SB 6 appropriates $546.6 million from New Mexico's general fund to the University of New Mexico's board of regents for constructing, equipping, and furnishing a new School of Medicine facility. The funds are allocated for fiscal years 2027 through 2030, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by 2030. This bill directly affects the University of New Mexico by enabling the physical development of its medical school infrastructure. It is a funding measure, not a policy change, and specifies concrete financial and timeline details for the construction project.
HB 118 creates a three-year pilot program to provide specialized biliteracy training for teachers working with at-risk students (defined as economically disadvantaged, English language learners, Native American, or students with disabilities) in New Mexico public schools. The bill requires the Public Education Department to select 125 teachers in year one, increasing to 500 by year three, prioritizing schools with high bilingual enrollment and existing bilingual programs. Training focuses on teaching reading/writing in two languages (biliteracy), cross-language communication (transliteracy), and integrating multiple communication modes (multiliteracy), with mandatory annual reports on student outcomes and teacher development. The program is funded with $6.645 million from the general fund for fiscal years 2027-2029.
HB 47 amends New Mexico law to change how school districts and charter schools cover insurance costs for their employees. It requires these entities to pay at least 80% of insurance costs for employees earning under $50,000 annually, 70% for those earning $50,000-$60,000, and 60% for those earning over $60,000. The bill also mandates a study on the long-term sustainability of these insurance programs and includes provisions for cost-containment measures in health benefit plans. This directly affects public school employees and school districts across New Mexico, shifting their contribution responsibilities compared to current law.
HB 169 appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the University of New Mexico's Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies for two main purposes in fiscal year 2027. It provides year-round scholarships prioritizing New Mexico residents from rural, tribal, indigenous, or underserved communities - especially those planning to offer culturally rooted healing services in the state - and funds statewide outreach including workshops, courses, and collaboration with tribal governments and rural communities. The bill also requires the department to research and develop new curanderismo (traditional medicine) courses to address New Mexico's cultural and health needs. Unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. This bill directly affects UNM students, community health educators, and New Mexico communities through educational and health programming.
SB 204 appropriates $100 million from the general fund to the Higher Education Department to fill gaps caused by reduced or terminated federal funding for research projects at the University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, and the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. The funding is specifically for projects that could still be completed if the federal funding shortfall were addressed. It applies to fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by the end of 2028. The bill directly supports these public research institutions and their ongoing projects affected by federal funding changes.
HB 116 amends New Mexico's Bilingual Multicultural Education Act to change how eligible public school programs must deliver instruction. It requires programs serving culturally and linguistically diverse students (especially in kindergarten through third grade) to either use a home or heritage language as the primary instruction medium or adopt a state-approved language revitalization model. The bill also mandates programs to include heritage language history/culture instruction, use qualified bilingual teachers, and provide clear parental notice about program placement. These changes apply to all state-funded bilingual programs seeking financial support under the updated law.
SB 194 allocates $5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a new softball and baseball field at Luna Community College, to be spent in fiscal year 2027. Any unspent funds at year-end will revert to the general fund. The bill directly affects Luna Community College by funding a specific athletic facility and the Higher Education Department as the administering agency. This is a straightforward funding measure with no policy changes beyond the appropriation.
SB 37, the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act, requires New Mexico public schools to use research-backed reading methods for students in kindergarten through third grade. It mandates annual literacy assessments for these students and provides interventions for those struggling with reading, while requiring schools to use approved instructional materials that align with evidence-based practices. The bill also sets new standards for teacher preparation programs, including 100+ hours of supervised field experience in structured literacy methods and training to identify reading difficulties. These changes directly affect K-3 students, public schools, literacy coaches, and teacher training programs across New Mexico.
HB 119 adds a new funding category for school districts based on the number of licensed teachers with bilingual endorsements working in approved programs. School districts earn additional state funding for each such teacher, but must verify the teacher holds a valid bilingual endorsement, works in a department-approved program, and receives a salary differential (extra pay) equal to the funding value. This directly affects bilingual-certified teachers and school districts receiving state education funding. The bill modifies New Mexico’s school finance formula to include this category as a separate "program unit" for calculating district funding. It does not change teacher certification requirements but ties funding to verified bilingual staff and their compensation.
SB 65 requires New Mexico school districts (including charter schools) to create written policies for managing public school libraries, ensuring fair access to books and materials. It prohibits schools from removing library resources based on protected characteristics like race, gender, or sexual orientation, and mandates a strict process for any removal requests - including requiring written decisions, limiting removals to once every two years, and reviewing entire resources, not just parts. School librarians and staff are protected from retaliation for following these policies or refusing to remove materials before a formal decision is made. This bill directly affects school districts, library staff, and students/parents who may request changes to library collections.
