Education

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 123: STATE AND FED SCHOOL GRANT PGMS

HB 123 requires New Mexico's Public Education Department to create a single digital system for school districts and charter schools to manage and apply for state and federal education grants. The system would consolidate applications for programs like federal education aid (ESEA), special education funding (IDEA), and literacy grants into one unified platform with automated features and unique tracking codes. School districts must submit detailed spending plans for grant funds through this system, which the department will review and approve. The bill appropriates $1 million to develop and maintain the system by December 2026, affecting all public schools receiving these grants.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConsolidates grant applications for ESEA, IDEA, and literacy funds into one system, streamlining access to education funding and reducing administrative burden for schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 159: K-12 STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH PLATFORM

HB 159 establishes a two-year pilot program using $1 million in state funds to provide free, evidence-based mental health support for K-12 students and families in New Mexico. The program will offer mental health education, self-management tools, and care navigation services through a dedicated platform. It requires the Public Education Department to contract implementation services and submit an impact report to the legislative education committee by 2028. The bill directly affects all public school students and families in New Mexico, with funding limited to fiscal years 2027-2028.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1M state funds for mental health pilot, directly increasing public education spending as a funded essential program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1M for K-12 mental health support via dedicated platform, directly enhancing student well-being and educational access within public schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides $1M for K-12 mental health services, directly advancing healthcare access through state-funded support for evidence-based care and navigation services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

Track

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 100: STEM INNOVATION NETWORK FUNDING

HB 100 appropriates $3 million from the state general fund to the Public Education Department for the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Innovation Network during fiscal year 2027. This funding directly supports public schools and educational institutions in New Mexico by financing STEM programs and resources. Any unspent funds at the end of fiscal year 2027 must revert to the general fund. The bill establishes a specific, time-bound funding mechanism without altering existing education policies or creating new requirements for schools.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $3M from general fund to STEM education programs, increasing public service funding without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $3M for STEM programs in public schools, directly funding educational initiatives per summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds STEM programs in public schools, directly supporting technology education and innovation through $3M allocation for technology-related resources and programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

Track

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 105: ATTENDANCE FOR SUCCESS & EXCUSED ABSENCES

SB 105 clarifies that absences related to a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) and those permitted under federal or state accommodations are considered "excused" under New Mexico's Attendance for Success Act. It requires the Public Education Department to create and publish written guidance for schools on implementing the law, including specific rules for medical absences, pregnancy, and parenting-related absences (with documentation). The bill affects all public schools, charter schools, and private schools, which must now align their attendance policies to allow make-up work for excused absences while maintaining clear definitions of "chronic absence" and "unexcused absence." This update aims to standardize attendance policies and reduce barriers for students with specific needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies excused absences for IEPs and accommodations, supporting student access to education by reducing attendance barriers for vulnerable groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 199: FUND DISBURSEMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL RADIO

SB 199 expands an existing fund to cover radio equipment replacement at state educational institutions. It amends the law to explicitly allow disbursements from the Educational Television Equipment Replacement Fund for radio stations operated by New Mexico's public schools or state universities, alongside existing television equipment. The bill does not create new funding but clarifies that current disbursement procedures - administered by the Higher Education Department and paid via state warrant - apply to radio equipment. This directly affects state colleges and public schools operating educational radio stations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies existing fund covers radio equipment for schools/universities, enabling current disbursements to support educational infrastructure without new funding.95% confidence

Track

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 125: SCHOOL EMPLOYEE INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS

SB 125 modifies how school districts and charter schools fund employee insurance. It requires these entities to cover at least 80% of insurance costs for lower-paid staff (under $50,000 salary), 70% for middle-paid staff ($50k-$60k), and 60% for higher-paid staff ($60k+), eliminating previous waivers that allowed them to opt out of the Public School Insurance Authority. The bill also mandates reference-based pricing for hospital services in state health plans, requiring hospitals to charge no more than set rates for covered care. This directly affects school employees and school districts by standardizing their insurance contribution requirements and controlling healthcare costs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates school districts to cover higher insurance costs for employees (80-60% of premiums), increasing required government spending on personnel benefits. Directly advances public spending policy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to cover 60-80% of staff insurance costs, strengthening teacher benefits and reducing out-of-pocket expenses for employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates higher employer insurance contributions for school staff, reducing employee costs and enhancing benefits for lower/middle-income workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Funding Student Health

Track

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 193: SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PRIVATE ED & TAX CREDITS

HB 193 creates a scholarship program allowing school tuition organizations to award financial aid to low-income students attending private schools in New Mexico, while establishing tax credits for donors. It directly affects low-income families (defined by federal lunch program income standards) who choose private schools, provided students previously attended a public or home school in New Mexico. Key mechanisms include requiring organizations to allocate 90% of funds to scholarships, prohibiting single-school restrictions, mandating annual financial reports, and requiring audits for organizations receiving $500,000+ in donations. The bill also creates individual and corporate income tax credits for contributions to these scholarship organizations, with strict transparency rules for public reporting.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesCreates tax credits for donors, reducing government revenue. Aligns with tax breaks for wealthy donors per 'oppose' indicators, despite benefiting low-income students.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program for low-income students to attend private schools, expanding educational access through direct financial aid for private education options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

signed · New Mexico · House Mar 9, 2026

HM 2: STUDY SCREEN USE IN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS

This House Memorial (HM 2) requests the Legislative Education Study Committee to investigate screen time use for instruction and assessment in New Mexico elementary classrooms, including its effects on student learning and well-being. It also asks the Public Education Department to develop developmentally appropriate guidelines for daily screen use in those classrooms. The memorial cites research linking excessive screen time to stress, sleep issues, and reduced skill development, alongside concerns about overreliance on digital tools for tasks like handwriting and social learning. As a non-binding request, it does not create new law but directs state entities to study the issue and establish guidelines.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequests study on screen time effects and guidelines to protect student learning, citing research on negative impacts. Aims to improve educational practices in elementary classrooms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 262: SCHOOL TRANSPORT EMERGENCY FUND USES

HB 262 amends New Mexico's Transportation Emergency Fund to explicitly allow grants for small rural school districts to purchase buses specifically for student activities. This change directly affects small rural school districts by creating a new, targeted funding source for transportation needs beyond existing uses like fuel price spikes. The bill adds this provision to the fund's existing purpose, ensuring money remains available year-to-year without reverting to the general fund. The state education secretary must track and report all distributions to the governor and relevant legislative committees, as required by current fund rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates new funding for rural school bus purchases for student activities, directly enhancing educational access and infrastructure through targeted transportation grants.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly allocates Transportation Emergency Fund grants for school bus purchases, directly funding transportation infrastructure for rural schools under Motor Vehicles subject.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

Track

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 200: KANW EDUCATIONAL RADIO STATION

SB 200 appropriates $500,000 from the government results and opportunity program fund to the Public Education Department for the KANW educational radio station. The funds are specifically for purchasing equipment and adding reporter resources to cover rural New Mexico news during fiscal year 2027. Any unspent money at year-end must revert to the original fund. This bill directly supports KANW's operational capacity to expand local news coverage in underserved rural areas. The measure is a straightforward funding allocation with no additional policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k from existing fund to fund KANW's rural news expansion, directly supporting public education program funding per budget allocation language.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $500k to fund equipment/reporters for KANW educational radio station, expanding rural educational news coverage per Public Education Department's mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Procurement

Track