Senate Education advances $5 million Grama Scholarship appropriation to expand graduate aid

Senate Education advanced Senate Bill 106 on a unanimous do-pass recommendation after supporters said the $5 million appropriation would broaden graduate scholarship access and help retain graduate students in New Mexico.

Sponsor Senator Pope described SB106 as “an appropriation bill for the Grama Scholarship Act,” saying the measure expands recipient eligibility and increases award amounts to meet greater demand. Nathan Bush, government relations at the University of New Mexico, told the committee, “We absolutely want to show support for our graduate students,” and warned that federal subsidy availability is uncertain.

Committee members pressed the sponsor on eligibility and the bill’s fiscal math. One senator noted last year’s appropriation of $488,300 funded 52 scholarships—about $9,390 each—while the $5 million request estimates roughly 1,000 scholarships at about $5,000 apiece. Senator Pope said awards function as backfill to other grants and scholarships, so per-student awards will vary: “This scholarship kinda comes into backfill,” he said, explaining some students may receive partial amounts depending on other aid.

The bill’s stated basic eligibility requirements discussed in committee are New Mexico residency, a bachelor’s degree and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Committee members also emphasized that many awards in graduate education include assistantship or teaching requirements, and witnesses said funding supports both students and university instructional capacity.

The committee chair called for the will of the committee; after a motion for a do-pass and a second, the roll call produced a unanimous recommendation. The sponsor urged colleagues to press the Senate Finance committee to consider inserting the appropriation into the budget.

SB106 now goes to the Senate Finance committee for consideration.