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Superintendent briefs board on 2025 legislative session; funding increases and pending policy changes noted
Summary
District officials summarized outcomes of the 60-day New Mexico legislative session, including a proposed 4% average salary increase in HB2, funding for AEDs in high schools and changes to secondary student weightings; several bills remain uncertain or were vetoed/overridden as described.
Superintendent and staff gave a legislative update to the Hobbs Municipal Schools Board on March 25, outlining key bills from the recently concluded 60-day session and their anticipated impact on district finances and policy.
Staff noted that House Bill 2, the general appropriation, includes an average 4% salary increase used in funding calculations; district staff said that while the legislature expresses increases as an "average" the district will continue to analyze budget impacts for its own salary schedule. House Bill 54 provides funding for defibrillators in high schools; the district said it already has AEDs in each building and could use the funds for replacement.
The update also called out House Bill 63 (changes to the funding formula) and House Bill 65 (instructional hours/calendar legislation). Staff said HB65 had passed both chambers but was vetoed by the governor and that the house voted to override the veto while the senate did not complete an override, leaving the veto in place. Staff discussed a change in the secondary index from 1.25 to 1.3 and that sixth graders would move to the secondary index; early district calculations suggested that change could be beneficial to Hobbs.
Other bills mentioned included measures on teacher advancement, device/anti-distraction policy guidance (Senate Bill 11), and changes to returning-to-work rules for retirees (Senate Bill 133), among several others. Staff described the session overall as financially positive for districts while noting uncertainties remain as agencies and the executive branch finalize rules and as some bills may be subject to appeal or future special sessions.
