MULTICULTURAL STUDENT SAFETY & SUPPORT

HB 467 requires New Mexico public schools to update discipline policies to prohibit unequal treatment based on race, religion, cultural expression (including protective hairstyles and religious headwear), disability, or home language. It mandates schools to provide an online portal for reporting racially motivated incidents (with privacy protections), ban corporal punishment, and allow students to self-administer prescribed asthma/anaphylaxis medication under specific conditions. The bill also revises bilingual education program requirements to prioritize home language use in instruction, require culturally specific teacher training, and establish parent advisory committees. These changes directly affect all public K-12 schools and students in New Mexico, aiming to create safer, more inclusive learning environments.