Age of Consent
Sex Education Required by State
Sex Education Type
Medically Accurate Content Required
LGBTQ+ Inclusive
Consent Education Taught
Adult Entertainment
New Mexico's age of consent is 17. There is a close-in-age exemption: sexual activity with a minor aged 13 to 16 is not a felony if the defendant is less than four years older, under New Mexico Statutes Section 30-9-11.
New Mexico has no statewide sex education mandate. When districts offer sex ed, state guidelines call for comprehensive, medically accurate instruction inclusive of LGBTQ+ topics and consent education. The guidelines are strong in content but not legally binding as a mandate. Albuquerque and Santa Fe tend to follow the comprehensive model. Rural districts and tribal lands have significant variation.
New Mexico's adult entertainment environment is permissive. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have adult entertainment businesses regulated through local licensing. The state has no unusual state-level restrictions on adult businesses. New Mexico's political culture leans progressive, and there has been no sustained effort to restrict adult entertainment.
No mandate but guidelines are comprehensive when offered. Age 17.
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In the News
- U.S. Abortion Rights by State - Encyclopedia BritannicaJun 29
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- Gender-Affirming Health Care in New Mexico - ACLU of New MexicoOct 20
Full New Mexico profile
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Sources: NCSL, Guttmacher Institute, SIECUS State Profiles, Wikipedia "Ages of consent in the United States". Laws change — verify current status with official sources.