New Mexico Leads the Nation with Universal Child Care

New Mexico has grow the first state in the United States to offer universal child care, making it available to all residents regardless of income. This initiative, announced on September 8, 2025, by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, aims to provide financial relief to families, support the state’s economy, and ensure all children have opportunities to thrive.

A Historic Milestone

The program removes income eligibility requirements and continues the waiver of family copayments for child care assistance. Governor Lujan Grisham stated that child care is “essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity.” [1]

Legislative Foundation and Funding

This announcement fulfills a promise made when the Early Childhood Education and Care Department was created in 2019. Since then, New Mexico has expanded access to no-cost child care to families with incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. [1] The initiative was further codified into law with the signing of Senate Bill 241 on Tuesday, September 9, 2025. [2] [3]

Senate Bill 241 allows the state to allocate up to $700 million from New Mexico’s early childhood trust fund over five fiscal years. The bill also includes provisions to address potential economic downturns, such as co-payments for higher-income families, and establishes a new wage and career ladder for early childhood workers. [3]

Impact on Families

The universal child care program is expected to save families an average of $12,000 per child annually. [1] Julia Wise, a New Mexico resident, shared how expanded child care assistance allowed her to join a local technology startup, a move she described as “life-changing.” [2] [3]

Streamlining Child Care Access

Alongside SB 241, Governor Lujan Grisham also signed Senate Bill 96 into law. This measure streamlines zoning regulations for child care centers, preventing local authorities from imposing additional requirements on home-based providers and eliminating associated taxes and fees. [3]

Expert Perspective

Neal Halfon, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and director of the Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities, noted that New Mexico’s approach is “rooted in data, driven by communities, and becoming a model for the nation.” [1]

The universal child care program officially began on November 1, 2025. [1]