SB 163 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

TRIBAL REGALIA AT SCHOOL EVENTS

SB 163 prohibits New Mexico public and charter schools from banning students enrolled in or eligible to enroll at federally recognized tribes, pueblos, or nations from wearing tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies and other school events. The bill amends existing school discipline policies to explicitly state that schools cannot restrict "tribal regalia" - defined as traditional dress, symbols, jewelry, beading, or feathers - along with graduation attire or as part of cultural expression. It directly affects Native American students in New Mexico public schools by protecting their right to display cultural items during formal school activities. The law clarifies that such protections are part of broader anti-discrimination policies already in place for students' cultural and religious expression.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Apr 2025
Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed Apr 1, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version Final Version · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends New Mexico public school laws to allow federally recognized Native American students to wear traditional regalia at graduation and school events, prohibits racial discrimination based on hair or religious attire, and permits students to self-administer asthma and anaphylaxis medication. The changes aim to support cultural expression and student health while establishing clear policies for school discipline and emergency medical situations.
Scope change
The bill expands protections specifically for federally recognized Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos, while also broadening anti-discrimination protections to include protective hairstyles and cultural/religious headdresses for all students.
ELIGIBILITY

Allows students enrolled in federally recognized Indian nations, tribes, or pueblos to wear tribal regalia or culturally significant items at graduation ceremonies and public school events.

REQUIREMENT

Requires school discipline policies to prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, culture, protective hairstyles (braids, locs, cornrows, etc.), and cultural or religious headdresses (hijabs, head wraps, etc.).

Permits students to carry and self-administer prescribed asthma and emergency anaphylaxis medication during school hours and school-sponsored activities under specific conditions.

Requires all school discipline policies to include specific prohibitions against racialized aggression and provide links to statewide hotlines for reporting racially charged incidents.

DEFINITION

Adds legal definitions for 'cultural or religious headdresses,' 'protective hairstyles,' and 'tribal regalia' to clarify what items are protected under the new policies.

ENFORCEMENT

Protects school employees from civil liability when they report policy violations in good faith or provide backup medication to students in good faith.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2025 · House Mar 12, 2025

How they voted

370
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 40
Feb 19, 2025
D Democratic24
23 Yea 1
95% Yea
R Republican16
14 Yea 2
87% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
9
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Apr 1, 2025
Signed into law
Signed
executive
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed House
lower
Mar 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Mar 1, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Introduced
Sent to House Education Committee & House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed Senate
upper
Feb 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
upper
Jan 28, 2025
Introduced
Sent to Senate Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Committee & Senate Education Committee
upper
5 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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