SB 73 — DRIVER'S ED REQUIREMENTS

SENATE BILL 73 57TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026 INTRODUCED BY Heather Berghmans and Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Cristina Parajón and Natalie Figueroa 7 9 AN ACT RELATING TO DRIVER EDUCATION;

156 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 22-13-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, e t 17 Chapter 16, Section 186, as amended) is amended to read:

w l n d 18 "22-13-12.

APPROVED DRIVER-EDUCATION COURSES.-- = = 19 a l A.

The [state board] department or its designated i a e r 20 representative shall adopt and promulgate minimum standards for a t m m 21 approved driver-education and motorcycle driver-education d r e 22 courses taught in any school in the state, which shall include c e s k 23 at least three hours of education and training on driving with e a n b 24 vulnerable road users.

u [ B.

A driver-education or motorcycle driver-driver-education .232632.1 education course shall provide to students legally entitled to operate the type of motor vehicle involved classroom instruction and behind-the-wheel or on-the-motorcycleon-the- motorcycle training in the safe operation of the motor vehicle.

An approved driver-education or motorcycle driver-education course is a course of instruction certified by the [state superintendent] secretary as meeting the minimum standards for [such] a driver-education course adopted by the [state board] department or its SB 73 Page 1 designated representative.

or (c) a person lawfully operating or riding a e t 17 bicycle, tricycle or other pedal-powered vehicle, a farm w l n d 18 tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use, a = = 19 a l skateboard, a scooter, a moped, a motorcycle, roller skates, i a e r 20 inline skates, an animal-drawn wheeled vehicle, an electric a t m m 21 personal assistive mobility device, a wheelchair or another d r e 22 similar means of transportation in which the person is not c e s k 23 surrounded by a shell of protection such as that which a car or e a n b 24 truck provides." u [ SECTION 2.

Section 66-1-4.19 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1990, .232632.1 - 2 - Chapter 120, Section 20, as amended) is amended to read:

"vehicle" means every device in, upon or by SB 73 Page 2 which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, including any frame, chassis, body or unitized frame and body of any vehicle or motor vehicle, except devices moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks;

"vehicle plate" means a plate, marker, sticker e t 17 or tag similar to a registration plate, but that is issued by w l n d 18 the department for vehicles that are exempted from registration = = 19 a l under the Motor Vehicle Code;

[and] i a e r 20 E.

"verification process" means a method of a t m m 21 authenticating an electronic credential through the use of d r e 22 secure and encrypted communication;

and c e s k 23 F.

e a n b 24 (a) a pedestrian, including a person engaged u [ in work or in the provision of emergency services upon or along .232632.1 - 3 - a roadway;

or (c) a person lawfully operating or riding a bicycle, tricycle or other pedal-powered vehicle, a farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use, a skateboard, a scooter, a moped, a motorcycle, roller skates, inline skates, an animal-drawn wheeled vehicle, an electric SB 73 Page 3 personal assistive mobility device, a wheelchair or another similar means of transportation in which the person is not surrounded by a shell of protection such as that which a car or truck provides." SECTION 3.

organize, plan and conduct a statewide program e t 17 of activities designed to prevent accidents and to reduce the w l n d 18 incidence of DWI in New Mexico;

= = 19 a l B.

coordinate activities and programs of the i a e r 20 departments, divisions and agencies of this state now engaged a t m m 21 in promoting traffic safety;

d r e 22 C.

provide accident prevention information and c e s k 23 publicity to all appropriate media of information and develop e a n b 24 other means of public information;

u [ D.

cooperate with all public and private agencies .232632.1 - 4 - and organizations interested in the promotion of traffic safety and accident prevention;

SB 73 Page 4 G.

prepare and submit each year a written report to the governor concerning the activities of the bureau and activities concerning assistance to local organizations and e t 17 officials;

w l n d 18 J.

institute and administer a statewide motorcycle = = 19 a l training program funded as provided for in Section 66-10-10 i a e r 20 NMSA 1978;

a t m m 21 K.

institute and administer an accident prevention d r e 22 course for elderly drivers as provided for in Section c e s k 23 59A-32-14 NMSA 1978;

e a n b 24 L.

cooperate with the public education department u [ to develop a regulatory framework for instructional and .232632.1 - 5 - administrative processes, including licensure requirements for instructors, and a curriculum for instruction in defensive driving with a DWI education and prevention component to be offered statewide in secondary schools as an elective;

institute and administer a DWI prevention and education program for elementary and secondary school SB 73 Page 5 students, funded as provided for in Section 66-5-35 NMSA 1978;

[include at least two hours of DWI prevention and education training in all driver education courses approved by the bureau] prescribe minimum driver education and training program standards pursuant to the Driving School Licensing Act;

Section 66-10-5 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, e t 17 Chapter 185, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

w l n d 18 "66-10-5.

ISSUANCE OF LICENSES TO DRIVER EDUCATION = = 19 a l SCHOOLS AND TO DRIVER EDUCATION INSTRUCTORS.-- i a e r 20 A.

The bureau shall issue a license certificate to a t m m 21 each applicant to conduct a driver education school or to each d r e 22 driver education instructor when it is satisfied that the c e s k 23 person has met the qualifications required under the Driving e a n b 24 School Licensing Act and if a school complies with the minimum u [ driver education program standards established by the bureau.

.232632.1 - 6 - B.