Lobbyist: 2025 legislative session brings funding increases, a controversial special appropriation and new mandates for Gallup-McKinley schools

At a Gallup McKinley County School Board meeting, JD Bullington, the district's registered lobbyist, reviewed key outcomes from the 2025 New Mexico legislative session and highlighted items that could affect local budgets, capital projects and district policy.

Bullington told the board that House Bill 2, the omnibus budget bill, includes the bulk of state funding for public schools and that the Senate Finance Committee version increased public school support. "Right at the top of the list is House Bill 2. That is the omnibus budget bill... and of course, in that budget bill includes a lot of funding for education," Bullington said.

Why it matters: the budget and related bills determine how much state operating and targeted funding flows to Gallup-McKinley County Schools, what strings accompany one-year appropriations and which new mandates the district must implement.

Major funding and appropriation items

- House Bill 2 (omnibus budget): Bullington said the Senate Finance Committee's numbers raised public school support above the House recommendation; he pointed the board to the public school support table included in the packet and to a separate handout enumerating line items. He and district staff said the SEG (state equalization guarantee) total is now roughly in the multi-billion-dollar range and that the session included both formula changes (House Bill 63) and one-year, "below-the-line" appropriations that require reimbursement applications.

- Below-the-line appropriations: Bullington and district staff said the session included about $200 million in single-year or special appropriations that districts must apply for and that the board should expect instability where programs depend on one-year money.

- Special appropriation for Rio Rancho: Bullington and Superintendent Hyatt flagged a late special appropriation in the capital/outlay and budget bills that would direct additional millions to Rio Rancho Public Schools. Board members criticized the single-district award and asked staff to send a letter asking the governor to remove that language; Bullington said a draft letter is being prepared and that the governor's deadline for action on bills is April 11. "We're gonna have another list with amounts of how much our legislators have supported our children," a board member said as the board discussed mobilizing community comment.

Mandates and policy changes affecting the district

- House Bill 8 (chaptered): Bullington said the bill makes it a felony to make certain school shooting or bomb threats. "That is signed by the governor. That is now law," he said, and suggested district outreach to warn students and families about the new criminal penalties.

- Senate Bill 11 / anti-distraction policy (pending the governor): Bullington and district staff said the legislature adopted an anti-distraction requirement that will require districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices during instructional hours, while preserving exceptions for students who rely on assistive technology. Staff told the board the policy must be in place by Aug. 1, 2025, if the bill becomes law.

- House Bill 54 (defibrillators): Bullington said the bill would require defibrillators (AEDs) in every high school but contains no state funding. "The only concern here is it's a great idea, but it's expensive and there's no funding," he said.

- House Bill 63 (public school funding formula changes): Bullington noted this bill implements Legislative Education Study Committee recommendations and increases secondary unit values that affect middle and high school funding.

Other policy and fiscal items

- Paid family medical leave (House Bill 11): Bullington and board members discussed the bill's defeat in Senate Finance amid concerns about fund viability and long-term costs.

- Tribal and charter changes (Senate Bill 13): Bullington said the new State-Tribal Education Compact Schools Act allows tribal governments to operate schools that can receive state funding; the district expressed concern that routing funds outside the district could complicate accountability and local control.

- Veteran property tax exemption (House Bill 47): board members and staff discussed possible effects on assessed valuation and local bonding capacity; Bullington said the full fiscal impact was still being analyzed but noted the county estimated several million dollars in reduced tax revenues.

Local follow-up the board requested

Board members asked staff to: - Draft and deliver a letter to the governor asking removal of the singled-out appropriation to Rio Rancho (deadline for executive action: April 11), and to publish information about local legislators' capital outlay allocations after the governor acts. - Compile the list of marijuana- and tobacco-related bills that reached the governor's desk so the board can track enforcement and consider further advocacy. - Monitor capital outlay reauthorizations after April 11 and report specifics to the board.

Quotations and attribution

"In odd numbered years, like 2025, the legislature meets for 60 straight calendar days," Bullington told the board as he began his briefing. He emphasized the omnibus budget's centrality to district funding and the late timing of some special appropriations inside the Senate Finance Committee's version of House Bill 2.

Ending

Bullington and district staff framed the session as overall positive on funding but flagged a mix of one-year appropriations and mandates the district will have to implement without steady multiyear support. Board members asked staff to mobilize constituent outreach to the governor and to return with a specific report on capital outlay awards for Gallup-McKinley County Schools once the governor finalizes the capital bill.