New Mexico Register / Volume XXXVII, Issue 8 / April 21, 2026

NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED or Department) will hold a public rulemaking hearing on May 28, 2026. The hearing will begin at 8:30 AM and will be held via Microsoft Teams and in person at the New Mexico Higher Education Department. The purpose of the hearing is to take public comment regarding the proposed repeal and replacement of 5.7.3 NMAC, NEW MEXICO HEALTH PROFESSIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM (HPLRP).

Join via Microsoft Teams:

https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/21064386957794?p=BiBNUtnISbRCGJGsIo

Or call in (audio only):

+ 1 (505) 312-4308

Phone Conference ID: 686 559 473#

Purpose:

The purpose of the proposed repeal and replacement of 5.7.3 NMAC is to align the rule with provisions established through the signing of House Bill 66 (H.B. 66) 59th Leg., 1st Sess. (N.M. 2026). H.B. 66 implemented various changes to the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program.

Summary of Proposed Rule:

Significant amendments are proposed throughout the rule to incorporate new program requirements established by H.B. 66. These changes affect the following sections of 5.7.3 NMAC:

5.7.3.2 NMAC, SCOPE

5.7.3.5 NMAC, EFFECTIVE DATE

5.7.3.6 NMAC, OBJECTIVE

5.7.3.7 NMAC, DEFINITIONS

5.7.3.8 NMAC, HEALTH PROFESSION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

5.7.3.9 NMAC, PARTICIPANT ELIGBILITY

5.7.3.10 NMAC, SELECTION OF LOAN REPAYMENT PARTICIPANTS

5.7.3.11 NMAC, PARTICIPATION AGREEMNT

5.7.3.12 NMAC, PENALITES

5.7.3.13 NMAC, INELIGBLE DEBTS

5.7.3.13 NMAC, REPORTS

The Department proposes adding and retitling sections, reorganizing provisions for clarity, and removing language no longer consistent with H.B. 66. Definitions are added, deleted, or revised. Amendments incorporate new requirements related to applicant eligibility, eligible health professions, award amounts, contract terms, participant service obligations, eligible debts, and repayment obligations for participants who fail to meet contract terms. Changes are also proposed to the participant selection process, priority criteria for practice sites, and award prioritization. The Department proposes changing “shall” to “may” in the Health Profession Advisory Committee membership requirement to allow flexibility when a representative is unavailable. Language regarding loan payment frequency is updated to provide for one annual payment instead of quarterly payments. Provisions related to the Health Professional Loan Repayment Fund and other funds under the Health Professional Loan Repayment Act are added. Reporting requirements for the Department are updated. Finally, corrections are made to 5.7.3.8 NMAC, STATUTORY AUTHORITY, along with grammatical and stylistic revisions.

Details for Obtaining a Copy, Public Hearing and Comments:

The proposed rule is posted on the NMHED website and may be accessed at https://hed.nm.gov/ under the “Data, Reports & Rules” section. To request that a copy of the proposed rule be sent to you by mail or e-mail, please contact HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov or (505)476-8411.

A public hearing will be held on May 28, 2026 from 8:30 AM until 9:30 AM via Microsoft Teams and in person at the NMHED Office located at 2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Any person who is or may be affected by this proposed rule may participate. Interested persons may submit written comments to NMHED at 2044 Galisteo Street, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505 or HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov. Written comments must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on May 22, 2026. Please note that any written or verbal comments received will become part of the rulemaking record, be posted to the New Mexico Sunshine Portal and be accessible to the public. If submitting written comments by email, please indicate in the subject line the number and section of each rule(s) for which you are providing comments. Oral comments will also be accepted at the rule hearing, subject to time limitations.

Legal authority for this rulemaking can be found in Section 9-25-1 et seq. NMSA 1978, Section 21-22D et seq. NMSA 1978 and Section 21-1-26 et seq. NMSA 1978.

Any person with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing should contact (505) 476-8411 or email HigherEd.Info@hed.nm.gov ten (10) business days prior to the hearing.