New Mexico HB289: SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

What the bill says

An act relating to public school finance; providing that money in the transportation distribution of the public school fund shall be used for payments to school districts and state-chartered charter schools for to-and-from transportation costs that include the cost of miles traveled to pick up the first student or child on a bus route and of miles traveled to return a bus after the last student or child on a bus route is dropped off; making conforming amendments.

From the introduced text, February 2, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE; PROVIDING THAT MONEY IN THE TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FUND SHALL BE USED FOR PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND STATE-CHARTERED CHARTER SCHOOLS FOR TO-AND-FROM TRANSPORTATION COSTS THAT INCLUDE THE COST OF MILES TRAVELED TO PICK UP THE FIRST STUDENT OR CHILD ON A BUS ROUTE AND OF MILES TRAVELED TO RETURN A BUS AFTER THE LAST STUDENT OR CHILD ON A BUS ROUTE IS DROPPED OFF; MAKING CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 22-8-26 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 16, Section 76, as amended) is amended to read: "22-8-26. TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION.-- A. Money in the transportation distribution of the public school fund shall be used only for the purpose of making .233429.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ payments to each school district or state-chartered charter school for: (1) the to-and-from school transportation costs of students in [grades] kindergarten through [twelve] twelfth grade attending public school within the school district or state-chartered charter school and of three- and four-year-old children who meet the department-approved criteria for and definition of developmentally disabled, including the cost of miles traveled by a school bus to pick up the first student or child on a school bus route and the number …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Gail Armstrong (R, HD-049) · primary sponsor
• Tanya Mirabal Moya (R, HD-007)
• Brian G. Baca (R, HD-008)
• Angel M. Charley (D, SD-030)

Latest actions

1. February 2, 2026: Sent to HEC - Referrals: HEC/HAFC
2. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is HB289?

HB289 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.

What does HB289 do?

In its own words: An act relating to public school finance; providing that money in the transportation distribution of the public school fund shall be used for payments to school districts and state-chartered charter schools for to-and-from transportation costs that include the cost of miles traveled to pick up the first student or child on a bus route and of miles traveled to return a bus after the last student or child on a bus route is dropped off; making conforming amendments.

What is the status of HB289?

In committee as of February 2, 2026. Latest action: Sent to HEC - Referrals: HEC/HAFC (February 2, 2026).

Who sponsored HB289?

Gail Armstrong (R, HD-049), with 3 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for HB289?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=289&year=26