HB 253 requires New Mexico school districts and charter schools to report projected enrollment numbers for students in distance learning programs. It changes school funding calculations by excluding distance learning students from membership counts used to determine state funding, and establishes a new approval process for these programs requiring state education department review. The bill also sets enrollment limits for distance learning with specific exceptions, clarifies requirements for students with disabilities in such programs, and renames the "Statewide Cyber Academy Act" as the "Distance Learning Act" while updating related definitions. These changes directly affect school districts, charter schools, and students enrolled in distance learning programs.
SB 11, the Nurse Loan Repayment Act, creates a state fund to repay student loans for New Mexico nurses working in designated underserved areas or as nursing educators. It directly affects licensed registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who commit to four years of service in areas identified by the state as lacking sufficient nursing staff. The program provides up to $35,000 in total loan repayment ($7,500 annually for two years and $10,000 for the next two), with payments made directly to lenders. Nurses must meet eligibility criteria (NM license, U.S. citizenship/permanent residency, and service in designated areas or as faculty/preceptors), and non-compliance requires repayment of the award plus 15% interest. The bill excludes state loan-for-service programs, scholarships, and personal loans from eligibility.
SB 188 creates a new law requiring New Mexico public school districts and charter schools to provide up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave to full-time school employees who have worked for 52 consecutive weeks. The leave covers birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child, is paid at the employee’s regular rate, and must be used within a 52-week period. School districts will be reimbursed by the state for costs like substitute staff, and schools must report on employee demographics and leave usage annually. This law directly affects school employees and ensures job protection during leave without impacting retirement benefits or requiring leave exhaustion.
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.
SB 49 creates a three-year pilot program in New Mexico public schools to test a voluntary rating system for library materials based on age-appropriateness. Participating school districts and charter schools must implement the rating system, publish rated materials for parents, and administer a department-approved survey to measure parent engagement and trust. Each selected school receives $25,000 upon selection and another $25,000 after completing the survey phase, with $3.21 million allocated from the public education reform fund for the project. The program requires geographic diversity in participant selection and mandates annual reports to the legislative education committee, focusing on evaluating how the rating system impacts parent-school relationships.
SB 73 requires all approved driver education courses in New Mexico schools to include at least three hours of training on driving with vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, and wheelchair users. This directly affects driver education schools, instructors, and students in public and private secondary schools across the state. The bill amends existing laws to mandate this specific training component as part of minimum course standards. It defines "vulnerable road users" broadly to include anyone not protected by a vehicle's structure, like those on bikes, scooters, or walking. The policy change aims to improve road safety awareness through standardized curriculum updates.
SB 178 requires New Mexico school districts with over 2,000 students to allocate at least 90% of state equalization funds generated by each school directly to that school, with cash balance limits for non-compliant districts. It mandates all school districts and charter schools to develop evidence-based spending plans targeting academic improvements for at-risk students (Native American, low-income, English learners, and special education). The Public Education Department can intervene in underperforming schools by requiring curriculum updates, professional development, or hiring experts to revamp programs. Districts must also submit quarterly financial reports detailing fund allocation for these student groups, effective for the 2026-2027 through 2030-2031 school years.
HB 149 expands access to facility financing for New Mexico charter schools by amending the New Mexico Finance Authority Act. It allows the state finance authority to provide loans from the Charter School Facility Revolving Fund to nonprofit foundations or support organizations affiliated with charter schools - previously limited to schools themselves. The bill also requires charter schools to receive the maximum available grant from the Public School Capital Outlay Fund for lease assistance and caps their local contribution to capital projects at 10%. These changes directly affect charter schools and their affiliated nonprofit groups by improving their ability to secure funding for facility construction, renovation, or lease-purchase agreements.
HB 245 prohibits New Mexico public schools from denying enrollment to school-age students based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, socioeconomic status, or residential address. It requires school boards to post grade-level vacancy counts every 12 weeks and enroll applicants on a first-come, first-served basis when space is available. The bill also limits school boards' ability to create enrollment preferences beyond specific priorities and mandates annual public reporting of enrollment data to the state education department. This directly affects all public school districts and students seeking enrollment across New Mexico.
SB 83 appropriates $1.937 million from the general fund to the University of New Mexico's Accelerating Resilience Innovations in Drylands Institute for fiscal year 2027. The funding supports ecological monitoring of New Mexico's air, land, and water; develops an AI-powered statewide network to predict ecosystem vulnerabilities (including fire risk); creates resilience strategies for sustainable resource management; continues K-12 STEM education partnerships; and enhances tribal research collaboration. This bill directly affects the University of New Mexico, its research partners, K-12 schools, and tribal communities through these specific programs. The funding is limited to 2027, with unspent balances reverting to the general fund.
