SB 64 New Mexico Senate · 2026 Regular Session

CREATE OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

SB 64 creates a dedicated Office of Special Education within New Mexico's Public Education Department and establishes a Deputy Secretary for Special Education. It reorganizes existing special education laws into a new "Special Education Act," explicitly removing gifted students from the definition of special education services. The bill also redefines key terms like dyslexia and outlines the office's responsibilities for overseeing special education programs across all school districts, including charter schools. This structural change aims to streamline oversight and implementation of special education services statewide.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Mar 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally restructures special education legislation in New Mexico by creating a dedicated Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department, establishing a new Deputy Secretary of Special Education role, and removing gifted students from the special education category. The changes aim to clarify definitions, separate gifted services from special education services, and reorganize existing statutes into a cohesive Special Education Act.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope by creating a new administrative office and role specifically for special education, while narrowing the scope by explicitly removing gifted students from special education eligibility criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Created a new Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department with a Deputy Secretary of Special Education to oversee special education services.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed gifted students from the special education category, clarifying that gifted services are separate from special education services.

DEFINITION

Updated definitions to include new terms like 'multilayered system of supports' and expanded 'instructional support provider' to include various support roles like counselors, social workers, and therapists.

Added new definitions for 'academic proficiency' and 'exceptional child' to clarify special education eligibility criteria.

TECHNICAL

Reorganized and recompiled existing special education statutes into a single Special Education Act for better organization and accessibility.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 4, 2026 · House Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

34–1

Passed · 3 other

Total votes 38

Feb 4, 2026

D Democratic22

21 Yea 1

95% Yea

R Republican16

13 Yea 1 Nay 2

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 9, 2026

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee & House Education Committee

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Committees' Committee & Senate Education Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors