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HM 47

STUDY PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Baca and 1 co-sponsor

HM 47 directs a comprehensive study of New Mexico public school employee compensation to inform future policies on recruitment, retention, pay, and benefits.

action postponed indefinitely
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Bill Summary · HM 47

Summary of House Memorial HM 47 – Study Public School Employee Compensation

Overview

House Memorial 47 (HM 47), introduced March 1, 2025, is a non-binding memorial directing the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) to study compensation for New Mexico public school employees. The memorial is currently listed as action postponed indefinitely. Sponsor: Mirabal Moya and Baca. The study findings would be reported to the Legislature and the governor by December 31, 2025. No appropriations are attached to memorials.

Purpose and Intent

  • Examine how salary competitiveness, compensation “compression” (compaction), and sustainability affect the recruitment and retention of public school staff.
  • Produce actionable findings to inform future policy discussions on public school compensation.

Key Provisions and What It Would Do

  • LESC duty to collaborate with:
    • Public Education Department (PED)
    • Educator preparation programs
    • Legislative Finance Committee (LFC)
    • School districts and charter schools
    • Teachers’ unions and teachers
  • Scope of study includes:
    • Salary competitiveness for various roles (teachers, specialized staff, etc.)
    • Salary compaction and how pay structures impact experience-level progression
    • Sustainability of compensation in relation to recruitment and retention
    • Differential pay for high-need positions (e.g., special education, bilingual/multicultural programs)
    • Broader staffing context (administrators, educational assistants, paraeducators, secretarial, transportation, food service)
    • Cost-of-living considerations and wage benchmarks
    • Health insurance premium trends and their effect on net compensation
    • Living wage and district-level salary adequacy compared with living costs in NM
  • Deliverable: a formal report to the Legislature and the governor by December 31, 2025.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Public school employees (teachers, administrators, support staff) in New Mexico.
  • Other actors: School districts, charter schools, PED, educator preparation programs, LFC, teachers’ unions, and teachers.
  • Indirect effects: Policy considerations for compensation structures, recruitment strategies, and retention efforts in NM public schools.

Context and Rationale (Substantive Issues Highlight)

  • National and state data indicate wage penalties for teachers and ongoing recruitment/retention challenges, especially in high-need areas (special education, bilingual education) and for school leaders.
  • NM faces vacancies across teaching specialties, administrator roles, and support staff, with concerns about the sufficiency of teacher demand and preparation program outputs.
  • Health insurance costs and rising NMPSIA premiums reduce take-home pay and may influence compensation strategies.
  • Salary compaction and uneven pay progression can hinder retention of experienced staff.
  • Cost of living considerations suggest that current minimum salaries may lag living wage benchmarks in parts of the state.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Status: action postponed indefinitely (as of the latest action).
  • Legislative actions: HM 47 sent to House Education Committee on March 1, 2025; subsequently postponed indefinitely on June 3, 2025.
  • Deadlines: The study would conclude with a report due by December 31, 2025.

Bottom Line

HM 47 seeks a comprehensive, cross-agency study of public school employee compensation to understand and address recruitment and retention challenges in New Mexico. While non-binding, the findings could inform future legislative decisions on employee pay, benefits, and related workforce strategies.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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