HB 307

                                1  HOUSE BILL 307
                                2     57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
                                3  INTRODUCED BY
                                4  Rebecca Dow
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                                10  AN ACT
                                11   RELATING TO ADVERTISING FOR LEGAL SERVICES; REQUIRING AN
                                12   ADVERTISEMENT FOR LEGAL SERVICES THAT INCLUDES MONETARY AWARDS
                                13   TO A CLIENT FOR SETTLEMENT OR JUDGMENT OF A CIVIL ACTION TO
                                14   INCLUDE THE MONETARY AMOUNT CHARGED TO THE CLIENT FOR THE CIVIL
                                15   ACTION; PROVIDING FOR ENFORCEMENT; PROVIDING A PENALTY.
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                                17   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
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                                18        SECTION 1.    A new section of Chapter 57 NMSA 1978 is
                                19   enacted to read:
                                20        "[NEW MATERIAL] ADVERTISING FOR LEGAL SERVICES--SETTLEMENT
                                21   AND JUDGMENT AMOUNTS--DISCLOSURE OF ATTORNEY FEES--CIVIL
                                22   PENALTY--ENFORCEMENT.--
                                23  A.   When an advertisement by an attorney or a law
                                24   firm for legal services includes a monetary amount awarded to a
                                25   client for a settlement or judgment of a civil action, the
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                                1    advertisement shall also disclose the monetary amount that was
                                2    charged to the client for the services rendered for the civil
                                3    action.
                                4  B.   The attorney general shall assess an attorney or
                                5    a law firm that violates this section a civil penalty of five
                                6    hundred dollars ($500) for each violation.
                                7  C.   The attorney general or, with the attorney
                                8    general's permission, a district attorney in a district in
                                9    which an advertisement in violation of this section is
                                10   broadcast or published may bring a civil action in district
                                11   court to recover a civil penalty assessed pursuant to this
                                12   section.
                                13  D.   Civil penalties collected pursuant to this
                                14   section shall be deposited in the current school fund."
                                15        SECTION 2.    EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the
                                16   provisions of this act is July 1, 2027.
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