Committee approves bill ensuring Native students may wear tribal regalia at school events

The House Education Committee gave a due pass to Senate Bill 163, which would prohibit public school boards and charter governing bodies from banning tribal regalia or objects of cultural significance for students enrolled in—or eligible to enroll in—federally recognized Indian nations, tribes and pueblos at graduation ceremonies and other public school events. An amendment adding an emergency clause was reported on the Senate side and discussed; sponsors said that would allow the law to take effect immediately so graduating students this year could wear regalia.

Senator Shindo (present for the hearing) and Representative Roybal Caballero presented the bill and were joined by Josette Manette, Cabinet Secretary for Indian Affairs, who said the measure ensures "students who graduate from public schools in New Mexico will have the ability to wear their regalia at their schools." Student and tribal leaders, tribal governments and advocacy groups offered broad support in testimony, describing regalia as spiritually and culturally significant and recounting local incidents where students were restricted from wearing regalia at graduation.

Youth testimony included direct appeals that regalia reflects identity and ancestral stories. One youth intern said, "Most people think that regalia is just clothing or jewelry, but to us, it's more than that. It holds stories and every thread and bead woven to make this beautiful regalia we wear." Tribal governments (including Pueblo of Laguna, Taos, Acoma, Tesuque and Santa Ana) and organizations including New Mexico Native Vote, Albuquerque Indigenous Community Coalition, Public Charter Schools of New Mexico and the New Mexico Public Education Department voiced support. Witnesses asked the committee to adopt the emergency clause so current-year graduates would be covered.

Committee members expressed personal concern about incidents in which students were asked to remove regalia and discussed whether the bill’s definition should extend to groups seeking state recognition. The cabinet secretary said drafters had aligned the bill’s language with federal recognition categories and with how other states have written similar protections.

Representative Martha Garcia moved the due-pass motion and Representative Chatfield seconded; the chair announced no opposition and advanced the bill.

The transcript records robust public support and committee discussion; a numeric roll-call tally was not provided in the excerpt.