Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Capital Outlay topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee extends local‑match relief for school capital projects, eases waiver tests
Summary
Senate Bill 82 received a due‑pass recommendation after testimony that temporarily reduced local match requirements and eliminated two small‑district waiver subrequirements would help small and high‑poverty districts access state capital funds; school boards and the Public School Capital Outlay Council supported the change.
The House Education Committee recommended Senate Bill 82 for passage, advancing legislation that extends a temporary reduction in local match requirements and eliminates two waiver subrequirements to help small or high‑poverty school districts access state capital funds.
Chair Romero said the bill was developed with the Public School Capital Outlay Task Force and the Legislative Education Study Committee to address known hurdles small districts face when applying for capital projects. Testimony from the New Mexico School Boards Association, the Public School Capital Outlay Council (PSCOC) leadership and the NEA of New Mexico supported the change, saying the reduced local match and relaxed waiver criteria have enabled small districts to proceed with needed projects in recent cycles.
Lili May Ortiz, legislative liaison for the New Mexico School Boards Association, told the committee the measure would increase the number of districts eligible for local match waivers in the PSCOC award process and “provide students with safe, comfortable, and appropriate learning environments.” Joe Guillen, executive director of the School Boards Association and chair of PSCOC, said relaxing match requirements has made the difference in many districts being able to afford projects.
No witnesses testified in opposition. Representative Latta moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Collin seconded and the committee advanced the bill.
Supporters said the change aims to speed funds to districts that have historically been unable to meet local match requirements and to reduce administrative barriers for micro districts and high‑poverty districts to secure state capital outlays.
