New Mexico is establishing a state-run health insurance exchange that's subject to open government laws.
Legislation enacted this year makes clear the exchange and its governing board must comply with New Mexico's Open Meetings Act and the Inspection of Public Records Act.
Those laws will require board meetings to be open to the public and that records, such as the exchange's contracts and other expenditures, are available for inspection by the public.
The exchange's staff and board members also are subject to a law prohibiting conflicts of interest by public officials.
The exchange is being operated through the New Mexico Health Insurance Alliance, a nonprofit public corporation established in 1994 to provide access to insurance for small businesses and some individuals.