SANTA FE – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed four education bills, putting years of investment and measurable student gains into permanent state law.
The legislation — covering literacy instruction, math teacher preparation, special education services and school employee insurance — passed both chambers of the legislature with near-unanimous or unanimous bipartisan support.
“Today marks another milestone in changing the trajectory of public education in New Mexico,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. “Reading proficiency is up 10 percentage points since 2022. Teacher pay is 30% higher than when I took office. We moved that needle substantially, and we’re not done. Thank you to every lawmaker who invested in New Mexico’s students this session.”
SB 37 — High Quality Literacy Instruction ActSponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, Rep. Joy Garratt and Rep. Catherine Cullen, and passed unanimously in both chambers, SB 37 makes evidence-based structured literacy instruction state law. The bill requires K-3 reading assessments, mandates that parents be notified when a child is struggling and assigns literacy coaches to schools statewide to support classroom teachers.
The legislation builds on $60.4 million in state literacy investment since 2019, including training more than 1만 educators in evidence-based reading instruction. Reading proficiency across grades 3-8 has climbed 10 percentage points since 2022. Students who have historically been underserved are leading those gains: Native American students posted 13-point improvements, economically disadvantaged students gained 12 points, Hispanic students gained 10 and English learners improved by 8 points.
Nearly half of New Mexico elementary and middle school students now read at grade level, up from about one-third three years ago.
The state is also investing $30 million in capital outlay for a new literacy institute — modeled on successful programs in Kansas, Florida and Pennsylvania — to be completed by end of 2026 and capable of serving 500 students at a time.
SB 29 — Math improvementSponsored by Sen. William Soules, Rep. Debra Sariñana and Rep. Catherine Cullen, and passed unanimously in both chambers, SB 29 raises math coursework requirements for all teacher licensure levels and directs the New Mexico Public Education Department to develop a Mathematics Instructional Leadership Framework, which outlines math instruction for teachers. Beginning in the 2027-28 school year, the bill requires early math screening in grades K-3, with parent-notified support plans and interventions for at-risk students.
SB 64 — Office of Special EducationSponsored by Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, Rep. Joy Garratt and Sen. Cindy Nava, SB 64 formally embeds the Office of Special Education within the Public Education Department in state statute. The bill creates clear lines of authority for the delivery of special education services for about 61,000 New Mexico students. SB 64 passed 62-1 in the House and 38-1 in the Senate.
HB 47 — School employee insuranceHB 47 replaces a tiered employer insurance contribution structure — which varied from 60 to 80% depending on salary — with a flat minimum of 80% for every school district and charter school employee, regardless of salary. The bill is backed by $73.15 million in new appropriations to the public school fund for FY2027. Sponsored by Rep. Raymundo Lara, Sen. Natalie Figueroa, Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, Rep. Tanya Mirabal Moya and Rep. Brian Baca, HB 47 passed unanimously in both chambers.
A seven-year recordToday’s signings reflect a sustained, two-term investment in New Mexico public education. Teacher starting salaries in New Mexico are 30% higher than when Governor Lujan Grisham took office. A $30 million summer reading intervention program enrolled more than 16,000 students over two years, producing an 11% increase in reading proficiency among participants.
Governor appoints John Bernitz to Eleventh Judicial District
Rural health care providers can now apply for $50M to stabilize access –  New round of health care funding builds on record $146M investment
State Fairgrounds District Board approves first phase of redevelopment – Plan includes housing, park and sports stadium
Natural Resources Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins resigns
Governor signs state budget, capital outlay bills and tax package
April 2026
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
October 2025
September 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
May 2025
April 2025
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
2022 Wildfires
COVID-19
Early Childhood Education
Legislative Updates
Public Safety
Uncategorized
The Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is located on the fourth floor of the New Mexico State Capitol in Room 400.
Address:490 Old Santa Fe Trail Room 400Santa Fe, NM 87501
Phone: 476-2200Toll free: 520-0020
Contact the Governor
Request a Meeting
Need Assistance from the Governor
Our Leadership
Attend or Speak at an Event
Apply for Boards and Commissions
Accessibility Statement
The postGovernor signs four education bills – SB 37 builds upon years of progress in literacy instructionappeared first onOffice of the Governor - Michelle Lujan Grisham.