Santa Fe, N.M. (February 6, 2026) - Joy Garratt's House Bill 253, gutting virtual education for New Mexico, rolled in the House Education Committee after hours of public comment and debate.

Parents opposing the bill packed the committee room and gave passionate public comment to voice their concerns about the bill and its effects on virtual learning students.

"HB 253 as it is currently written does not put the needs of kids and their families first and I strongly advise our legislators to take families more into consideration," said Luke Martz, Parents for School Options New Mexico advocacy director. "The bill's language does not take families' safety concerns into consideration, it doesn't consider students with special needs, and it also sends a message to rural families that the state does not care about them."

Currently, families have the option to access public education at home through virtual academies. There are several statewide options and there are no restrictions on who can apply and enroll in the programs. State funding for these students also follows the student to the school that is providing the education.

The high-quality programs offer structured learning and are taught by teachers licensed by the state.

Virtual learning also offers a lifeline for families who need it most. Families may opt for a virtual setting for a number of reasons including the need to gain access to high quality educational tools and programs from a rural setting to supporting a student with special needs who may not thrive in a traditional classroom to students undergoing serious medical treatment like chemotherapy.

"Today's outcome shows the power of community and the strength of the advocacy of these parents and families," said Martz. "We hope our elected officials continue to take the stories of families we heard from today into account if they consider changes to virtual education programs in the future."

The high-quality virtual programs in the state help keep students from falling through the cracks of traditional education settings.