HB 197 EDUCATION BENEFIT NONDISCRIMINATION

Rep Eleanor Chavez

Actions: [2] not prntd-HRC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 197 (HB 197) broadens higher education state financial aid and tuition rate eligibility for certain students who are immigrants. 

 House Bill 197 (HB 197) broadens categories of students regardless of immigration status that are eligible for tuition rates and state financial aid.

Currently, only students who attended a New Mexico high school for at least one year and graduated or received an equivalent credential (i.e., General Education Development (GED)) can receive state financial aid and are subject to prevailing tuition rates. 

HB 197 expands eligibility to include students who:
•	attended at least one year of accredited adult education courses;
•	filed a New Mexico Personal Income Tax return once in the prior two years or their parents or guardians did; or
•	applied to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for special immigrant juvenile classification.

HB 197 is effective July 1, 2024.