The House Committee on Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs convened on March 19, 2025, to discuss a proposed bill aimed at re-engaging students who have disconnected from educational institutions in New Mexico. The meeting focused on the logistics of generating a list of students aged 18 and under who are not currently enrolled in school, which would include their names, phone numbers, and addresses for targeted outreach by accredited New Mexico schools.

The discussion began with a representative expressing the importance of parental involvement in the process, emphasizing that parents of minors should be informed and have access to the outreach efforts directed at their children. The representative noted that families already receive recruitment materials from colleges, indicating a precedent for such communication.

Concerns were raised regarding the potential for charter schools to exploit this data for recruitment purposes. A committee member suggested that the state should take a more active role in managing the outreach process rather than relying solely on individual schools, particularly those that may prioritize enrollment numbers over student welfare.

In response, another committee member acknowledged these concerns and clarified that any school wishing to access the student lists would need to enter into a data-sharing agreement with the Public Education Department (PED). This measure aims to ensure that outreach is targeted and effective, rather than relying on broad advertising methods that may not reach the intended audience.

The bill's sponsor highlighted that the initial version of the legislation had broader data access provisions, which were revised to focus specifically on New Mexico students to address privacy concerns. The intent of the bill is to provide support for students who may not be receiving necessary resources, thereby facilitating their re-engagement with education.

The committee concluded the discussion with a commitment to further clarify the data-sharing agreements and ensure that the outreach efforts align with the goal of supporting students in New Mexico. The meeting underscored the importance of collaboration between schools and the state to effectively address the issue of student disengagement.