Governor vetoes bill for Native cultural schools pilot

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has pocket vetoed Senate Bill 13, which would have created a five-year pilot program for state-tribal compact schools in New Mexico. The bill, introduced by Sen. Benny Shendo Jr. of Jemez Pueblo, passed unanimously in both chambers but failed to receive the governor’s signature by the April 11 deadline.

According to a spokesperson for the governor’s office, the decision was due to concerns about the bill exempting schools from accountability requirements without a clear implementation plan. The proposed legislation would have allowed up to five compact schools to operate outside of standard state curriculum and evaluation rules. Shendo told Source NM he plans to work with the Public Education Department and the governor’s office to revise the bill for the 2026 legislative session.