Science, Technology & Telecommunications committee adopts interim work plan focused on AI, cybersecurity and broadband

The Science, Technology & Telecommunications Committee approved an interim work plan at its organizational meeting, setting priorities that include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, broadband deployment and quantum research.

The work plan, presented by Mark Edwards of the Legislative Council Service, will guide the committee’s interim hearings, field visits and bill development. "I draft work plans to be a table of contents," Edwards said, describing the plan as a focused roadmap rather than an exhaustive checklist.

The nut of the meeting was the committee’s decision to continue oversight of state IT projects, national laboratory developments and university science-and-technology programs, and to examine broadband infrastructure and the telecommunications market within New Mexico. Committee members emphasized three recurring priorities: how artificial intelligence is being used and regulated, the state’s cybersecurity posture, and progress on broadband and connectivity.

Members raised specific topics they want added to agendas. Senator Tobias (District 21) and others urged presentations on artificial intelligence risks and legislation, including impacts on juvenile justice and housing. Senator Bill Sowell suggested a White Sands tour and flagged aerospace and aviation demonstrations tied to Las Cruces-area meetings. Representative Meredith Dixon and others asked for updates on university research funding and commercialization programs.

Cybersecurity and state IT project management drew repeated attention. "We need to know what's going on in the state," the chair said during discussion, noting that school districts and other state systems have been targets of attacks. Several members requested presentations from the Department of Information Technology on project implementation, status reporting (red/yellow/green), and the agency’s modernizing project office.

Broadband also received sustained focus. Multiple members sought a full update from the state broadband office and wanted details about the status of a major federal broadband award the committee discussed as "675,000,000 ABID money," and whether that funding remains at risk. Senator Bergman and others requested an A-to-Z briefing on the Office of Broadband's plans and leadership changes.

Quantum computing and its pace of development were highlighted by Representative Joshua Hernandez and others; the committee noted a $50 million appropriation this year for quantum initiatives and requested panels on strategy and coordination with higher education and the governor’s quantum adviser. Renewable-energy and energy-supply topics were also raised in the context of supporting high-energy data centers, with a number of members urging study of small modular nuclear reactors and water use associated with data centers.

The committee agreed to a travel schedule that would include Los Alamos (LANL/UNM Los Alamos campus), Albuquerque (Sandia National Laboratories), Tucumcari (wind-technology education), and Las Cruces/NMSU with potential visits to White Sands Missile Range. Mark Edwards warned members to prepare security information in advance for lab and range tours.

A motion to approve the work plan passed with no recorded opposition. The motion’s maker and seconder were not specified in the meeting transcript; no roll-call tally was recorded. The committee invited public comment; none was offered in person or online during the meeting.

Next steps include staff outreach to secure presenters on AI legislation, cybersecurity project management, broadband implementation, quantum strategy, and university research funding. The committee also directed staff to coordinate logistics for lab and field visits and to solicit potential expert presenters on labor-market impacts of AI.

The committee will use the adopted work plan as a guide for interim hearings and for identifying legislation to bring forward during the next session.