The Santa Fe County Assessor’s Office announced on May 5 several legislative changes for 2026, including an expansion of property tax exemptions for veterans and adjustments to service timelines.
The new measures are intended to provide broader benefits for local residents, particularly veterans, and improve the overall quality of service from the office. The most significant update expands eligibility for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption. Veterans with any level of service-connected disability rating up to and including 100 percent will now qualify for a portion of this exemption. This change follows voter approval in 2024 and was enacted through House Bill 285 during the recent New Mexico Legislative Session before being signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Development of these updates involved collaboration between several agencies, including the New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue, New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services, New Mexico Counties (NMC), the NMC Assessors’ Affiliate, and state legislators. Notices reflecting these changes were mailed to county property owners on May 1. Residents now have a period of thirty days from that mailing date to apply for exemptions or benefits or to appeal their property valuations.
Santa Fe County continues its focus on transparency in governance, stewardship of resources, and delivery of essential services such as public safety, health programs, public works projects, and community development initiatives according to the official website. The county operates under a Board of County Commissioners responsible for policy-making decisions while administrative oversight is provided by a County Manager. These services extend across incorporated municipalities as well as pueblos and unincorporated areas within Santa Fe County.
Residents with questions about their Notices of Value or seeking more information about exemption programs are encouraged by officials to contact the Assessor’s Office at (505) 986-6300 or visit www.SantaFeCountyNM.gov/assessor.
