New Mexico to become the first state to offer universal child care

New Mexico will become the first state in the country to begin offering free universal child care, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced.

New Mexico will become the first state in the country to begin offering free universal child care, Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced.

The move amounts to an expansion of an existing program that went into effect three years ago that has aided thousands of families in the state.

“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement announcing the expanded program Monday. “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

Starting in November, the state will offer child care, or reimbursement for child care costs, to every family in the state, regardless of income. Lujan Grisham’s office said the program’s expansion will save families in the state $12,000 per child per year on average.

In announcing the initiative, New Mexico will become the first state to guarantee universal child care, though other Democratic-led states have also greatly expanded universal early childhood education in recent years. The program may offer a blueprint for other states on an issue that was prominent during the 2024 presidential campaign.