SB37 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): HIGH QUALITY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACT.

What is the status of SB37?

Signed into law as of March 9, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 54 - Mar. 9 (March 9, 2026).

Mimi Stewart (D, SD-017), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB37?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=B&legNo=37&year=26

New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session

New Mexico SB37: HIGH QUALITY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACT

Q: What does SB37 do?

In its own words: An act relating to public schools; enacting the high-quality literacy instruction act; providing standards for literacy instructional materials; requiring the use of evidence-based practices for biliteracy for english language learners and students in bilingual and dual language programs; requiring public schools to provide literacy assessments to students in kindergarten through third grade and interventions for students identified as having a reading difficulty; requiring the public education department to assign literacy instructional coaches to certain public schools.

Status: Signed into law, March 9, 2026

What the bill says

An act relating to public schools; enacting the high-quality literacy instruction act; providing standards for literacy instructional materials; requiring the use of evidence-based practices for biliteracy for english language learners and students in bilingual and dual language programs; requiring public schools to provide literacy assessments to students in kindergarten through third grade and interventions for students identified as having a reading difficulty; requiring the public education department to assign literacy instructional coaches to certain public schools.

From the enrolled text, March 9, 2026:

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; ENACTING THE HIGH-QUALITY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACT; PROVIDING STANDARDS FOR LITERACY INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS; REQUIRING THE USE OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES FOR BILITERACY FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND STUDENTS IN BILINGUAL AND DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAMS; REQUIRING PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE LITERACY ASSESSMENTS TO STUDENTS IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE AND INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS IDENTIFIED AS HAVING A READING DIFFICULTY; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ASSIGN LITERACY INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES TO CERTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 21-1-53 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2025, Chapter 149, Section 1) is amended to read: "21-1-53. TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS--TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO TEACH READING.-- A. As used in this section: (1) "high-quality instructional materials" means instructional materials that are: (a) research-based, culturally and linguistically relevant and designed to support equitable learning for all students; (b) aligned with the public education department's academic content and performance standards and SB Page benchmarks; and (c) included on the public education department's multiple list of instructional materials or otherwise approved by the department; (2) "science of reading" means an interdisciplinary body of scientifically based research about reading instruction that addresses the acquisition of language, phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics and spelling, fluency, vocabulary, oral language and comprehension; and (3) "structured literacy" means an evidencebased …

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New Mexico SB37: HIGH QUALITY LITERACY INSTRUCTION ACT

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