Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation to improve access to federal loan forgiveness for educators in New Mexico.

House Bill 69, sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque) and Senator Leo Jaramillo (D-Española), would expand access to the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program within New Mexico. PSLF forgives student loans for individuals who work full-time in public service in federal, state, tribal, or local government for 10 years.

Currently, many adjunct instructors and non-tenured faculty at New Mexico higher education institutions are considered "part-time" employees, even though they carry full-time workloads. HB 69 would change the calculation that higher education institutions in the state use to determine full-time status for non-tenured faculty, to better reflect their actual workloads and increase their eligibility for PSLF. The bill would also direct these institutions to issue annual notices to alert faculty to the PSLF program.

"The dedicated professionals who serve the public as adjunct or contingent faculty at our colleges and universities deserve to qualify for loan forgiveness through PSLF," said Rep. Garratt. "House Bill 69 will build awareness of the program and ensure that important updates are being implemented, so that more educators can take advantage of the benefits they have earned."

HB 69 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

This bill is part of a slate of legislation introduced by House Democrats this session to address the rising cost of living by helping to raise pay and strengthen benefits for working people, protect consumers from corporate greed, and lower the costs of essentials, like housing, utilities, healthcare, and groceries.

A non-comprehensive list of affordability legislation introduced by House Democrats includes:

Raising minimum pay for school staff (HB 201) and workers on publicly-supported projects (HB 6)
Stopping employers from taking credit card fees out of the wages of tipped workers (HB 22)
Establishing a commission to study and make recommendations on how to reduce grocery store prices and improve local supply chain issues (HB 17)
Prohibiting grocery and retail stores from using so-called "dynamic" pricing to gouge consumers (HB 285)
Protecting renters from discrimination and artificial rent increases (HB 43, 98, 215, 339)
Improving healthcare access and price transparency (HB 186, 263)
Provide free high school equivalency testing and preparatory services (HB 167)
Eliminate unfair pricing by ticket resellers (HB 26)

Members of the public are welcome to attend floor sessions and committee meetings at the New Mexico Roundhouse, and can tune in virtually through the New Mexico Legislature's Webcasts tab. Public comment can also be provided in-person, and via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.