New Mexico will become the first state in the country to offer universal free child care, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Monday. The policy, set to take effect November 1, will remove all income eligibility thresholds for families seeking assistance through the state’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department.
“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said, estimating the change will save families an average of $12,000 annually. The initiative follows a 2022 constitutional amendment that directed lawmakers to use a state fund to build a sustainable early childhood system.
The plan also includes support for expanding facilities. Local governments and schools will soon be able to apply for low-interest loans to create or enlarge centers. State officials project 12,000 to 13,000 new slots will open through new licensed centers and homes. Providers will receive added funding if they pay entry-level workers $18 to $21 per hour and operate extended hours.
Experts have described the program as a national model. “This portfolio of strategies … is a really big deal,” said Dr. Neal Halfon of UCLA, noting the state’s blueprint for early childhood support could guide others nationwide.
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