HOUSE BILL 167

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Joy Garratt and E. Diane Torres-Velásquez

AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SHALL PAY THE COST OF HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL TESTS AND ASSOCIATED TEST PREPARATION COSTS FOR NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 21, Article 1 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY CREDENTIAL TESTS--FREE FOR NEW MEXICO RESIDENTS.--The higher education department shall provide free high school equivalency credential tests to New Mexico residents who:

          A. are at least sixteen years of age;

          B. are not currently enrolled in secondary school;

          C. have not graduated from an accredited high school or received a high school equivalency certificate or a diploma; and

          D. have passed an official practice test with scores indicating test readiness."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Two million dollars ($2,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the higher education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2026 for costs to provide free high school equivalency credential tests to New Mexico residents and to pay associated test preparation costs incurred by the department. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the general fund.

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