STATE News:
SANTA FE — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department announced a historic milestone on Monday: New Mexico will become the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost universal childcare starting Nov. 1.
This groundbreaking new initiative will make childcare available to all New Mexicans, regardless of income, by removing income eligibility requirements from the state’s childcare assistance program and continuing the waiver of family copayments.
“Childcare is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said. “By investing in universal childcare, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”
This announcement fulfills the promise made by the governor and the New Mexico Legislature when they created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019. Since then, New Mexico has expanded access to no-cost childcare to families with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, reducing financial strain on tens of thousands of families.
With Monday’s announcement universal childcare will be extended to every family in the state, regardless of income. This amounts to an average annual family savings of $12,000 per child.
“New Mexico is creating the conditions for better outcomes in health, learning, and well-being,” said Neal Halfon, professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, and director of the Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities. “Its approach is rooted in data, driven by communities, and becoming a model for the nation.
“By prioritizing public investments in early childhood educators, families, and children, New Mexico continues to lead the way in building a sustainable, affordable, and quality childcare and early learning system that helps its communities and economy thrive,” said Michelle Kang,president and CEO of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). “Achieving universal childcare will make a huge difference for the state’s children, families, businesses, and educators—and for all of us, by showing that it can be done.”
Families who receive childcare assistance report greater financial stability, more time to focus on their children, and the ability to choose higher-quality care settings. Now, every family in New Mexico will have the same opportunity.
New Mexico is also taking decisive action to build the supply of infant and toddler care statewide:
- Establishing a $12.7 million low-interest loan fund to construct, expand, and renovate childcare facilities, with an additional $20 million requested in the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
- Targeting growth to focus on care for infants, toddlers, low-income families, and children with special needs.
- Partnering with employers and school districts to expand childcare options for working families.
- Launching a statewide campaign to recruit licensed and registered home providers.
To support providers, reimbursement rates will rise to reflect the true cost of care. Programs that commit to paying entry-level staff a minimum of $18 per hour and offer 10 hours of care per day, five days a week, will receive an incentive rate. New Mexico estimates an additional 5,000 early childhood professionals are needed to fully achieve a universal system.
“Early childhood care and education is a public good,” ECECD Sec. Elizabeth Groginsky said. “By providing universal access and improving pay for our early childhood workforce, we are easing financial pressure on families, strengthening our economy, and helping every child learn in safe, nurturing environments. This is the kind of investment that builds equity today and prosperity for the future.”
With universal childcare, New Mexico is leading the nation by showing that what is best for children and families is also the smartest investment for long-term prosperity—building a stronger future for every community in the state.
For more information about how families and providers can access universal childcare benefits, visit and toolkit https://www.nmececd.org/universal.
