The New Mexico Legislature adjourned on Saturday, March 30. The deadline for the Governor to sign bills into law was Friday, April 9. Click on the link below for a summary of the NMSU impacts in the funding bills and other legislative action.
2021 Legislative Session Report
NMSU Bill Tracker
The NMSU Office of Government and Community Relations tracks a number of bills during the legislative session. Click on the link below to see what bills are being tracked:
NMSU Bill Tracking
NMSU’s 2021 Legislative Initiatives
NMSU’s legislative initiatives were approved by the NMSU Board of Regents on September 18, 2020. Click on the images below to open a larger view to read a summary, or the Legislative Book with further detail:
FY22 Executive and LFC Budget Recommendations
The State of New Mexico and the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) released their Fiscal Year 2022 budget recommendations. You may read a summary by clicking on the link below:
FY22 Executive and LFC Budget Recommendation Summary
December General Fund Consensus Revenue Estimate
The Consensus Revenue Estimate was released this week and the it does have some good news. The Consensus Revenue Estimate (CRE) predicts $315.6 million in new money for FY22. The estimated revenues are $169 million or 2.3% of recurring appropriations if the Federal Funds SWAP that was used to offset GF during the special session is restored (which is highly likely). The unaudited actual ending reserves for FY20 are estimated at $2.513 billion or 34% of recurring appropriations. The estimated reserves for FY21 are estimated at $2.407 billion or 33.4% of recurring appropriations ($7.063 billion).
Read the December General Fund Consensus Revenue Estimate
Higher Education Testimony
The Legislative Finance Committee is listened to testimony from higher education on December 8th.
Click HERE to watch the recorded hearing.
2021 Legislative Updates
Friday, March 2, 2021
The Senate yesterday passed SB 377 General Appropriations & Expenditures, commonly known as the Junior appropriations bill. The bill contains funding for NMSU including: mental health and wellness services for student athletes, funding for the Anna Age Eight Institute which is working to help prevent childhood trauma and maltreatment, and Sunspot Observatory.
Bills scheduled in committee this afternoon:
Senate Finance Committee
SB 234 Lottery for Home School Students
SB 77 Two Plus Two Pilot Project
SB 236 Independent Carlsbad Community College
SB 440 Statewide Economic Development Finance Act
House Consumer and Public Affairs
SB 94 Student Athlete Endorsement Act
House Appropriations and Finance
HB 131 Asst. Secretary of Hispanic Education
Thursday, February 25, 2021
- HB2 (General Appropriations Act) will be considered by the Senate Finance Committee this afternoon. It was passed on the house floor yesterday on a vote of 60-10.
- SB 135 (Opportunity Scholarship) was officially reported as a due pass out of SEC. The bill now moves to SFC where it will be amended to include 4 year students.
- HB 212 Remake NMSU Carlsbad as Community College was passed by House Education Committee.
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Some bills scheduled on Monday, Feb 22:
SB 135 Opportunity Scholarship Act in Senate Education Committee
HB 212 Remake NMSU-Carlsbad as Community College in House Education Committee
HB 131 Assistant Secretary of Hispanic Education in House Education Committee
HB 83 Change Graduation Requirements is on the House floor calendar
Monday, February 15, 2021 In committee today:
Senate Education Committee
SB 236 Remake NMSU-Carlsbad as Community College
SB 234 Lottery for Home School Students
SB 240 Vocational Training Scholarship Act
SB 263 Adult Diplomas Program
House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee
HB 22 Grow Your Own Teachers Act Scholarship
HB 83 Change Graduation Requirements
On Saturday, the House Appropriations and Finance Committee adopted the LFC budget recommendation for higher education. The budget restores a federal CARES ACT swap ($20 million), and adds .5% in the funding formula with base redistribution of 2%.
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 Higher ed bills passed by committee yesterday:
SB 169 Higher Ed Coordinating Council
HB 25 LESC Study of Public and Post-Secondary Ed
Scheduled tomorrow, Feb 12:
SB 236 Independent Carlsbad Community College
SB 234 Lottery for Home School Students
SB 240 Vocational Training Scholarship Act
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021 Higher education-related bills in committee today:
In House Agriculture and Water: HB 133 College Hunger Reduction Pilot Program
In House Local Gov, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs: HB 212 Remake NMSU-Carlsbad as Community College
Monday, February 8, 2021 Higher education-related bills passed by committee today:
Senate Education Committee
SB 151 Education Loan Repayment
SB 159 Teacher Loan Repayment
SB 135 Opportunity Scholarship Act did not progress out of committee, and remains in committee.
HB 101 NM Lottery Ed Assistance Act also remains in the House Education Committee after it was not passed out of committee.
Consideration of SB 169 Create Higher Ed Coordinating Council will continue in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday.
Bills scheduled on Tuesday: HB 133 College Hunger Reduction Pilot Program, and HB 212 Remake NMSU-Carlsbad as Community College.
Jan 29, 2021
Bills directly impacting higher ed are on the agenda for a few Senate committees today. Live webcasts for the committee hearings can be found on the legislative website here: http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/harmony
At 9 a.m. in the Senate Education Committee, members are scheduled to consider:
| SB 30 | ANNA, AGE EIGHT INSTITUTE |
| SB 44 | RESEARCH GRANTS CLOSING FUND |
| SB 94 | STUDENT ATHLETE ENDORSEMENT ACT |
| SB 77 | TWO PLUS TWO PILOT PROJECT |
NMSU Chancellor Arvizu will be an expert witness on SB 44 Research Grants Closing Fund.
Later in the day, at 1:30 p.m., on the Senate Finance Committee agenda:
NM Higher Education Department and Institutions
Instructional and General Funding, Research and Public Service Projects
Representatives from NM universities are expected to speak.
Also scheduled today:
Senate Rules Committee, 9:00 a.m.
| SJR 7 | NOMINATING COMMITTEES OF BOARD OF REGENTS, CA |
January 27, 2021
A very unprecedented legislative session continues as lawmakers and their staff wade through the unchartered territory of meeting during a pandemic and conducting legislative activities through a hybrid model. At this writing, the legislature has so far introduced 316 bills and there is still a way to go before the deadline of February 18 for bill introduction.
The NMSU Office of Government Relations and Community Relations continues to monitor and analyze bills that may impact higher education. You can see the list of bills that we are tracking by clicking on the Bill Tracker. Just a few of the bills on our tracking list are:
HB 48 Statewide Weather Stations
HB 52 Bilingual Multicultural Ed Advisory Council
HB 87 Yazzie Lawsuit Higher Ed Funding
HB 101 NM Lottery Ed Assistance Act
HB 133 College Hunger Reduction Pilot Program
SB 77 Two Plus Two Pilot Project
SB 44 Research Grants Closing Fund
Committees continue on zoom and the House will come back to the floor on Thursday, January 28. The Senate returns Feb 1. If you want to watch legislative activities, you can tune in on their website at
