HB 89 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP ACT CHANGES

HB 89 amends New Mexico's Graduate Scholarship Act to expand access for underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, and people with disabilities. It changes scholarship funding to cover 100% of tuition and fees (previously a fixed $7,200) and requires recipients to maintain a 3.0 GPA while completing at least six credit hours per semester. Recipients must also complete 10 hours per week of unpaid work (internship or assistantship) at approved institutions or agencies. The bill caps funding at eight semesters or until a terminal degree is earned, directly affecting New Mexico graduate students at eligible state universities.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Apr 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Graduate Scholarship Act in New Mexico by clarifying definitions, adjusting eligibility requirements, and modifying award conditions. The changes aim to streamline the scholarship program by removing outdated language like 'citizen of the United States' and 'permanent resident visa' requirements, while maintaining financial need and academic performance standards. The bill also clarifies that scholarships cover only one semester at a time and establish clearer termination conditions.

Scope change

The bill maintains the same scope of applying to graduate students at eligible state universities but clarifies and tightens eligibility criteria.

DEFINITION

Updated definition of 'academic year' to specify it begins with the fall term each year, and clarified 'graduate field' to exclude doctor of medicine degrees.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed citizenship and permanent resident visa requirements from eligibility criteria, focusing instead on financial need and academic performance.

FISCAL

Clarified that scholarships cover only one semester at a time and do not fund the second semester of an academic year if the student does not enroll or maintain eligibility.

REQUIREMENT

Updated continuing eligibility requirements to include maintaining a 3.0 GPA, good academic standing, enrollment in at least six credit hours in a graduate field, and compliance with department rules.

ENFORCEMENT

Added clearer termination conditions including withdrawal from the institution, failure to maintain GPA/qualifications, and substantial noncompliance with the Act or department rules.

TIMELINE

Established July 1, 2025 as the effective date for the new provisions.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 21, 2025 · House Mar 1, 2025

How they voted

25–11

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Mar 21, 2025

D Democratic24

23 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican16

2 Yea 11 Nay 3

68% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (25-11-4)

senate

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 3, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Education Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

Mar 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee & House Education Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Pre-file

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors