New Mexico lawmakers seek preschool expansion with oil money

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Legislature’s lead budget-writing committee recommended a billion-dollar increase in annual state spending that expands preschool access and extends mandatory classroom instruction time at K-12 public schools. The proposal announced Thursday would increase general fund spending by 12% to $9.4 billion for the fiscal year that runs from July 2023 to June 2024.