Government Relations

WELCOME

The NMSU Government Relations website will provide faculty, staff and students with information, background and updates on the University's state funding requests as they move through the New Mexico Department of Higher Education and the legislative process. This site will be updated as decisions are finalized.

2012 NEW MEXICO LEGISLATURE

NMSU Bill Tracking

• Final NMSU Tracking List (updated March 14)
  

  This tracking sheet includes bills that impact NMSU.

HB2 Final-Partial Veto

• Click here to read HB2 Final-Partial Veto
  

• Click here to see HB2 comparison to FY12
  

NMSU FY2013 Legislative Priorities

• NMSU FY2013 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BOOK (pdf)
  

GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL UPDATES

Senate Passes HB2 Appropriations Bill

• Click here to read Senate-Passed HB2
  

House Appropriations and Finance Committee

   HB 2 as Reported by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC)

• Click here to read pdf copy of HB2 as reported by HAFC
  

   Higher Education Formula hearing held January 21, 2012 at 2:00 pm

• Click here to see Committee handouts regarding Higher Ed formula funding
  

Senate Finance Committee

   Higher Education budget hearing scheduled January 24, 2012 at 1:30pm

Governor Susana Martinez Delivers State of the State Address

• Click hear to read text of State of the State address
  

FY2013 Legislative Finance Committee Budget Recommendation

• FY2013 LFC Budget Recommendations, Volume I - Policy and Performance Analysis
  

• FY2013 LFC Budget Recommendations, Volume II - Appropriation Recommendations
  

• FY2013 LFC Budget Recommendations, Volume III - Supplemental Tables and Graphs
  

• NM Legislative Finance Committee FY2013 Budget Recommendation Press Release
  

FY2013 Executive Budget Recommendation

• FY2013 Executive Budget Recommendation (pdf)
  

FEDERAL UPDATE

President Barack Obama released his budget request for fiscal year (FY) 2013 on February 13, 2012.  The budget request recommends funding levels for the fiscal year and is sent to Congress.  Congress will use the budget request as a blueprint for its appropriations process, however the final result can be very different from the request.

 The President's request mostly maintains federal funding for scientific research agencies and federal postsecondary education programs.  Among programs and agencies that received small increases over the FY12-enacted levels were the National Science Foundation (4.8 percent increase), Pell Grant funding (increase maximum award to $5,635, $85 over the FY12 level), and the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI, 23.1 percent increase).

Flat funding was recommended for the National Institutes of Health, and NASA is also targeted for major budget reductions.  In total, President Obama's budget proposes 210 cuts, consolidations, and savings measures (including the Congressionally-supported Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Community Services Block Grants).

Senator Tom Udall's Office Seeking Summer Interns

Deadline for the summer session is March 18.  Go to http://tomudall.senate.gov/?p=internships for information.

Senator Bingaman Visits NMSU campus, Early College High School

Senator Jeff Bingaman hosted his annual Student Leadership Institute at NMSU's Corbett Center on February 22.  While on campus that day he also visited and toured the Arrowhead Early College High School.

Congressman Pearce visits NMSU's CAMP

Congressman Steve Pearce was briefed on NMSU's College Assistance Migrant Program on March 2. 

February's Research Rally

February's research rally celebrated the Howard Hughes Medical Institute funding for the HHMI-NMSU Precollege and College Science Education Program.   The next NMSU Research Rally is scheduled April 4.