Even when builders are ready to construct affordable housing, local regulations can delay or block projects. Zoning restrictions, lengthy approval processes, and outdated codes all drive up costs and limit supply. To fix this, I will partner with cities and counties to reduce barriers to new housing construction. By working together, we can unlock housing opportunities faster and at lower cost, while making sure projects fit local needs.

As governor, I will:

• Set clear statewide goal to end the housing shortage and build at least 5,000 homes each year by the end of my first term. Setting the target itself is critical – it focuses every tool in this plan, from faster permitting to zoning reform, and ensures we measure success not by promises but by homes built and families housed.

• Put a shot clock on permitting to speed up housing. One of the biggest barriers to building more homes in New Mexico is the slow and unpredictable permitting process. Projects can languish in review for months or even years – driving up costs, scaring off financing, and leaving families waiting. Too often, these delays mean missed construction windows or cancelled projects altogether, reducing the number of homes built and making housing less affordable for everyone. Other states, like Arizona and Washington, have addressed this problem. I will make sure that New Mexico does, too, by:

• Putting a clear “shot clock” on permitting. Just like in basketball, the shot clock keeps the game moving – without it, play stalls. Under my plan, cities and counties will keep full control to approve, reject, or request changes to projects, but they’ll need to make those decisions on time – either within 65 days if no public hearing is required, or within 120 days if one is.

• Holding governments accountable to meeting the deadlines. If local governments miss those deadlines, they will be required to refund the project’s permit fees, waive future fees for that project, and developers will have a clear right to seek arbitration to recover costs caused by delays.

• Requiring transparency for the public. Cities and counties will also need to publish annual performance data on their permitting timelines, so the public can hold them accountable and the state can target resources where they’re most needed. This reform brings predictability for builders and communities, speeds up construction, and helps keep costs down. By putting a shot clock on permitting, we’ll move housing from plans to reality faster and give more New Mexico families the chance to afford a place of their own.

• Speed up construction with modular homes. Construction in New Mexico is often slowed down by labor shortages and high material costs, especially in rural areas. Modular and factory-built homes offer a way to deliver high-quality, affordable housing in months instead of years. These homes are built in factories and assembled on-site, saving time and money. I will update state building codes to fully recognize modular housing, offer tax incentives for manufacturers to set up shop in New Mexico, and require state agencies to consider modular options in publicly funded projects like workforce housing for teachers, nurses, and first responders. This will cut timelines, reduce costs, and make sure rural communities can get housing built even when construction crews are scarce.

• Turn vacant strip malls and empty buildings into homes families can afford. Strip malls, office parks, and commercial buildings are sitting empty while families struggle to find housing they can afford. These properties already have roads, parking, and utility hookups, but they’re trapped by outdated zoning rules that prevent them from being reused. I will change state law so these properties can be converted into housing by-right, eliminating years of costly rezoning fights. To get projects moving, the state will provide low-interest loans through the New Mexico Finance Authority and fast-track permitting for developers who reuse commercial spaces for housing. This will help us create affordable apartments and mixed-use communities in places people already know, while revitalizing blighted corridors.

• Cut wait times by modernizing local building systems. Many of New Mexico’s cities and counties still use decades-old building codes and paper-based permitting systems that bog down projects in needless delays. Even developers who meet every requirement often spend months waiting on inspections or approvals. I will provide state funding and technical assistance to digitize permitting systems, modernize codes, and streamline inspections. That means if a project meets the rules, it should be approved in weeks instead of years. By upgrading local systems, we will cut backlogs, reduce costs, and give builders the predictability they need to take on more affordable housing projects.

• Legalize more affordable home options in every community. Too much of New Mexico is still zoned for single-family houses only, even in places close to jobs, schools, and transit. That locks families out of more affordable options like duplexes, casitas, small townhomes, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and courtyard apartments – the kinds of homes that used to be common in our neighborhoods. I will update state law so every community must allow a mix of these housing types somewhere, while still giving cities and counties the power to shape design and placement. At the same time, I will eliminate outdated parking mandates that make projects more expensive and block smaller-scale housing. These reforms will open the door to housing that fits within existing neighborhoods, expand options for working families, and reduce the cost of building new homes across the state.

• Save families money by building where roads and schools already exist. Where we build matters just as much as how fast we build. Too often, new housing is pushed to the far edges of our cities, forcing families into long commutes and sticking taxpayers with the bill for new water lines, roads, and schools. I will reform how the state allocates capital outlay and infrastructure grants so projects in areas with existing services and jobs get priority. By directing growth to where infrastructure already exists, we can save families money, protect open land, and get homes built more quickly. This approach makes sure that every tax dollar works harder – giving New Mexicans more homes without wasting money on sprawl.

• Reward communities that approve and build more homes and cut outdated rules. Some communities do the hard work to cut red tape and speed up housing, but right now they get no reward for moving faster. Others stall projects for years without consequence. I will create a competitive state program that directs extra infrastructure and housing dollars to local governments that show measurable results in approving and building homes. Communities that deliver will move to the front of the line for funding, while those that stall will miss out. At the same time, I will order a top-to-bottom review of state and local housing regulations, so that every rule must prove it helps get homes built – and if it doesn’t, it will be streamlined or eliminated. This way, outdated rules won’t stand in the way of families finding a home.