STATE ETHICS COMMISSION NEWS RELEASE
New Mexico State Ethics Commission has filed a civil enforcement action against New Mexico Safety Over Profit (“NMSOP”) for violations of the Lobbyist Regulation Act (“LRA”).
NMSOP, a domestic nonprofit organization, spent at least $56,000 in 2024 on advertising aimed at influencing legislation regarding medical malpractice reform, but refused to register its advertising campaign or disclose its sources of funding as required by New Mexico law. The LRA mandates that organizations conducting an advertising campaign for the purpose of lobbying register with the Secretary of State and disclose campaign related expenditures and contributions.
Despite the Commission’s request for compliance with the disclosure requirements imposed by Section 2-11-6(I) of the LRA, NMSOP has refused to report any financial information related to its 2024 advertising campaign, which included full-page newspaper ads and a months-long series of targeted digital advertisements on Facebook and Instagram. The Commission’s complaint seeks injunctive relief requiring NMSOP to register its 2024 lobbying campaign and disclose both contributions and expenditures. The Commission also seeks civil penalties for NMSOP’s failure to comply with Sections 2-11-6(I) of the LRA.
“New Mexicans have a right to know who is funding lobbying campaigns so that both New Mexicans and their elected representatives can better evaluate the messages of those lobbying campaigns. This right is particularly important when the lobbying campaign concerns how New Mexico should understand and address its shortage of healthcare professionals,” Jeremy Farris said, Executive Director of the State Ethics Commission. “NMSOP has publicly stated that transparency and accountability are core to its mission, yet it refuses to comply with basic disclosure obligations required by the Lobbyist Regulation Act. This lawsuit is about ensuring that all organizations advocating for legislative change follow the same legal standard.”
NMSOP has publicly said that, as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, it is not obligated to disclose its donors or lobbying expenditures. However, the Commission emphasizes that an organization’s federal tax status has no bearing on its disclosure requirements under New Mexico’s Lobbyist Regulation Act or Campaign Reporting Act.
Click here to read the State Ethics Commission’s complaint. About the State Ethics Commission The State Ethics Commission is an independent, constitutional state agency with the authority to enforce civil violations of New Mexico’s governmental ethics and disclosure statutes, including the Lobbyist Regulation Act.
The Commission is comprised of three Democratic Commissioners, three Republican Commissioners, and one independent Commissioner who is registered as “decline to state.” For more information about the State Ethics Commission, please visit sec.nm.gov.