Bill > HB324

This bill mandates that starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all public school districts and charter schools in New Mexico must offer annual firearm safety training to students in grades six through twelve, with the option to extend this training to younger students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The training, which must be developed or approved by both the Public Education Department and the Department of Public Safety, needs to be age-appropriate and cover topics such as safe firearm storage, school safety concerning firearms, and specific protocols for children who discover a firearm (emphasizing not touching it and immediately telling an adult) and for older students who find or have access to firearms. Crucially, the training must remain neutral on political and legal debates surrounding firearms and the right to bear arms, and it will be a non-shooting program that does not involve live ammunition or actual firearms. If private entities provide the training, it cannot be branded with commercial or nonprofit affiliations, and the training can be delivered through various methods like classroom instruction, videos, or review of materials. Ultimately, each school district and charter school will decide how to integrate this required training into their academic year.

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=324&year=26