SB 401 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

BROADBAND FOR EDUCATION

SB 401 creates a new Education Technology Infrastructure Fund to provide up to $10 million annually in state bonds for public school technology infrastructure. It directly affects New Mexico public schools by funding broadband access and connectivity improvements through the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion. The bill authorizes the Office to certify annual funding needs, with proceeds from supplemental severance tax bonds allocated to the new fund. It transfers existing broadband programs from the Public School Facilities Authority to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion to streamline implementation.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Feb 14, 2025 Signed Apr 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly restructures how New Mexico issues severance tax bonds for education technology infrastructure. It creates a new Education Technology Infrastructure Fund, expands the types of projects that can be funded, and establishes a new certification process for broadband projects. The changes aim to provide more flexible and targeted funding for school technology needs while maintaining oversight through the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of severance tax bond funding to specifically include education technology infrastructure projects and creates a dedicated fund for these purposes, while also modifying existing broadband deployment programs.

FISCAL

Created a new Education Technology Infrastructure Fund to receive proceeds from supplemental severance tax bonds, separate from existing capital outlay funds.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligible uses of severance tax bonds to include education technology infrastructure projects under the Broadband Access and Expansion Act, in addition to traditional capital outlay projects.

Added authority for the Public School Facilities Authority to loan portable classrooms to school districts, with specific rules about title, custody, and maintenance responsibilities.

REQUIREMENT

Established a new certification process where the director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion can certify up to $10 million per fiscal year for education technology infrastructure needs.

Modified bond issuance procedures to allow the state board of finance to issue bonds based on written direction from authorized officers of bond recipients, rather than requiring resolution from governing bodies.

TIMELINE

Added a sunset provision requiring repeal of certain sections effective July 1, 2030.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 18, 2025 · House Mar 21, 2025

How they voted

23–6

Passed · 11 other

Total votes 40

Mar 18, 2025

D Democratic24

17 Yea 7

70% Yea

R Republican16

6 Yea 6 Nay 4

37% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors