New Mexico State Senator Gabriel Ramos said that Senate Republicans oppose SB 258, which mandates controversial gender identity instruction, undermines local school authority, and distracts from improving core academic subjects. He made the statement in a press release on February 14.
"This bill undermines the authority of local school districts," said Ramos. "Our children are failing in the subjects that truly matter. It is shameful that we have to waste our time on nonsense such as this."
SB 258 was introduced in the 2025 New Mexico Legislature by Senator Angel M. Charley and Representative Yanira Gurrola. The bill mandates comprehensive human sexuality education for students starting in seventh grade by the 2027-2028 school year. It also requires one-half credit of health education, including human sexuality and lifesaving skills training, for high school graduation, while allowing parents to opt their children out of the human sexuality portion. The Public Education Department is tasked with developing academic standards, approving curricula, and establishing instructor qualifications for this education.
According to TriCity Record, New Mexico ranks second-to-last in public education performance nationwide, with only 19.12% of fourth graders proficient in reading and 20.97% in math. Despite a one-third increase in K-12 education spending—from $2.69 billion in 2018 to $3.8 billion in 2023—student performance remains among the lowest. The state ranks last in math and reading proficiency for grades four and eight. Additionally, New Mexico’s average SAT scores are the lowest in the country, while ACT and MCAT scores are comparable to those in Mississippi, Alabama, and West Virginia.
Despite a 33% increase in K-12 public education spending from fiscal year 2018 to 2023, teacher shortages persist, exacerbated by low salaries and high turnover rates. These shortages negatively impact student achievement as consistent access to qualified, culturally competent teachers is crucial for improving educational outcomes, according to the LANL Foundation.
According to his website, Ramos is a Western New Mexico University graduate who has served as a veteran, entrepreneur, and public servant. He founded Hurricane Car Wash and later served as Grant County Clerk and Commissioner before becoming a New Mexico State Senator in 2019.
