions
Rule 15.6.19 NMAC
Conduct of Bare-Knuckle Contests
Rule 15.6.20 NMAC
Mixed Martial Arts Contests and Exhibitions
Rule 15.6.21 NMAC
Bare Knuckle Modified
On Tuesday, June 9,
2026, copies of the proposed rules may be obtained through the New Mexico Athletic
Commission website at: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/athletic-commission/statutes-rules-and-rule-hearings/
or by contacting the Board Administrator for the Board at (505) 476-4622.
The New Mexico Athletic
Commission and Regulation and Licensing Department will begin accepting written
public comment regarding the proposed rule changes beginning Tuesday, June 9, 2026,
8:00 a.m. and ending Sunday, July 19, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Written comments may be
submitted either by email to athletic.commission@rld.nm.gov or by postal mail
to the following address:
New Mexico
Regulation and Licensing Department
Attn: New Mexico Athletic
Commission
P.O Box 25101
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Written comments
received during the public comment period (June 9, 2026- July 19, 2026) will be
posted to the website page linked above. Public comment 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 Athletic Commission will not
engage in substantive discussion of public comments during the rule hearing but
will consider all public comments during the regular board meeting immediately
following the conclusion of the rule hearing.
The agenda for the
New Mexico Athletic Commission regular meeting which will begin immediately
after the public rule hearing, will be posted and available at least 72 hours
before the meeting on the Board website: https://www.rld.nm.gov/boards-and-commissions/individual-boards-and-commissions/athletic-commission/board-information/.
Copies of the agenda may also be obtained
by contacting Jessica Romero, Executive Secretary.
For inclement
weather: If the New Mexico state offices are placed on a two-hour delay due to
inclement weather, the rule hearing will be pushed two hours from the notice
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
disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier,
qualified sign language interpreter, or other form of auxiliary aid or services
to attend or participate in the hearing, please contact Jessica Romero,
Executive Secretary at (505) 476-4622 at least 7 days prior to the rule hearing
and regular board meeting. Public documents, including the purposed rules,
meeting agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats.
Statutory
Authority:
The rule changes
are authorized by the Athletic Commission Practice Act, NMSA 1978, Section 60-2A-1
through 60-2A-36, specifically authorizes the Board to adopt and file in
accordance with 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, in accordance
with the provision of the Uniform Licensing Act, NMSA 1978, Section 61-1-1
through 61-1-37.
Purpose of the
Proposed Rules:
The proposed
amendments update multiple parts of the rules to improve clarity, align with
statutory guidelines, revise definitions, and update requirements across
licensing, contracts, officials duties and fees, scoring, and contest
regulations, including increases to certain fees and payments, while repealing
bare-knuckle parts.
Summary of
Proposed Changes:
Rule 15.6.1 NMAC
General Provisions The proposed amendments to the General Provisions section
provide definitions and update the section to ensure consistency with
applicable statutory guidelines.
Rule 15.6.2 NMAC
Contracts Proposed changes clarify certain rules and increase the amount paid
per round to unarmed combatants.
Rule 15.6.4 NMAC
Duties and Conduct of Licenses Proposed changes clarify the rules and update
the requirements for promoter applications, event permit applications, and
eligibility for a federal identification card.
Rule 15.6.6 NMAC
The Officials Proposed changes updating officials roles and fees schedule
Rule 15.6.9 NMAC
Scoring System Proposed changes update definitions to clarify the rules.
Rule 15.6.14 NMAC
Fee Schedule Proposed changes are increasing licensing and officials fee
schedule.
Rule 15.6.17 NMAC
Licensure Provisions Updates to requirements for officials
Rule 15.6.19 NMAC
Conduct of Bare-Knuckle Contests - Repeal
Rule 15.6.20 NMAC
Mixed Martial Arts Contests and Exhibitions Proposed changes to updates to
clarify rules.
Rule 15.6.21 NMAC
Bare Knuckle Modified Repeal