The commission on higher education [higher education department] shall identify those circumstances where the waiving of the nonresident differential in tuition rates, on a reciprocal basis with other states, including the states of the foreign country contiguous to New Mexico, would enhance educational opportunities for New Mexico residents. Relative to the identified circumstances, the commission [department] shall negotiate with the other states involved with the objective of establishing reciprocal agreements for the waiving of the nonresident differential for New Mexico residents attending institutions in other states in exchange for New Mexico institutions waiving the nonresident differential for residents of the other states. Upon successful completion of the negotiations, the commission [department] may identify those classes and numbers of New Mexico residents whose educational opportunities would be enhanced and the number and classes of nonresident students for whom the nonresident differential is to be waived by the New Mexico institutions and may direct that the institutions grant such waivers. The commission [department] shall establish regulations for the administration of the waivers and for the reporting of the cases in which the waivers are given.
NMS § 21-1-6