Senate committee backs 1-year extension to reduce local match for school capital projects, 9-0

A bill to extend a one-year reduction in the local match required for public-school capital outlay projects and to relax certain waiver criteria passed the Senate committee on a 9-0 roll call after supporters described the measure as aimed at helping small, rural districts.

Senator Woods introduced the measure and said the bill had endorsements from the Legislative Education Study Committee and the Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force. He told the committee the main change is a one-year extension of the reduced local match and technical strikes that loosen criteria districts must meet to request waivers.

Superintendents from small districts testified in support. Gene Strickland, superintendent of Hobbs Schools, said the bill would “allow us to continue our capital projects with state funding.” Vance Lee, superintendent of Capitan Municipal Schools, said the extension was “an important increase and the longer we can hold on with that, the better.”

Committee members asked about which specific criteria were being changed; senators were shown strikeouts on page 7 of the bill removing an eligibility threshold tied to free-and-reduced lunch rates and adjusting valuation criteria used in existing formulas. Supporters said the fund balance is sufficient and the task force continues to rank projects to prioritize awards.

Senator Campos moved a do-pass recommendation; Senator Padilla seconded. A roll call recorded nine yes votes and no no votes. The clerk announced a “do pass 9 to 0.”

Senator Woods said the bill intends to increase capacity for small districts to access state capital at a time of high construction costs, and committee members urged timely disbursement of awarded funds so districts can proceed with projects.

The bill will move forward to the next legislative step with the committee’s endorsement.