New Mexico School Sports Rules Face a Long Wait

New Mexico Lawmakers Face Tight 30‑Day Deadline for Student‑Athlete Eligibility Bill

In New Mexico, lawmakers have a short 30‑day window to act on bills. A proposal from Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, which would shift control of student‑athlete eligibility from the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) to the state’s Department of Public Education, was not heard this session. Maestas told reporters that even before the deadline, the bill had a slim chance of moving forward, and past attempts in 2023 and 2025 also stalled in the Senate Education Committee.

The NMAA handles hundreds of transfer and eligibility questions each year and wants to keep its enforcement authority. “It would have been a great hearing to have,” Maestas said, noting that bills are hard to pass in such a brief period. He added that the NMAA is reviewing its bylaws about transfers and may adopt a “one free transfer” rule.

Dusty Young, the NMAA’s executive director, said the association plans to present a full proposal at its final board meeting on June 4. He urged New Mexico to update its policies to match those of other states.