SB 234 allocates $1.2 million from the general fund to the New Mexico Public Education Department for the Albuquerque Public School District to provide school transportation to and from school for foster children. The bill directly affects foster children in Albuquerque schools by ensuring consistent transportation access, addressing a common barrier to education. Key provisions include dedicated annual funding for fiscal year 2027 and beyond, with unspent balances carrying forward instead of reverting to the general fund. This is a funding appropriation bill focused on practical support for foster youth, not a policy change.
SB 307 transfers authority over academic tenure decisions from university regent boards to faculty and institutional policies. It explicitly states that regent boards cannot award, deny, revoke, or impose conditions on tenured faculty positions. Instead, all tenure decisions must follow each institution's established policies and be based on recommendations from the faculty itself. This bill directly affects state university regent boards and faculty members at New Mexico's public higher education institutions.
SB 244 allocates $5 million from the state general fund to the University of New Mexico's Board of Regents for fiscal year 2027 to directly support UNM student athletes. The funding covers specific needs like travel, nutrition, and other athlete-related expenses during their participation in intercollegiate sports. Any unspent portion of the appropriation must be returned to the general fund by the end of fiscal year 2027. This bill creates a one-time state funding mechanism for UNM athletic programs, with no ongoing financial commitment beyond the specified fiscal year.
House Memorial 30 requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to examine New Mexico's public education governance structure. It directs a working group to study how to improve coordination across state agencies, schools, and communities - addressing gaps highlighted by the Martinez-Yazzie court ruling on education sufficiency. The group will review models from other states, analyze existing education plans, and recommend a potential statewide commission to create a long-term vision and ensure equitable student outcomes. The committee must report its findings by November 30, 2026.
HB 289 clarifies how New Mexico allocates transportation funding to school districts and state-chartered charter schools, requiring that funds cover the full route cost - including miles traveled to pick up the first student and return the bus after dropping off the last student. It establishes a new calculation method using a base amount for all districts plus a variable amount based on historical transportation costs, site characteristics, and operational days. If a district’s allocation exceeds required transportation costs, 50% of the excess must go to a transportation emergency fund, and at least 25% must be used for transportation services (excluding salaries). The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 260 creates a tax credit allowing businesses to claim 75% of donations (up to $750,000 per company annually) to public colleges or school districts for workforce education programs, such as vocational training and job skills courses. The credit is capped at $5 million total per year across all businesses, requiring companies to apply for certification through the state's economic development department. Eligible donations must be direct monetary contributions to public institutions - not to affiliated entities - and the credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects businesses donating to workforce training programs and public educational institutions receiving those funds.
HB 26 prohibits public libraries in New Mexico (operated by state, county, or municipality) from removing or banning books based on content disagreement or protected characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation. It requires libraries to create written procedures for challenging materials deemed obscene or unlawful, while banning retaliation against staff who refuse to remove books due to policy compliance. The law also blocks funding cuts or disciplinary action against libraries or staff for adhering to these rules, and libraries violating the ban lose eligibility for state funding. Enforcement falls to the Library Division of the Cultural Affairs Department, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 120 limits the use of physical restraint and seclusion in New Mexico public schools. It bans chemical, mechanical, prone restraint, and unsupervised seclusion, allowing physical restraint or seclusion only when a student poses imminent serious harm and less restrictive options fail. Schools must train staff in de-escalation and positive behavior strategies, document all restraint/seclusion use, and create safety plans with input from special education experts. The bill directly affects all public school students in New Mexico by restricting potentially harmful interventions and requiring staff to prioritize safer alternatives.
HB 34 updates New Mexico's school nurse licensure rules to clarify that charter schools must follow the same requirements as public school districts. It establishes three license levels: Level One (a 3-year provisional license requiring mentorship and annual evaluations for new nurses without 3+ years of experience), Level Two (a 9-year license for nurses who complete Level One or have 3+ years of experience), and Level Three (a 9-year license requiring advanced education and leadership skills). The bill sets minimum salaries for each level equal to corresponding teacher salary grades and mandates annual competency reviews by school districts or charter schools. These changes apply to all school nurses employed in New Mexico public and charter schools starting July 1, 2026.
HB 175 requires New Mexico school districts and state-chartered charter schools to report detailed transportation data, including the number of students transported (especially special education and charter school students), bus routes, miles traveled, and any expansion of services compared to the previous year. If a district or charter school reports expanded transportation services (such as new routes, increased miles, or more riders), it receives an immediate funding allocation for that expansion during the current school year. This allocation may be adjusted in the following year based on final data, as determined by the Public Education Department. The bill directly affects school districts and charter schools by linking their transportation funding to specific, reported service metrics.
