Senate committee backs three-year pilot creating NMSU STEM Center of Excellence

Senate Bill 107, which would create a STEM Center of Excellence at New Mexico State University (NMSU) and a statewide STEM innovation network of regional and tribal hubs, received a due-pass recommendation from the Senate Education Committee after testimony from educators, nonprofit leaders and business groups.

The bill would authorize a center at NMSU to manage day-to-day operations, create an interdisciplinary steering committee to oversee the network and allow up to eight regional hubs; any federally recognized tribe, nation or pueblo in New Mexico could also operate a tribal hub. The bill proposes a $6,000,000 appropriation from the Public Education Reform Fund (PERF) to the Public Education Department for fiscal years 2026–28, with the program structured as a three-year pilot that must report and be evaluated by the end of FY 2028.

Why it matters: supporters said the network would link K–12, out-of-school programs, higher education and industry to broaden access to STEM learning and career pathways across the state, including rural and tribal communities. Opponents did not appear during the committee hearing; questions from senators focused on governance, evaluation, and how NMSU and other institutions would participate.

Sponsor comments and supporters: Senator Pope, the bill sponsor, said the measure was endorsed by the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) and had broad backing from nonprofits and educators. Jan Williams, a retired engineer and fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, testified, “The STEM Innovation Network for New Mexico ... has the potential to improve the financial and employment outcomes for all students across the state.” Wanda Bulger Thames, director of the STEM Outreach Center at NMSU, testified that NMSU would serve as the principal hub and partner with institutions and industry to scale STEM learning statewide.

Questions and clarifications: Committee members asked about the number and size of the steering committee and whether creating many hubs would be administratively burdensome. Senator Pope and Connor Hicks (LESC staff) said the bill intentionally leaves structural details flexible so hubs reflect local needs; they acknowledged the steering committee could be large and said that local community colleges, tribal entities or other institutions could host hubs. Committee members also asked where the $6 million would come from and whether the funding would be recurring; sponsors said the appropriation would come from PERF and is written as a three‑year, nonrecurring pilot intended to leverage private and grant funding afterward. Committee members pressed for performance measures; sponsors pointed to a separate bill under consideration (to amend PERF statute) that would require planning, evaluation and performance measures for initiatives funded from the reform fund.

Outcome: A motion for a due-pass recommendation was made and seconded; the committee called the roll and granted a due pass for Senate Bill 107.

Next steps and implementation notes: If enacted as written, the Public Education Department would be responsible for contracting or subawarding funds, the NMSU center would manage operations, and the steering committee would set hub selection criteria and reporting requirements. The bill requires annual reporting and evaluation through FY 2028. Supporters said they expect the center to seek private and grant funding to supplement the pilot appropriation.