Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham wants lawmakers to funnel more money into early childhood education. To achieve that goal, the administration is pushing House Bill 83, which would create a trust fund for early education programming using revenue from the state’s oil boom. The bill is sponsored by Doreen Y. Gallegos (D) – Majority Whip and John Arthur Smith (D) Dona Ana, Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra Counties.
Should the bill pass, it will begin with a $320 million appropriation from the general fund in 2021. Each year after, the fund would increase based on revenue from the emergency school and federal mineral leasing taxes.
Advocates for the bill, like Save the Children Action Network, or SCAN, say it would give the state a brighter future.