Committee advances bill to preserve New Mexico's heritage Spanish, boost Hispanic Education Council support

The House Education Committee gave a "do pass" recommendation to House Bill 487, a bill that sponsors said would amend the Hispanic Education Act to protect and preserve New Mexico's heritage Spanish language and culture, formalize parity and compensation for the Hispanic Education Advisory Council, and name state agencies to the statute.

Representative Tanya Mira Valmoya (listed as the presenting sponsor, Representative Torres Velasquez in opening remarks) told the committee the bill aims to "protect and preserve New Mexico's heritage Spanish language and culture" and to change statutory language so the program becomes eligible for consistent funding. She said the measure would add parity for the advisory council so members can receive mileage and per diem like other advisory councils.

Deputy Secretary Candace Castillo of the Public Education Department (PED) described the department's role overseeing student support services tied to the Hispanic Education Act. Julia Rosa Emsley, the department's Hispanic education liaison, and Dr. Patricia Trujillo of the Higher Education Department also spoke in technical or supportive roles. Dr. Trujillo told the committee the Higher Education Department stands in technical support and noted higher education institutions can help prepare preservice teachers through teacher-preparation partnerships.

Multiple witnesses and members of the Hispanic Education Advisory Council urged the committee to approve the bill. Council members and allies said the council has operated on a volunteer basis since 2011 and has not historically received mileage or per diem. A representative of the council told the panel, "we are the only council that does not receive per diem mileage or per diem," and urged parity so members across the state can participate.

Members discussed the bill's language choices. Committee members asked about wording changes such as replacing "educational success" with "academic success" and whether that would narrow focus only to grades and test scores. Sponsors said they intended a holistic view of student success and sought wording that would encourage outcome-focused measures rather than simply measuring grade-point averages.

Committee members also discussed how the Hispanic Education Bureau has used prior appropriations. The sponsor and department staff said the bureau has historically requested $500,000 in past fiscal years; staff explained that funds have primarily been distributed to mini-grants and local programs (examples cited included mariachi, folklore dance, drama and other identity-based programs), and some of the appropriation covers staff salaries for the bureau. Committee members noted that compensating advisory council members would likely require an increase in appropriations or reallocation of existing funds.

Representative Caballero moved a do-pass motion on the bill; Representative Corolla seconded. The committee recorded a do pass with no roll-call vote recorded in the transcript.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 487 (as presented) Motion: Give House Bill 487 a do pass; Mover: Representative Caballero; Second: Representative Corolla; Outcome: do pass (voice vote; no roll-call recorded).