[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6303471,"mediaKeyId","2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be","parentId",2472012,"title","Senate panel advances SJR 15 to create appointed state board of education after extended debate","audioSeconds",1766,"startMs",3753000,"endMs",5519000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be&start=3753&end=5519","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be/thumbnail_3753000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303471/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-advances-SJR-15-to-create-appointed-state-board-of-education-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303471-fc9e1bf5df82a073fa2af8b194680af1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438606&Signature=ddMAwQnoZC78ZP0wDZblpKxjosp38CnJBw9EIzb-UUrgNXw~uU1sz9l2bx-YAJGp9-KgPyTSIoIjeyFOu3-4v5QtSBT4HefmnJf-7aU8OnYXMeHYsXkPdiMzDR82OU6tvjkCn~NQYo7sQTmqqnqVfkusxdLpxhwbUyk3OUXbtUnocvZUxyHuBrwB5NXzkjNzE2EAt64-Ga2rojNFsxIBrts1D1ArHLTnFvs-s1e6en4mgk4hmPyGEAAlwIitN4NBiq1pK3Cdp-y3P39Nu2x6WC1YT2fjW5inBT2Gulkq2hDGdP9RoZYcM51j~KC2i8afkPf-xPET2HBymeCJwF9clw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-03T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to give SJR 15 a due pass after extended debate and testimony from education agencies, charter-school groups, chambers of commerce and teachers’ organizations.

Sponsor remarks described the measure as a way to depoliticize education governance by replacing the current executive-led structure with a nine-member stakeholder board appointed from education-related organizations and governmental offices. The sponsor said the Public Education Commission (PEC) would remain in place to oversee charter authorizers, while the new state board would include representatives such as a legislative member, a governor’s appointee, and representatives of school boards, unions, superintendents, tribal nations and charter schools — with final details to be specified in enabling legislation if voters approve the constitutional change.

Opponents included the Public Education Department (represented by Assistant Secretary Gregory Frostad), Public Charter Schools of New Mexico (Matt Paul), New Mexico KIDSCAN (Amanda Aragon), the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (Terry Cole), Teach Plus New Mexico (Hope Morales), and civil-society witnesses such as Meredith Machen (League of Women Voters). Opposition arguments cited the lack of research that a state board would improve student outcomes, potential disruption to cross-agency collaboration (for example, with HED and ECECD), concern about insufficient detail on appointment processes, and the risk of adding bureaucracy.

Supporters and some senators said the proposal could reduce politicization in elected local-school-election cycles and restore a governance model used in the past. Several senators voiced frustration with current education outcomes and turnover in education leadership and said SJR 15 offered a potential governance alternative worth advancing to the ballot or studying further.

The subcommittee considered and rejected a motion to table. Following roll-call, the committee recorded a due-pass recommendation with five votes in favor and three against. The resolution will proceed for further legislative steps; if passed by the Legislature, it would appear on the ballot and enablement language would determine appointment and operational details.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate - Rules Mar 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","SJR 15, a constitutional amendment to create a nine-member appointed state board of education, advanced out of the Senate Rules subcommittee despite opposition from education groups and some senators who urged interim study.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",78419,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303476,"Senate memorial calls for working group on Native American Language and Culture certification",210,3402000,3612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be&start=3402&end=3612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be/thumbnail_3402000.jpg","/articles/6303476/New-Mexico/Senate-memorial-calls-for-working-group-on-Native-American-Language-and-Culture-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303476-d0be523dc43df13baefbf92076e046a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438606&Signature=aBT5FvBRNgVvH4v0b1QBKUhu6V~X-CV1UJQ233JvfQxWu6jcYt-cFe9yzwTY1c2QB1v5vOVtHxS0BBeVBFvDC1F0PhwZ8ZSBGiiIEqQdcBKCb31HFVVJI2i-oF5mKlkexXLvYZHh8U5KIOtP9CWNLsgpmW~h2g2VfFLD2wc5YSLO0HXZEb4xYNakZiUnKszYEBZFOvJJauvgmo3oCL1T7bRCTRvLpM1zub16ZpW4kBIxqKE6Lr-A4jeZ0HxRgpejY4R8ljDiw7qmYKuWwHh78-5H~uCZOF47uBB0hCiU6Ho0tQu~ymlK0FoVtcMYaNjvbb~VcfkMgjQwXb9HBl-3Ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Rules subcommittee issued a due-pass recommendation for a Senate memorial asking the Legislative Service Committee (LSC) to convene a statewide working group to study and recommend changes related to the 5-20 Native American Language and Culture (NALC) certificate.

Senator Pinto (sponsor) described the memorial as a request for LSC to convene a working group with statewide representation to study organizational structure, accountability, professional development, data collection and a long-term strategy for system improvement tied to the 5-20 NALC certificate. The memorial requests recommended actions be provided to the Legislature, the Public Education Department (PED) and the Indian Education Division within PED.

Dr. Geneva Vicente, director of the Dine language mentor-apprentice program on the Navajo Nation, testified as an expert witness and described the interest of tribal communities in authentic language assessment and certification pathways.

No organized opposition was recorded. The subcommittee recorded nine votes in favor and advanced the memorial to the next step for consideration by the LSC.","A Senate memorial asking the Legislative Service Committee to convene a working group on the 5-20 Native American Language and Culture certificate advanced after the sponsor outlined proposed areas of study and a tribal language expert testified.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303481,"Senate panel advances HB 3 to expand LESC study to early childhood and higher education",298,3094000,3392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be&start=3094&end=3392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be/thumbnail_3094000.jpg","/articles/6303481/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-advances-HB-3-to-expand-LESC-study-to-early-childhood-and-higher-education","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303481-14c96c15130eed2830730f49930235dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438606&Signature=aiy~0BJnaIubm5msbzKp2F0WRMW5v-a1em~uZMWlfbRxwgv6GaeYXdUwPsnEbbdJ8Ag9ii-34CYT4ILeeoU-ml0qJH2I3v8wwINDE17ZhxEMn2U4bpftCX3rTpkNkX~z1C9dsUUXoadCW6rRPRTGlINSCpQuYIMWqWkOWK-EwT-bM5k0g5SFgg-aa1oddrsxP9K-~FHCdaOzgZlSvxQKOckrXY4F6zQjq7~WtkF85st~g28A2uTi2VGaGrNng9-wy5hVGB~8X~Keut98bHU4rAXMXWDZeFBWsvphi6pmQ4fkX6IzXuSZYR~buTgMW7Rw8rVq99nRbVO2q8PZvicG7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Rules subcommittee gave HB 3 a due pass after lawmakers and education stakeholders urged expanding the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) remit to examine early childhood and higher-education policy alongside K–12.

Representative sponsors said the change would support a “cradle-to-career” view of the education system and create opportunities to align policy across early childhood, K–12 and higher education. Supporters included Meredith Machen (League of Women Voters, AAUW, NOW local branch) and Naomi Valdez (NEA New Mexico), who said the expansion would provide a proactive venue to engage educators and affected communities.

Committee members questioned whether prior iterations had been vetoed and whether the measure could advance this year; the sponsor said she was optimistic and emphasized the bipartisan, volunteer work of LESC. Senator Bergman asked about previous veto history; the sponsor said she hoped the bill’s broader support would help it succeed.

Senators voted to advance HB 3; the committee recorded eight votes in favor and moved the bill forward for further consideration.","HB 3 would broaden the Legislative Education Study Committee’s scope to include early childhood and higher education; advocates urged a cradle-to-career review and bipartisan study. The committee gave the bill a due pass.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303486,"Senate panel gives HJR 2 a due pass to require governor to explain pocket vetoes",64,2757000,2821000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be&start=2757&end=2821","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be/thumbnail_2757000.jpg","/articles/6303486/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-gives-HJR-2-a-due-pass-to-require-governor-to-explain-pocket-vetoes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303486-dd895bca6dc41064badb7c4f4e5507a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438606&Signature=bBov3WCYTer5UOz5YcdniF2AihCy5Zs-PhsF0IH0F3MKXLWJD~bzorOU8K4kbi07EMB-LS8CqKzAo4rkPW6M1ZCD2IYfAj8jScU8IISJKtc2SKF0Xmpt0RDAE9anii76QxqQCWGqXtw9LdRCpniaW8FoJGkvR6m9pFT36JGQZJIfibztJKorsNBmzThBTKcMEL0uhP-8FPgFmGpHGW0IDdCeHvwMLhsqOG6PqchIRscmKUyWfF31-JcMBeyiI8fpyBifZASPX-2SRoTYU3OIYn02l1kdqceVMQWMVv86KSHRNAZine6klwXH4aPpE-jDxYs6~1yQN6oGhgZ6tecOdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Rules subcommittee gave HJR 2 a due pass after testimony that the measure would eliminate the governor’s ability to silently let legislation expire — commonly called a pocket veto — without issuing a message explaining the veto.

Representative McQueen introduced HJR 2 as a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the governor to issue a message when a bill becomes a veto, closing a transparency gap when legislation is sent to the governor in the final days of a session.

Mason Graham of Common Cause New Mexico told the committee the pocket veto “lacks transparency and accountability” and that “every veto should receive a message from the governor to provide legislators and the public an explanation.” Hannah Burling, co-president of the League of Women Voters of New Mexico, said the league “stands in strong support of HJR 2” and urged a “due pass.”

No organized opposition appeared at the hearing. A senator in the panel said he had concerns about other committee practices that allow measures to never reach a floor vote, but the committee’s action on HJR 2 focused on the pocket-veto change.

The committee recorded nine votes in favor and advanced HJR 2 to the next stage.","A constitutional amendment proposal requiring the governor to deliver messages explaining vetoes advanced out of committee after supporters said the change would increase transparency.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6303490,"Senate panel advances Manny Barretas as cabinet secretary and state chief information officer",2698,18000,2716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be&start=18&end=2716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2472012-d917ff4b0eae13d1bd9afac1df91c0be/thumbnail_18000.jpg","/articles/6303490/New-Mexico/Senate-panel-advances-Manny-Barretas-as-cabinet-secretary-and-state-chief-information-officer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303490-dabfd1e3aed014468c1f8fc43ac4b43f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770438606&Signature=SnTKueGPbToY6Aj2ExuZzsPDV~4tnxhPq~aike7k2Mxl1E-vjb3nDBfwN6-~kf4DiMbeqxVKNWYyowvIfSd8-yn2Gj2jVRhWe2H-j69KQQnh~1kvRF6lOKXEsOqHGDlhA~N-Z9mohHNp0BT32umbdQ8w5eyUParE~m2pU5rn0fzkZE-kAi6C4sVvcuLFd4EUUon6k-UMmqD1VFAWPu0j-a6JQO9kx7mSRYITD5cFmikxdqb97nbOxcRydZt7IR7trpAGr91UU~S0AE1AYoPu8IPW9LcHeKjWaLczQxHn06ZOtiPyA-j5ns-kQPSAuegyUOr3yAn6aC5NjKcvJZMLvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Senate Rules subcommittee voted to send Manny Barretas’s nomination for Cabinet Secretary and State Chief Information Officer at the Department of Information Technology (DoIT) to the full Senate for confirmation.

Senator Michael Padilla, who sponsored the nomination, told the subcommittee Barretas has “over 26 years of experience in sales, business development, and government relations all in the information technology arena,” and that Barretas has served in an acting capacity at DoIT during a period of transition.

Barretas told the committee he aims to “modernize, secure, and expand New Mexico’s digital infrastructure so that every resident…has access to reliable, cost effective, secure technology.” He highlighted priorities including bridging the digital divide, strengthening cybersecurity, streamlining delivery of government services, investing in IT workforce development, and adopting cloud and automation where appropriate.

Supporters in the hearing pointed to Barretas’s experience with public-safety communications. Pete Casetes, a retired New Mexico State Police chief, said he relied on Barretas’s “straight direct answers” while consolidating dispatch centers and that Barretas “understands” the work. Rick Brown described Barretas’s role in building a countywide radio system now used by “60 plus public safety agencies” with more than 9,000 radios.

Committee members pressed Barretas on several operational and governance questions. Senators raised the fragmented structure of state IT — multiple departments running separate servers and help desks — and asked whether Barretas would pursue centralization. Barretas said he and his team are “working together to try to centralize” IT functions and to adopt a statewide cybersecurity plan in coordination with cabinet secretaries and agency CIOs. He identified the Office of Cybersecurity as a unified function and described the Office of Broadband as administratively attached to DoIT.

Lawmakers also asked about conflicts of interest tied to Barretas’s private-sector background. Barretas said he spent nearly two decades with Motorola Solutions and reported leading multimillion-dollar public-safety contracts, including delivering about $400,000,000 in mission-critical systems. He told the committee he would follow ethics guidelines and recuse himself from decisions that posed conflicts; he also described plans to move procurement and contract work out of DoIT’s enterprise project management office to the General Services Department (GSD) to expedite contracting and reduce redline workload.

On policy questions, senators asked how Barretas would approach artificial intelligence. Barretas said the state currently lacks a standardized AI policy or statute and that his team is working on a “game plan” to standardize AI platforms and governance.

Barretas said DoIT “doesn't really rely on too many federal funds” and that the Office of Broadband, which is administratively attached to DoIT, does pursue federal grants. Committee members noted a previously discussed federal broadband grant of roughly $670,000,000 that could be at risk and asked how DoIT might help protect or accelerate projects tied to such grants.

After public and member remarks, Senator Townsend moved to advance Barretas’s nomination to the full Senate for confirmation. The motion carried; the subcommittee recorded nine votes in favor to move the nomination forward.

If confirmed by the full Senate, Barretas pledged to work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen cybersecurity, expand broadband access in rural and tribal areas, and modernize state IT systems.","A Senate Rules subcommittee advanced the nomination of Manny Barretas to lead New Mexico’s Department of Information Technology after testimony on his public-safety experience, plans for broadband and cybersecurity, and questions about centralizing IT and conflicts of interest.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel advances SJR 15 to create appointed state board of education after extended debate

Senate memorial calls for working group on Native American Language and Culture certification

Senate panel advances HB 3 to expand LESC study to early childhood and higher education

Senate panel gives HJR 2 a due pass to require governor to explain pocket vetoes

Senate panel advances Manny Barretas as cabinet secretary and state chief information officer