The bill amends the nondiscrimination policy for eligibility for post-secondary tuition rates and state-funded financial aid in New Mexico. It establishes that public post-secondary educational institutions cannot deny admission based on a student's immigration status. Furthermore, it expands the eligibility criteria for tuition rates and financial aid to include individuals who have attended a secondary educational institution in New Mexico for at least one year and either graduated from a New Mexico high school or received a high school equivalency credential, attended adult education courses for a period equivalent to two semesters, or earned income in New Mexico in the preceding two years.

Additionally, the bill introduces a provision that allows individuals for whom a court has made findings of fact and rulings of law under the Special Immigrant Juvenile Classification Act to also qualify for the same tuition rates and state-funded financial aid as residents of New Mexico. The effective date for these provisions is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 21-1-4.6