Welcome to a new year! We are well on our way in the Spring semester of 2025. It has been a great start with a semester full of opportunity and potential in front of us. One opportunity that we are mindful of each and every year is the legislative session that begins each January. With the session, Hobbs Municipal Schools remains engaged in the process and in communication with our local legislators and with state legislators of specific pieces of legislation.

The process for a bill to become a law in New Mexico is often times, a lengthy and multi-year process. For many of the pieces of legislation, the ideas and discussions are held throughout the calendar year in interim committees. The various committees hold sessions all across our great state to hear from various portions of the state. From the committee work, draft bills are sponsored and introduced by legislators from all over the state. From the introduction, bills are assigned to various committees for debate and consideration. For those bills that are approved to move forward, they must then be heard, debated and considered on the floor of the House or Senate. Upon approval from that body of legislators, they are referred to the other side of the legislative arm to repeat the process; committee(s) then it makes its way to the floor of the House or Senate. Upon ratification of both legislative bodies, the bills are then to be acted upon by the Governor. The legislation that is signed by the Governor of New Mexico are now law to be implemented accordingly.

As education is a function of state government, there are pieces of legislation that affect the work we do in our communities. From remaining involved in the interim process, to resolutions from our local school board expressing opinion of specific efforts, to attendance at committees, to testifying as part of bill debate to providing input on the regulation side of the law, we remain committed to understanding the implication and taking full advantage of providing the best possible solutions to our students, families, staff, and community.

As such, there are number of bills that have been proposed we are following. Below are just a handful of those: House Bill 2 – general appropriation for the state of New Mexico, Senate Joint Resolution 3 – creation of a state school board and to direct the public education department, Senate Bill 11 – anti-distraction policy in schools, Senate Bill 18 – crime of swatting to be a 4^th degree felony, House Bill 31 – fourth degree felony for shooting threat, House Bill 35 – Children’s Heath Protection Zones, House Bill 63 – public school funding formula changes, House Bill 65 – instructional days in school year.

Hobbs Municipal Schools is committed to our vision where all students are equipped for their unique future. The legislative process requires that we continue to be engaged in this process so that we can create the greatest opportunities for our students of Hobbs Municipal Schools in pursuit of their unique future. The legislators who have been elected to represent our community do a great job of debating and defending our values. Please keep Senator Scott, Senator Gallegos, Representative Pettigrew and Representative Sena-Cortez in your thoughts and prayers. The session is a long, arduous and exhaustive process. We appreciate their service to the students, staff, parents and community of Hobbs Schools.

Hobbs Municipal Schools

Chalk It Up with Superintendent Gene Strickland