Committee advances amendments to Hispanic Education Act to preserve Spanish language and add council per diem

The committee recommended a do-pass for House Bill 487, a bill amending the Hispanic Education Act to add statutory language protecting and preserving New Mexico's Spanish heritage language and culture, provide per diem payments for advisory council members, and formalize biannual Hispanic education summits.

Representative Torres Velasquez, the bill sponsor, introduced the measure and identified supporting staff from the Public Education Department, including Deputy Andres Castillo and Dr. Julia Rosa Emsley, Hispanic education liaison. "The Hispanic Education Act was first passed in 2010, and this is the first time that we actually amend the bill," the sponsor said. The revisions would add preservation of Spanish as a stated purpose, provide per diem for advisory-council members who now serve without per diem, and replace deficit-based language such as "achievement gap" with terms like "lifelong success."

Doctor Roibaugh, representing LAHSA New Mexico, and several educators and council members testified in support. Alyssa Beguerilla, superintendent of Lake Arthur Municipal Schools and a member of the Hispanic Education Advisory Council, said: "Providing basic compensation for our work not only ensures fairness, but also builds a network of advocates who can expand and enhance programs statewide." Mandy Torres of Think New Mexico urged preservation of cultural validation and language as part of students' learning.

Supporters tied the bill to the Martinez Yazzie litigation and its court order requiring constitutionally sufficient education for historically underserved groups. Representative Torres Velasquez and department witnesses said the bill would help move the state toward compliance by explicitly protecting Spanish language and culture and investing in advisory capacity and summits that would elevate community voice.

Committee members asked about implementation and existing programs, including the Latino-focused Latinos in Action curriculum in about eight schools, the distribution of parent‑engagement materials and coordination with university archives and cultural centers. Sponsors said prior funding in the legislative packet totaled approximately $500,000 in the prior fiscal cycle for staff and programs and that the bill seeks to grow that support.

The committee recorded a do-pass recommendation; the measure will move to appropriations and other committees as needed.