NMPED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature has passed Senate Bill 64 (SB 64), landmark legislation to improve and modernize special education services for students with disabilities across the state.
SB 64 creates the Special Education Act within the New Mexico Public School Code and codifies the Office of Special Education (OSE) within the New Mexico Public Education Department. The bill establishes the role of deputy secretary for special education, who will report directly to the public education secretary and lead efforts to ensure students with disabilities receive high-quality, consistent services. The Office of Special Education (OSE) has existed since 2023 through executive order, and this measure codifies that structure in statute to ensure its permanence and continuity.
“Senate Bill 64 represents a major step forward in ensuring students with disabilities receive the high-quality, consistent support they deserve,” Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla said. “By strengthening statewide leadership and modernizing our special education systems, we are building a more equitable and responsive framework for students, families and educators across New Mexico.”
Key provisions of SB 64 include:
- Establishing a clear statewide framework for special education services and support to improve outcomes for students with disabilities from early childhood through college and career.
- Creating the Office of Special Education and a deputy secretary for special education to ensure equity, compliance, stable statewide services and enforcement of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state special education law.
- Requiring the OSE to develop and maintain a uniform online system for individualized education programs used by all school districts and charter schools to improve consistency, compliance, progress monitoring and transparency.
- Aligning state law with federal requirements and ensuring stability and consistency of services for students with disabilities.
The bill also updates statutory definitions and incorporates best practices to enhance support for students exhibiting characteristics such as dyslexia and to streamline special education law within the broader New Mexico Public School Code.
SB 64 will take effect July 1, 2026, and represents a major step forward in strengthening educational equity and outcomes for New Mexico’s students with disabilities.