Labor & Employment (Child Labor)

HB 280 creates a three-year pilot program in New Mexico that provides grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, and tribal entities to fund paid internships for youth aged 14-22. The grants supplement internship pay (requiring shared funding from host organizations), cover support services like career counseling, and must collect data on outcomes such as internship completion and post-internship employment. The Workforce Solutions Department will administer the program, requiring grantees to have complaint systems and report annually to the legislature. The bill appropriates $250,000 (2027-2029) for this initiative, with unspent funds reverting to the general fund by 2029.

SB 260 creates a tax credit allowing businesses to claim 75% of donations (up to $750,000 per company annually) to public colleges or school districts for workforce education programs, such as vocational training and job skills courses. The credit is capped at $5 million total per year across all businesses, requiring companies to apply for certification through the state's economic development department. Eligible donations must be direct monetary contributions to public institutions - not to affiliated entities - and the credit applies to taxable years starting January 1, 2026. This policy directly affects businesses donating to workforce training programs and public educational institutions receiving those funds.