New Mexico Senate Republicans announced that Senate Bill 258 advanced in the Senate Education Committee on a party-line vote, despite efforts to amend it to exclude gender identity instruction. The announcement was made in a press release and a post on X on February 14 by the New Mexico GOP.

According to the New Mexico Legislature, Senate Bill 258, which focuses on human sexuality education, passed in the Senate Education Committee with a 6-4 party-line vote. Republicans proposed amendments to exclude gender identity topics, including the concept of multiple biological sexes, from the curriculum for middle and high school students.

Senate Bill 258 mandates comprehensive human sexuality education in New Mexico public middle and high schools starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It requires one-half unit of health education for graduation. School districts and charter schools must submit implementation plans, while the Public Education Department will develop academic standards, approve curricula, and create model programs. Qualified personnel, including school staff or community organizations, must deliver instruction.

Republican Party of New Mexico's post | X

"This bill undermines the authority of local school districts and more importantly, the parents of thousands of students who would never want their children exposed to this type of material," said Senator Gabriel Ramos. "My Republican colleagues and I on the Senate Education Committee cannot accept that this is the direction lawmakers should be focused on while 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 while so many children in New Mexico cannot proficiently read or understand mathematics."

Ramos represents District 28, which includes Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna counties. He served as a senator from 2019-2020 and resumed his position in 2025. Ramos is an insurance agent by occupation and currently holds the position of Ranking Member of the Senate Education Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee.