GC Laws — New Mexico contractor-law checklist preview (free)
Sources reviewed 2026-09-30. Public summaries remain free on gclaws.com.

[ ] Licensing
      - A contractor as defined in section 60-13-3 must be licensed; qualified entities must employ or be owned by a CID-certified qualifying party for the classification.
      - The license authorizes only its named entity and classifications; it is not transferable. Corporations and other listed entities require their own license despite an owner/member’s license or qualifying-party certificate.
      - Initial licensing and renewal require a $10,000 corporate-surety bond maintained through the license period to cure qualifying CID-certified code violations.
      - The licensee and qualifying party must notify CID in writing of their separation within 30 days.

[ ] Mechanic's liens
      - Covered claimants give written notice within 60 days of first furnishing to the owner/reputed owner or original contractor by the statutory methods. Late notice protects only furnishing from 30 days before notice onward; the statute also conditions a no-notice defense on provision of requested identifying information.
      - Original contractors record within 120 days after contract completion; others within 90 days after the statutory building/improvement/alteration/repair completion or mining-labor trigger. The verified claim must identify the demand, parties, contract terms and property.
      - Send/deliver the filed claim copy to the known owner/reputed owner within 15 days, using the statutory address and mail/email/certified-mail/hand-delivery options. Failure may bar interest, fees or costs.
      - Commence court proceedings or binding arbitration within two years after filing. A contingent-payment contract clause does not waive filing/enforcement rights.

[ ] Retainage
      - When paying, owners, contractors and subcontractors cannot retain or hold back amounts owed for work performed.
      - The Act excludes NMDOT from its owner definition and excludes contracts for residential property containing four or fewer dwelling units.

[ ] Prompt payment
      - Owners pay undisputed requests within 21 days of receipt; identify invoice defects within seven days. A grant-funded local body may use 45 days only with conspicuous contract terms and required legends on each plan page.
      - All tiers pay subcontractors/suppliers amounts owed within seven days after corresponding receipt. Statutory late-payment interest is 1.5% monthly or fraction on undisputed amounts.

[ ] Prevailing wage
      - A covered contract or project must state the minimum wages and fringe benefits for laborer and mechanic classifications, using the rates determined by the Labor Relations Division director for comparable work.
      - Contractors, subcontractors, employers and persons acting as contractors must pay covered site laborers and mechanics at least weekly, at no less than the prevailing wage and fringe-benefit rates specified for the work.
      - Under NMAC 11.1.2.9, the director annually determines and publishes prevailing wages, fringe benefits and public-works apprentice-and-training-fund contribution rates. Use the wage decision issued for the project.

[ ] Davis-Bacon (federal)
      - Under 40 U.S.C. section 3142, covered contracts require payment to laborers and mechanics employed directly on the site of the work at least weekly, at rates no lower than the applicable prevailing wage determination. The required compensation includes the basic hourly rate and required fringe benefits, which may be provided through qualifying benefits or cash as the statute permits.
      - Qualifying apprentices may receive a lower registered-program rate only when the applicable registration and program conditions are met. The Department of Labor’s apprenticeship rules govern those exceptions.
      - The Department of Labor determines the prevailing rates for the work classifications and locality. Contractors and subcontractors must use the wage determination applicable to their covered contract.
      - Federal assistance alone does not establish coverage: many, but not all, construction-assistance statutes include Davis-Bacon requirements. Identify the funding program and its governing Related Act.
      - SAM.gov publishes Davis-Bacon wage determinations. Search by the wage-determination number or the Davis-Bacon public-buildings-or-works category, and match the decision to the contract, locality, and work classification.

This preview lists the topics and rules covered in the full state pack. The paid pack adds the complete source URLs, citations, review dates, and the three editable tools.
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