New Mexico 2025 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 3 R · 1 D cosponsors

SB 8 — VETERINARY MEDICAL LOAN REPAYMENT PGM

Last action — Signed

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 21, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (Democratic) on April 08, 2025.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 76% · moderate confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 5 sponsors

    5 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

245 added · 380 removed

Plain-language change summary

The updated version of SB 8 introduces a new program called the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program, which aims to help pay off student loans for veterinarians who work in underserved areas. It establishes specific criteria for qualifying veterinarians and their obligations under the program. This change is significant because it addresses the shortage of food-animal veterinarians in certain regions, ensuring better access to veterinary services for agricultural communities.

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SENATE BILL 8 57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED BY Pat Woods and Tara L.
AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION;
Lujan and Pat Boone and Anita Gonzales and Harlan Vincent This document may incorporate amendments proposed by a committee, but not yet adopted, as well as amendments that have been adopted during the current legislative session.
ENACTING THE VETERINARY MEDICAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM;
The document is a tool to show amendments in context and cannot be used for the purpose of adding amendments to legislation.
AN ACT h RELATING TO HIGHER EDUCATION;
ENACTING THE VETERINARY MEDICAL g o t hr LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM;
g e i k ESTABLISHING SELECTION CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS;
ESTABLISHING SELECTION CRITERIA AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS;
h r i s PROVIDING FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN RECIPIENTS AND THE HIGHER h , t, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT;
PROVIDING FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN RECIPIENTS AND THE HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT;
PROVIDING FOR RELEASE FROM CONTRACT OR e u g e b l e e h RECOUPMENT;
PROVIDING FOR RELEASE FROM CONTRACT OR RECOUPMENT;
PRESCRIBING A PENALTY SFCº;
PRESCRIBING A PENALTY.
MAKING n d d i = = o h AN APPROPRIATION»SFC.
9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
l ] b ,d i a º e r i = r t e w d m a n o BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1.
d m :
SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act".
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d SECTION 1.
[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--This act may be cited as the "Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act".
[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act:
DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act:
"loan" means a grant of money to defray the cost of tuition and fees for a veterinary medical education under a contract between the federal government or a commercial lender h g and a veterinary medical student requiring repayment of o t hr principal and interest;
"loan" means a grant of money to defray the cost of tuition and fees for a veterinary medical education SB 8 Page 1 under a contract between the federal government or a commercial lender and a veterinary medical student requiring repayment of principal and interest;
g e i k F.
F.
"recipient" means a veterinarian selected to h r i s h participate in the veterinary medical loan repayment program;
"recipient" means a veterinarian selected to participate in the veterinary medical loan repayment program;
, t, e u g and e b l e e h G.
and G.
"veterinarian" means a person who graduated from n d d i = = o h an accredited school of veterinary medicine and is licensed as l ] b ,d i a º e r i = r a veterinarian in New Mexico.
"veterinarian" means a person who graduated from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and is licensed as a veterinarian in New Mexico.
t e w d m a n o SECTION 3.
SECTION 3.
[NEW MATERIAL ] DEPARTMENT--POWERS AND DUTIES-- d m :
DEPARTMENT--POWERS AND DUTIES--DESIGNATED UNDERSERVED AREAS--COMMITTEE--ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION-- APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS.-- A.
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 2 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d DESIGNATED UNDERSERVED AREAS--COMMITTEE--ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION--APPLICANT QUALIFICATIONS.-- A.
The department, delegated agency or contractor shall participate in any federal programs that support the repayment of education loans incurred by veterinarians and h agree to the conditions of a federal program.
The department, delegated agency or contractor shall participate in any federal programs that support the SB 8 Page 2 repayment of education loans incurred by veterinarians and agree to the conditions of a federal program.
g o t hr C.
C.
The department shall appoint an ongoing g e i k "veterinarian selection committee" composed of the state h r i s veterinarian, the New Mexico state university extension h , t, veterinarian and the chair of the board of veterinary medicine, e u g e b l e e h who all serve ex officio.
The department shall appoint an ongoing "veterinarian selection committee" composed of the state veterinarian, the New Mexico state university extension veterinarian and the chair of the board of veterinary medicine, who all serve ex officio.
n d d i = = o h (1) select up to ten qualified applicants per l ] b ,d i a º e year to participate in the veterinary medical loan repayment r i = r t e w d m a n o program;
(1) select up to ten qualified applicants per year to participate in the veterinary medical loan repayment program;
d m :
(2) designate food-animal veterinarian underserved areas of the state and rank them as to need;
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 3 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d (2) designate food-animal veterinarian underserved areas of the state and rank them as to need;
The department, with the assistance of the board of veterinary medicine, shall make a full and careful h investigation of the training, ability, character and other g o t hr pertinent qualifications of each applicant and determine g e i k fitness to be a recipient.
The department, with the assistance of the SB 8 Page 3 board of veterinary medicine, shall make a full and careful investigation of the training, ability, character and other pertinent qualifications of each applicant and determine fitness to be a recipient.
h r i s F.
F.
The board of veterinary medicine shall maintain h , t, a database of employment opportunities for veterinarians in e u g e b l e e h designated underserved areas.
The board of veterinary medicine shall maintain a database of employment opportunities for veterinarians in designated underserved areas.
n d d i = = o h SECTION 4.
SECTION 4.
[NEW MATERIAL ] AWARD CRITERIA--CONTRACT-- l ] b ,d i a º e TERMS--PAYMENT--PENALTY.-- r i = r t e w d m a n o A.
AWARD CRITERIA--CONTRACT--TERMS--PAYMENT-- PENALTY.-- A.
d m :
(1) amounts are dependent on the location and characteristics of the medical practice and the applicant's total veterinary medical school indebtedness;
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 4 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d (1) amounts are dependent on the location and characteristics of the medical practice and the applicant's total veterinary medical school indebtedness;
(1) amounts incurred as a result of participation in state loan-for-service programs or other state h financial aid programs that require that service be provided in g o t hr exchange for financial assistance;
(1) amounts incurred as a result of SB 8 Page 4 participation in state loan-for-service programs or other state financial aid programs that require that service be provided in exchange for financial assistance;
g e i k (2) scholarships;
(2) scholarships;
h r i s (3) personal loans from friends or relatives;
(3) personal loans from friends or relatives;
h , t, and e u g e b l e e h (4) loans that exceed individual standard n d d i = = o h school expense levels.
and (4) loans that exceed individual standard school expense levels.
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l ] b ,d i a º e C.
C.
The award shall be evidenced by a contract r i = r t e w d m a n o between the recipient and the department acting on behalf of d m :
The award shall be evidenced by a contract between the recipient and the department acting on behalf of the state.
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 5 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d the state.
The annual award shall be established by the department but shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each of the first two years and twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each of the second two years, for a total not to exceed eighty thousand dollars h ($80,000).
The annual award shall be established by the department but shall not exceed fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for each of the first two years and twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for each of the SB 8 Page 5 second two years, for a total not to exceed eighty thousand dollars ($80,000).
u » r F.
F.
If a recipient does not comply with the terms of t h g e l i the contract, the department shall assess a penalty of up to h r i s three times the amount of the award disbursed plus eighteen h , e h percent interest, unless the department finds acceptable t u g e b l e e , gh extenuating circumstances, including those that require release n d d i = = o h of contract, as to why the recipient cannot serve or comply l ] b ,d i a º r with the terms of the contract.
If a recipient does not comply with the terms of the contract, the department shall assess a penalty of up to three times the amount of the award disbursed plus eighteen percent interest, unless the department finds acceptable extenuating circumstances, including those that require release of contract, as to why the recipient cannot serve or comply with the terms of the contract.
If the department does not e r = t e w d m a n o find acceptable extenuating circumstances for the recipient's d m :
If the department does not find acceptable extenuating circumstances for the recipient's failure to comply with the contract, the department shall require immediate repayment plus the amount of the penalty.
b r e t º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 6 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d failure to comply with the contract, the department shall require immediate repayment plus the amount of the penalty.
[NEW MATERIAL ] RELEASE FROM CONTRACT--CONTRACT CANCELLATION--ENFORCEMENT.-- A.
RELEASE FROM CONTRACT--CONTRACT CANCELLATION--ENFORCEMENT.-- A.
The department, with recommendation from the committee, may cancel a contract made between the department and a recipient for the recipient's failure to comply with provisions of the contract, the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act, rules promulgated in accordance with that act or any other reasonable cause deemed sufficient by the department.
The department, with recommendation from the committee, may cancel a contract made between the department and a recipient for the recipient's failure to comply with provisions of the contract, the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act, rules promulgated in accordance with that act or any other reasonable cause deemed sufficient by the SB 8 Page 6 department.
h (1) the recipient has completed the service g o t hr requirements of the contract;
(1) the recipient has completed the service requirements of the contract;
g e i k (2) the recipient is unable to complete the h r i s service requirements of the contract due to serious illness or h , t, disability;
(2) the recipient is unable to complete the service requirements of the contract due to serious illness or disability;
or e u g e b l e e h (3) the recipient demonstrates extreme n d d i = = o h hardship or other good cause to the department justifying the l ] b ,d i a º e release from contract.
or (3) the recipient demonstrates extreme hardship or other good cause to the department justifying the release from contract.
r i = r t e w d m a n o C.
C.
A decision not to release a recipient from the d m :
A decision not to release a recipient from the contract without penalty is a final agency decision and may be appealed to the district court as provided in Section 39-3-1.1 NMSA 1978.
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 7 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d contract without penalty is a final agency decision and may be appealed to the district court as provided in Section 39-3-1.1 NMSA 1978.
[NEW MATERIAL ] FUND CREATED.--The "veterinary medical loan repayment fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury.
FUND CREATED.--The "veterinary medical loan repayment fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury.
Money in the fund shall be used to make awards to recipients who are in compliance with the recipients' contracts, the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act and rules promulgated in accordance with that act.
Money in the fund shall be used to make awards to recipients who are in compliance with the recipients' contracts, the SB 8 Page 7 Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act and rules promulgated in accordance with that act.
Expenditures from the fund shall be on warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of h higher education or the secretary's authorized representative.
Expenditures from the fund shall be on warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of higher education or the secretary's authorized representative.
g o t hr SECTION 7.
SECTION 7.
[NEW MATERIAL ] REPORTS.--The department shall g e i k make annual reports to the governor and the legislature prior h r i s to each regular legislative session of the department's h , t, activities, including cohort data and annual and total program e u g e b l e e h data that shows:
REPORTS.--The department shall make annual reports to the governor and the legislature prior to each regular legislative session of the department's activities, including cohort data and annual and total program data that shows:
n d d i = = o h A.
A.
l ] b ,d i a º e B.
B.
the completion rate of recipients in the r i = r t e w d m a n o program, the number of recipients who completed the program and d m :
the completion rate of recipients in the program, the number of recipients who completed the program and stayed in New Mexico and the number of those recipients who are practicing in a designated underserved area;
b e d s º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e - 8 - e a n e d r e l u [ A d stayed in New Mexico and the number of those recipients who are practicing in a designated underserved area;
and F.
and SB 8 Page 8 F.
SFCº SECTION 8.
SB 8 Page 9 4 6 8 25
APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the veterinary medical loan repayment fund for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out the purposes of the h fund.
Any unexpended or unencumbered balance at the end of a u » r fiscal year shall not revert to any other fund.»SFC t h g e l i - 9 - h r i s h , e h t u g e b l e e , gh n d d i = = o h l ] b ,d i a º r e r = t e w d m a n o d m :
b r e t º o t n = .229040.2SAAIC February 22, 2025 (5:33pm) s k m e e a n e d r e l u [ A d
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Action History

  1. Signed

  2. passed House

  3. DO PASS committee report adopted

  4. Sent to House Education Committee

  5. passed Senate

  6. DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

  7. DO PASS committee report adopted

  8. DO PASS committee report adopted

  9. Sent to Senate Education Committee & Senate Judiciary Committee & Senate Finance Committee

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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5 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 107 not signed on

Sponsors (5)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (107)

107 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

education agriculture
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 8?
SB 8 is sponsored by Harlan Vincent (Republican), Anita Gonzales (Democrat), Pat Boone (Republican), Lujan, Tara L., and Pat Woods (Republican).
What is the current status of SB 8?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 21, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 8?
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