The bill amends Section 22-5-4.3 of the New Mexico Statutes to enhance school discipline policies by requiring local school boards to include additional characteristics that are protected from discipline, discrimination, or disparate treatment. These characteristics now include disability, home language, gender, level of family income, and the use of protective hairstyles or cultural/religious headdresses. The bill also mandates that students cannot be demeaned, bullied, or punished for these characteristics. Furthermore, it establishes a specific prohibition against racialized aggression and requires the creation of an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents, which will be confidential and exempt from public records.

Additionally, the bill ensures that school employees who report violations of discipline policies in good faith are protected from civil liability. It also allows students to carry and self-administer prescribed asthma and emergency anaphylaxis medications under certain conditions, with provisions for backup medication to be kept accessible at school. The definitions of "cultural or religious headdresses" and "protective hairstyles" are included to clarify the terms used in the legislation. Overall, the bill aims to create a more inclusive and supportive environment in public schools while safeguarding the rights of students and staff.