HB132 is a very short bill that repeals Section 45-2-515 NMSA 1978, a provision in New Mexico’s wills law. The bill’s title, “Repeal of Deposit of Will,” indicates that the repealed section concerns the statutory procedure for depositing a will, likely with a court or other authorized custodian, and removes that specific legal mechanism from the Probate Code.
Because the bill only contains a repeal clause and no replacement language, its practical effect would be to eliminate the referenced statutory provision from New Mexico law. That means any rights, duties, filing procedures, or protections created by Section 45-2-515 would no longer be available under that section, and affected parties would need to rely on any remaining probate or estate-planning provisions elsewhere in state law.
Impact
HB132 would amend New Mexico probate law by deleting Section 45-2-515 from the statutes. The immediate legal impact is the removal of the state’s codified rule governing the deposit of a will, which could affect testators, estate planners, probate courts, and any custodial process tied to will storage or filing. No new procedures are created, so the bill narrows rather than expands the statutory framework governing wills.
Sentiment
There is little recorded public or committee sentiment available for HB132 because no committee transcripts or votes are included in the provided material. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears technical and narrow, focused on cleaning up or removing an existing probate provision rather than making a broader policy change.
Contention
The main point of potential contention is whether repealing the deposit-of-will statute would reduce convenience or legal certainty for people who want a formal place to lodge a will before death. Supporters may view the repeal as a simplification of outdated probate law, while opponents could worry about losing a statutory safeguard or a recognized filing option. However, no specific objections or endorsements are documented in the available record.