2026 Legislative Session
During the 2026 legislative session, Universal Child Care remains a critical priority for New Mexico families.
Universal Child Care strengthens the state’s early childhood system and supports the workforce by ensuring families can access quality child care without cost barriers.
Overview of Proposed Legislation
FY27 Executive Budget
The FY27 Executive Budget builds on the strategic and successful investments of the New Mexico Legislature and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham that have benefitted tens of thousands of New Mexico families and young children. The Executive Budget also supports ECECD’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan through targeted recurring and non-recurring funding.
Resource: Check out ECECD’s 2026 Legislative and Budget Priorities flyer for more information about the budget request.
Universal Child Care
New Mexico is the first state in the nation to offer Universal Child Care, providing no-cost child care assistance to families who work or attend school, regardless of income. By removing income limits and co-payments, Universal Child Care ensures families can access care without financial barriers, saving an average of $14,000 per child per year in out-of-pocket costs.
This historic investment strengthens family stability, supports workforce participation, expands the economy, and positions New Mexico as a national leader in building a sustainable, high-quality early childhood system. By approving the FY27 Executive budget request of $160.6 million for Universal Child Care, lawmakers have the opportunity to make a generational change in the lives of New Mexico families and our state’s economy through one of the most cost-effective labor market policies ever evaluated in the US.
SB241 Child Care Assistance Program Act
SB241 codifies New Mexico’s Child Care Assistance Program in state law, strengthening the long-term sustainability, transparency, and accountability of Universal Child Care. The bill establishes clear eligibility guidelines, protects funding through fiscal guardrails, and enhances oversight through annual reporting requirements. By anchoring reimbursement rates in a cost model and reinforcing quality standards, SB241 supports families, strengthens the workforce, and ensures continued investment in a high-quality early childhood system.
SB96 Child Care Zoning Requirement
This legislation creates statewide rules for where child care facilities can operate to increase the number of child care options and improve access to quality care. The bill treats licensed and registered child care homes the same as regular homes, removing extra local rules, fees, and parking requirements that make it harder to run a child care business.
Licensed child care centers would be allowed in commercial areas, mixed-use neighborhoods, and apartment buildings, and homeowners associations could not ban child care homes. These statewide rules make zoning laws consistent across New Mexico and remove barriers that limit child care availability in communities.
SB170 Child Care Facility Donation Tax Credit
This proposal creates tax credits for people and businesses who donate to child care facilities licensed by ECECD, with a total limit of $10 million per year and a limit of $500,000 per taxpayer per year. The tax credit encourages donations to child care programs, creating new funding sources for facilities to support building improvements and day-to-day costs. By encouraging people to support child care providers, this law strengthens both the number and quality of early childhood services available to New Mexico families.
Committee Hearings
Legislative committee hearings are meetings where small groups of lawmakers review bills before they go to a full vote. Committees are specialized—some focus on education, others on healthcare or budgets.
During hearings, committee members ask questions, listen to experts and community members, and decide if a bill should move forward.
Public Participation Encouraged!
These meetings are open to everyone—watch hearings in person or online at www.nmlegis.gov.
Most committees allow public comment, which means you can share your thoughts, experiences, or concerns about a bill directly with the lawmakers who will vote on it.
Upcoming Hearings
(Updated: Feb. 13)
House Commerce and Economic Development Committee
When: Friday, February 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Where: New Mexico State Capitol, Room 317
490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe
Watch: Educator David Sweet shares why he supports Universal Child Care
Watch: Dawn’s Story on Finding High-Quality Care
Resources for Lawmakers
Presentations
Resources for Families and Early Childhood Professionals
Jan. 20. 2026 Community Legislative Session Spotlight
- Presentation in Spanish │ Download the Spanish accessible PDF
- Presentation in English │Download the English accessible PDF
Feb. 2-3, 2026 Community Legislative Session Spotlight Mid-Way Check In
- Presentation in English │Presentation is accessible
- Presentation in Spanish │Presentation is accessible
Watch: Karen’s Story – Saving for the Future Thanks to Free Child Care
Watch: Hillary’s Story –Growing Her Child Care Business