Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Graduate Scholarship Act to prioritize New Mexico students who are New Mexico residents with the greatest financial need and who are from groups underrepresented in graduate education.

Highlights:

• Establishes a scholarship program that supports New Mexico residents pursuing graduate degrees at public colleges or universities (Sec. 2).

• Defines key terms, including “graduate field,” “eligible institution,” and “underrepresented groups in graduate education,” to specify which students and academic programs qualify for the scholarship (Sec. 1).

• Requires scholarship recipients to maintain a 3.0 GPA and good academic standing and limits the scholarship duration to eight semesters or until a terminal degree is earned, whichever occurs first (Sec. 3).

• Establishes the termination of scholarship eligibility if a recipient withdraws, stops reenrolling, falls out of good academic standing, or violates the rules of the program (Sec. 5).

• Establishes effective date as July 1, 2025 (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the Graduate Scholarship Act to prioritize New Mexico students who are New Mexico residents with the greatest financial need and who are from groups underrepresented in graduate education.

Highlights:

• Establishes a scholarship program that supports New Mexico residents pursuing graduate degrees at public colleges or universities (Sec. 2).

• Defines key terms, including “graduate field,” “eligible institution,” and “underrepresented groups in graduate education,” to specify which students and academic programs qualify for the scholarship (Sec. 1).

• Requires scholarship recipients to maintain a 3.0 GPA and good academic standing and limits the scholarship duration to eight semesters or until a terminal degree is earned, whichever occurs first (Sec. 3).

• Establishes the termination of scholarship eligibility if a recipient withdraws, stops reenrolling, falls out of good academic standing, or violates the rules of the program (Sec. 5).

• Establishes effective date as July 1, 2025 (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text