New Mexico House Bill HB24

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/21/25
• Report Pass: 1/29/25
• Report Pass: 2/18/25
• Engrossed: 2/22/25
• Report Pass: 2/26/25
• Report Pass: 3/20/25
• Enrolled: 3/21/25
• Chaptered: 4/8/25
• Passed: 4/8/25

Caption

Community Governance Attorneys Changes

Impact

By enabling state agencies to hire community governance attorneys without the requirement to fund fifty percent of these salaries through nonstate funds, HB24 aims to increase the availability of legal services in underserved areas, particularly for acequias, land grants, and low-income colonias. The bill also introduces a standard process for law students to apply to participate in the program, encouraging legal professionals to work within these communities, thereby expanding access to justice and supporting local governance.

Summary

House Bill 24, titled 'Community Governance Attorneys Changes', introduces significant amendments to the Community Governance Attorney Act in New Mexico. The bill notably transfers the responsibilities of publicizing and administering contracts related to community governance attorneys and the conditional tuition waiver program from the Higher Education Department to the University of New Mexico School of Law. This transition aims to centralize and streamline the program at the university level, thus allowing for better alignment with legal education and services offered to communities.

Contention

However, the bill's implementation may face various points of contention. Some stakeholders may worry about the adequacy of funding and resources for this expanded program, questioning whether the university can meet the increased demand for legal services among these communities. Additionally, concerns may arise regarding the implications of reducing the financial burden on state agencies, with some legislators potentially arguing about the effects on the overall budget and resource allocation within the state's legal framework.