Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Sens. Nava and Charley
/Rep. Lente
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/25/2025
SHORT TITLE Higher Ed Bilingual Ed Faculties & Degree
BILL
NUMBER
Senate Joint
Memorial 3
ANALYST Jorgensen
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected No fiscal impact No fiscal impact No fiscal impact
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Joint Memorial 3
Senate Joint Memorial 3 (SJM3) requests the Higher Education Department (HED) work with
the University of New Mexico, Western New Mexico University, New Mexico Highlands
University, and New Mexico State University to develop a joint bachelor’s degree in elementary
bilingual multicultural education and provide funds to increase bilingual faculty lines to support
the program.
Additionally, SJM3 requests HED assess the need for scholarships for those pursuing a doctoral,
terminal, or teaching degree in bilingual multicultural education.
Finally, SJM3 requests PED to “fully address, fund and support the linguistic rights of New
Mexico’s bilingual multicultural students” as provided by the constitution, statute, and court
rulings.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
SJM3 requests higher education institutions to create a bachelor's degree program in bilingual
multicultural education and requests HED to study the need for scholarships for students in the
program. Because there is no appropriation to support the studies or new programs, the costs
would have to be absorbed in the current operating budget unless another source of funding is
identified. Senate Joint Memorial 3- Page 2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
The House version of the General Appropriation Act includes $500 for the Public Education
Department “for purposes pursuant to the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act.”
CJ/hg/sgs