NM SB49

Creates the School Age-Appropriate Filtering and Evaluation Project as a three-year pilot program in the Public Education Department to implement voluntary rating systems for library materials based on age appropriateness

Selects 20 different school districts or charter schools each year, reflecting geographic distribution across New Mexico, with each participant implementing the project in at least one elementary school, one high school, and one junior high school

Provides participating districts with two $25,000 grants each—one upon selection and one upon completing the required parent survey stage

Appropriates $3,210,000 from the public education reform fund for fiscal years 2027-2029, with annual caps of $1,000,000 for participant grants and $70,000 for administration

Requires the department to submit a preliminary report by December 1, 2026, annual survey reports by July 1 of each project year, and a final report to the governor and legislative education study committee by December 1, 2029