The Senate Education Committee on an undisclosed date advanced a package of education-related measures, including a new physician loan‑repayment program, a proposed constitutional amendment to permit school bond questions on general election ballots, amendments to the Community Governance Attorney Act, clarifying authority for the Educational Retirement Board to hold property, expansion of the Early Childhood Trust Fund’s authorized uses and an overhaul of administrative licensure for school leaders.

Senator Richard Brandt (Sponsor) told the committee the physician loan‑repayment bill would create a second, separate loan‑repayment program for physicians and carry a $15 million appropriation to fund full repayment over a four‑year service commitment in designated shortage areas. "This is to a 4 year commitment to stay in New Mexico," Brandt said, and described the program as intended to make New Mexico more competitive with other states that offer multi‑year, larger repayment packages. Brandt said the program would be separate from the state's existing medical loan‑repayment program (which he said is funded at $25,000 a year on average) and would be an additional appropriation, not a reallocation.

Supporters in the room included JD Bullington of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, who said 30 of the state's 33 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas and described the bill as a "lifeline" for physicians in those areas. Nathan Bush, staff at the University of New Mexico, also testified in favor of the bill, calling the shortage of providers a statewide problem.

Committee members pressed on eligibility language and funding. Senator Nava asked whether DACA recipients who are licensed physicians but have immigration status questions would be eligible; Brandt said the current medical program has language that could be reviewed and indicated willingness to work on clarifying language. Brandt told the committee he is seeking the $15 million appropriation separately through the finance process and expressed interest in creating a dedicated trust to stabilize funding in future years.

The committee moved the loan‑repayment bill forward (do pass). The transcript records a roll call after the motion; the committee chair announced the motion carried. The transcript does not record a complete, unambiguous tally for that particular roll call in the portions provided.

The committee also advanced Senate Joint Resolution 11, a proposed constitutional amendment to remove a sentence that currently requires school elections to be held separately from partisan elections. Sponsors and supporters — including Meredith Machin of the League of Women Voters, Rosangela Ortiz of the Santa Fe County Clerk's Office and Joe Guillen of the New Mexico School Boards Association — told the committee consolidating school elections with general elections would increase turnout and avoid the expense of special elections. Guillen said special elections can cost school districts "almost $200,000" for a bond question and can delay access to capital funding.

The sponsor described the provision as a historical holdover dating to the early 20th century; the proposed amendment would allow school boards to place bond and mill levy questions on general election ballots in even‑numbered years. The committee voted to move the resolution forward (do pass).

The committee also approved language to confirm the Educational Retirement Board (ERB) may purchase, acquire and hold real property and related improvements. The sponsor described the change as a clarification of powers the ERB already exercises; the measure was advanced on a do‑pass recommendation.

Representative Baca's House Bill 24, amending the 2020 Community Governance Attorney Act, was heard in committee. Representatives and witnesses, including Adrian Oglesby (Hutton Transboundary Resources Center), Enrique Romero (New Mexico Department of Justice Treaty Division) and higher‑education staff, described the bill’s amendments as administrative and programmatic refinements: moving recruitment and contract administration responsibilities to the University of New Mexico School of Law and the commission that oversees the program, expanding eligible legal service providers (including certain state agencies, counties and municipalities that serve colonias) and allowing state funding to count as the required cost share so civic entities can participate more easily. Witnesses said the program pays tuition and a living stipend for third‑year law students and funds half of the salary for graduates who commit to service in qualifying communities; current funding allows enrollment of one student per year and statute caps the program at two.

The committee advanced HB24 on a do pass recommendation.

Senator Michael Padilla presented clarifying enabling language for the Early Childhood Trust Fund; sponsors said the bill would expand eligible uses to include prenatal services and would be contingent on voter approval of a separate joint resolution (SJR6). Testimony from the LANL Foundation emphasized prenatal investment as part of early childhood strategy. The committee voted to advance the bill on a do‑pass recommendation.

House Bill 157 (amended), a multi‑year effort to revise school administrative licensure and require differentiated preparation, mentoring and induction for principals and superintendents, drew extended discussion. Sponsors and advocates — including the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) policy staff, the League of Women Voters, the New Mexico School Superintendents and the Public Education Department — said the bill was the result of two years of stakeholder work and is intended to raise preparation standards, require principal preparation programs to align with national best practices, and provide on‑the‑job supports and mentoring. The bill contains grandfathering for current principals and superintendents, a provisional superintendent license process and a pathway to a five‑year superintendent license. Committee members asked detailed questions about grandfathering dates, provisional license renewals and waivers for emergency hiring; sponsors explained the grandfathering and provisional timelines and the bill’s intent to allow temporary appointments while candidates complete required preparation. The committee voted to pass HB157 (amended) on a do‑pass recommendation.

Votes at a glance

- Physician loan‑repayment bill (Brandt): Motion for do pass carried; roll call taken. Transcript does not record a complete tally in the provided excerpts. (Sponsor: Senator Brandt.)

- Senate Joint Resolution 11 (school election timing): Do pass. Supporters testified consolidation would increase turnout and reduce special‑election costs. (Sponsor: committee listing; sponsor spoke during the hearing.)

- Senate Bill clarifying ERB property authority: Do pass; committee announced a do‑pass recommendation. (Sponsor: committee listing.)

- House Bill 24 (Community Governance Attorney Act amendments): Do pass; committee advanced statutory housekeeping, eligibility and cost‑share changes. (Sponsor: Representative Garcia.)

- Senate Bill 167 / Early Childhood Trust Fund enabling language: Do pass. The measure expands eligible uses (including prenatal services) and is contingent on voter approval of the enabling joint resolution. (Sponsor: Senator Padilla.)

- House Bill 157 (administrative licensure for principals and superintendents), as amended: Do pass. The bill requires differentiated preparation, mentoring and induction supports and includes grandfathering and provisional licensure pathways. (Sponsor: Representative Baca.)

What this means

Committee sponsors characterized most measures as implementation, clarification or targeted investments rather than broad policy overhauls. The physician loan‑repayment bill is the largest new appropriation discussed on the record — sponsors said they are pursuing a $15 million appropriation — and several senators asked about long‑term funding stability. The licensure bill is the result of multi‑year stakeholder work and was repeatedly described as intended to improve school leadership capacity over time.

Next steps

All measures advanced from committee remain subject to further consideration by the Senate (or, for house bills, by the receiving chamber) and to appropriation processes where funding is required. Sponsors repeatedly noted some language remains subject to refinement (for example: eligibility details for the physician repayment program and exact grandfathering dates and implementation rules for licensure changes).