Angelita Mejia — The chair initially wonders where Representative Mejia is, then recognizes her when she arrives. Representative Mejia begins presenting House Bill 314 and continues explaining that the bill relates to public finance and would require the local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration to provide zero-interest loans.
Martin Zamora — Responded 'here' during roll call.
Martin Zamora — Voted no in the roll call.
Martin Zamora — Representative Zamora is called on after Representative Block.
Janelle Anyanonu — 'Representative Skopansky' is likely a mis-transcription, but the intended member is uncertain.
Janelle Anyanonu — Representative Anaya moved a do-pass motion on the bill, participated in the roll call, and requested to explain her vote. She then explained that she supported the bill and thanked the sponsors, after which the chair announced that the bill received a do-pass recommendation.
HB124 — Bill to create the Office of New Americans within the Department of Workforce Solutions.
HB124 — Strongly supported by the witness.
Cristina Parajón — Referenced as having previously said the office would serve as a resource for workers and businesses.
Gretel Barrita — Testified in support of creating a permanent Office of New Americans, citing workforce and ESL access issues.
Miles Conway — Testified as CEO and registered lobbyist for the New Mexico Home Builders Association in support of the bill.
Teresa Hernandez — Testified in support of HB 124 and described her family business and immigrant experience.
HB124 — Witnesses repeatedly express support for HB 124, urging a favorable vote and thanking the sponsors and experts involved. The bill is described as creating the Office of New Americans, increasing funding for that office, helping coordinate resources, and strengthening the child care workforce. The final mention suggests the speaker is still reviewing the bill’s implementation details, but it remains part of the same overall discussion of HB 124.
Aurora Ariola — Identified herself as policy and economic justice manager at the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center and began testimony in support of the office.
John Martinez — John Martinez is introduced as the next webcast witness and then identifies himself as the political director at Conservation Voters New Mexico. In his opening remarks, he supports direct investment for immigrant and Native communities as part of climate recovery and resilience efforts.
Judith Messel — Name appears as the next webcast witness, though the transcript is partially garbled.
Judy Messel — Testified on behalf of Lutheran Advocacy Ministry and the New Mexico Conference of Churches in support of House Bill 124.
Jonathan Salazar — Senior policy analyst at New Mexico Voices for Children; testified in support of HB 124.
Janet Williams — Janet Williams testified in support of the bill on behalf of the National Organization for Women, introducing herself and stating that the organization strongly supports the legislation.
Joanne Ferrary — Likely the member intended by the garbled reference 'Representative on Yanornu' / 'Representative Anaya' is uncertain; the transcript clearly includes Representative Lujan asking questions.
SB36 — Referenced as last year's legislation governing data protection.
HB254 — The chair checked for Representative Ortiz in connection with House Bill 254, and shortly afterward the bill was rolled at the sponsor's request.
HB314 — The committee takes up House Bill 314 and Representative Mejia presents it. The bill would authorize zero-interest loans through the local government division of the Department of Finance and Administration to help with infrastructure repair and debris removal after the October 19, 2024 storm event, and it also includes provisions related to federal assistance funding, reimbursements, contracts, and an appropriation. A do-pass motion is made, a question is raised about the $150 million appropriation and whether it is already in the budget, and the committee then approves the bill with no opposition.
Mark Murphy — The transcript appears to intend Representative Block, but the expected member list does not include a Representative Block; likely a transcription error or misidentification.
Mark Murphy — Representative Block first thanked the presenters for changes to the process, then asked whether the amended bill language on page 11 changes the evaluation process. The discussion then shifted into responses addressing the monitoring program, including reassurance that the process reviews IEPs, data, goals, and classroom implementation. Representative Block then continued with questions about the Senate Finance Committee amendment and consultation with school committees.
Meredith Dixon — A brief exchange in which Vice Chair Little is acknowledged and thanked by the speaker, with the transcript likely containing a naming/transcription inconsistency.
SB64 — Senate Bill 64 is discussed as a measure to elevate special education in New Mexico by creating and codifying an Office of Special Education under the Secretary of Education, reflecting an executive order. Speakers clarify that the bill does not change gifted education rules or add new mandates, but instead specifies administrative placement and strengthens attention and leadership for students with disabilities. The discussion concludes with support for the bill.
Dr. Jill Weiss — Introduced as the current acting deputy for the Office of Special Education.
Jill Weiss — Identified herself as deputy secretary for the Office of Special Education and described her background in education and as a parent of a child with a significant disability.
Mimi Stewart — Referenced as having previously noted that gifted education is moved administratively.
Mimi Stewart — Referenced as having explained the office's funding and responsibilities.
Mimi Stewart — Mimi Stewart clarified several points about the bill: the ombudsman was not changed and remains independent within HHS, and any contrary information in materials should be corrected. She then explained that charter school references were removed only as cleanup because charter schools are already included as LEAs/public schools and would still be covered, including charter schools focused on special education. She later turned to gifted students, emphasizing that the bill does not change gifted protections, that gifted students remain covered under existing statutes and rules, and that the bill’s technical changes are meant to define student assistance teams in statute rather than alter gifted services or protections.
Dr. Weiss — Dr. Weiss is cited as reassuring the committee that nothing is changing under the bill—that it simply codifies the office and does not alter existing practice or services.
Jonathan Salser — Senior policy analyst with New Mexico Voices for Children, speaking in support of SB 64.
SB64 — SB 64 is discussed as a measure to strengthen and codify special education responsibilities and services. Speakers express support for the bill because it clarifies compliance and emphasizes foundational access to high-quality special education, including an amendment requiring quarterly meetings with an advisory committee and provisions related to coordinating transition programming for students with disabilities.
Tony Montfeletto — Representative of Future Focused Education speaking in support of Senate Bill 64.
Bonnie Lightfoot — Represents the New Mexico Coalition of Educational Leaders and the New Mexico School Superintendents Association in support of the bill as amended.
Bethany Jarrell — Special education teacher from Alamogordo and president of NIA New Mexico, speaking in strong support of the bill.
Jim Jackson — Testified in support of the bill on behalf of Disability Rights New Mexico and described families' difficulties accessing services.
Steve Starkovich — Introduced himself as president of the New Mexico Council of Administrators of Special Education and testified in support.
Dr. Stefan Scott — Introduced himself as director of the New Mexico Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and began support testimony.
Reena Szczepanski — Addressed as 'Madam Floor Leader' in the exchange before asking questions.
Reena Szczepanski — Referenced as having shared experience with her child that illustrated confusion in the system.
Rebecca Dow — Representative Block is directly addressed multiple times during the funding discussion and witness testimony, including an opening greeting and follow-up references tied to the same line of questioning about outcomes and related funding issues.
Miguel Lozano — Deputy General Counsel at the Public Education Department; explained federal special education funding.
Susan Herrera — Asked for clarification about whether the ombudsman remains independent and whether the bill changes that structure.
Linda Trujillo — Linda Trujillo asked a series of follow-up questions about how the bill treats charter schools and school district definitions, where the relevant language appears in the bill, and what enforcement would look like for noncompliance. She then shifted to the bill’s impact on gifted and twice-exceptional students, using a personal example to question how student assistance teams, IEP-related supports, and gifted-student services would work. She concluded by asking about the diagnosis and screening standards in the bill and how those provisions would benefit parents and students.
Joseph Sanchez — Representative Lujan asked whether a diagnosis made by a school could be used to support a family’s access to benefit programs and medical or health-care provisions. After the response noted that it depends on how the diagnosis was obtained, he thanked the speaker, said he would defer to the expert, and expressed support for the legislation, emphasizing the need for this kind of focus in schools.
Cynthia Borrego — Responded present during roll call; transcript says 'Representative Borego.'
Tara Lujan — Representative Tara Lujan was called during roll call; her response was not clearly captured.