New Mexico
Sex Laws 2026

The age of consent in New Mexico is 17 as of May 2026, the same as in 8 other states. New Mexico does not require schools to teach sex education; 28 states do. Districts that offer it follow comprehensive guidelines. Adult entertainment regulation is liberal, and the state scores 80/100 on this page's sex-ed progressiveness scale.

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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More on New Mexico

Also on New Mexico: the full New Mexico profile covers taxes, cost of living, crime and schools, and the county map lets you compare every county in the state. For related rules, read the New Mexico nudism guide and the New Mexico gambling laws guide.