Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Summary: The Senate began by outlining the day’s agenda, then received several House messages, including the House’s request for concurrence on Senate Bill 151 and notice that the House had concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 2, 3, and 70. The Senate also received enrolled bills SB 64 and SB 101, and later adopted committee reports on House Bill 120 and SB 64. The chamber then took up concurrence on SB 151, a tax package that the House amended to remove the gross receipts tax provision for medical supplies, add a 1% salary increase for state employees, higher education, and public schools, extend a high-wage job tax credit, and add sunsets. Senator Hamblen supported concurrence as a friendly amendment, while Senator Cervantes argued the House changes transformed the bill into an unconstitutional appropriations measure and urged a conference committee. The Senate nevertheless concurred, 22-14. On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 61, which increases the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony to align with other sentencing provisions. Supporters, including Senator Cervantes, cited consistency in the criminal code and noted the Sentencing Commission’s endorsement; the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed House Joint Memorial 3, directing the Environment Department to convene stakeholders and report on implementation of the PFAS Protection Act, despite a brief exchange over whether the memorial could be read as expanding authority under the existing PFAS law; it passed 22-13. The chamber then passed several memorials: Senate Memorial 20, amended to include youth and family voices and legislative appointees in a statewide youth violence summit, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 21, calling for a study of a statewide overdose prevention program, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 22, which asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group on domestic violence funding and CYFD-related funding flows, passed; and Senate Memorial 27, urging expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act to compensate New Mexicans affected by atomic testing and uranium mining, passed 34-0. At the end of the session, the Senate received a governor’s message authorizing consideration of SB 74 on cockfighting penalties, followed by a playful Senate response message. The body also agreed to move House Joint Memorial 2 from Rules to the President’s table and then recessed until 8:30 a.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We use general fund and then we use the early childhood trust fund.

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I have the Secretary of Early Childhood to let her make a few short comments.
• The first section basically adds language into the Early Childhood Education and Care Fund, which is
• the trust fund for early childhood. ...and basically allows stability for this entire program for the
• Child care facility, early interventions.
• And as we move out of the 50th in education, the slow move, whether it's early childhood, child care,

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• We use general fund and then we use the early childhood trust fund.

Bills: SB241, SB145, HB2

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 241 and reviewed a Senate Finance Committee substitute that incorporated several amendments. Staff explained changes related to the child care fund, residency determinations for federally eligible applicants, expanded child care assistance eligibility for grandparents raising grandchildren and foster parents, updated payment-rate rulemaking, tribal child care sovereignty and culturally appropriate services, limits on land grant permanent fund use for nonsectarian/non-denominational services, provider licensure pathways, and reporting clarifications. Members also discussed whether the bill would maximize federal and state child care tax benefits and how the nonsectarian language would apply to faith-based child care providers. The committee adopted the substitute and then passed it on a 7-3 vote. The committee then moved into House Bill 2 budget language review, focusing on budget adjustment authority and other fiscal provisions. Members discussed proposed BAR language for the State Investment Council, State Treasurer, PERA, and the Economic Development Department, with concerns about caps, whether the language was too broad, and whether some items should revert to existing law or be removed. The committee approved some of the BAR language items, but flagged the Treasurer and Economic Development provisions for later review. Members also discussed extending certain appropriations and project timelines, including a Rio Grande Trail Commission item and several IT and public safety projects, generally favoring extensions where work was still underway. The committee then debated proposed public school support language that would bar PED from approving budgets for schools with fewer than 180 instructional days and from approving new moves to four-day school weeks. Several members argued the 180-day language conflicted with existing statute, which is based on instructional hours, and that the four-day-week restriction could have unintended consequences. The committee ultimately voted down both public school support provisions. The meeting ended with a brief discussion of reviewing the rest of House Bill 2 and related supplemental and language items in the next session, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is María Cristina Nieto and I am a teacher in early childhood education.
• I am an early childhood educator and I see the need for the teachers.
• Relieve the early childhood trust fund rather than increase general funds.
• And how does this translate to jobs and support for early childhood for the workforce for the early childhood
• Setting up the Early Childhood Fund was unprecedented. And it was very bipartisan.

Bills: SB132, SB241

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the member, so probably would be to the early '90s. 30, 40 years? Am I doing?

Bills: SB132, SB241

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Summary: The committee first heard HB 158 as amended, which would require state agencies receiving appropriations from the Grow Fund to submit accountability and evaluation plans to the State Budget Division and the Legislative Finance Committee. LFC staff said the bill would put existing practice into statute and formalize agency reporting and evaluation responsibilities. The bill drew no opposition testimony, and after questions about whether agencies or LFC would do the evaluations, it passed on a 9-0 due pass vote. HB 255, the Public Safety Workforce Building Program, was then presented as a bipartisan measure to consolidate public safety workforce funding into a competitive grant program for local law enforcement, fire, detention, and public attorney offices. The sponsor said it would not require a new appropriation. There was no opposition testimony, and the committee approved it on a 9-0 due pass vote. The committee then took up SB 309, which would replace the lottery’s 30% return requirement with a fixed floor return for several fiscal years, with a reversion to the current law if the floor is not met. Lottery officials and supporters argued the change would let the lottery offer more competitive prizes, including higher-value scratchers, and potentially increase scholarship revenue; opponents, including Think New Mexico and a nursing student, warned it could cap long-term growth and reduce scholarship funding. After extended debate, the bill passed on a 7-2 due pass vote. Later, SB 79, creating a statewide mosquito-borne disease prevention program through the Department of Health, was presented by its sponsor as a response to West Nile virus and warmer winters. Testimony from the sponsor and the state entomologist emphasized rising mosquito risk and the need for county grants and statewide coordination. Although the committee initially moved to table the bill because funding had already been included in the budget, that motion failed and the bill ultimately received a due pass vote. The committee also heard HB 295, which would create a centralized accessibility reporting position in the Department of Health; after testimony for and against, an amendment stripping the appropriation was adopted, and the bill passed 5-3. The committee then heard HB 124, establishing an Office of New Americans within Workforce Solutions to coordinate workforce integration for immigrants with lawful status. Supporters described barriers faced by immigrant workers and the need for bilingual training and centralized assistance, while the sponsor said the office would have no first-year budget impact. The bill passed 6-4. Finally, the committee considered SB 273 and SB 274, both involving state financial support for affected entities and the Patient Compensation Fund. SB 273, which would provide temporary state assistance to communities affected by economic disruption, passed after debate about precedent and economic recovery. SB 274, which sought repayment from the Patient Compensation Fund for prior state infusions, drew opposition from hospitals and physicians who warned of higher surcharges and questioned the timing and legality; discussion continued around the committee substitute and the fund’s statutory restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Quality early childhood experiences are the foundation for success in school and life.
• Thank you. lead policy advisor for the governor for SB 22 to establish the early childhood education
• We are leading the nation in the bookends of education in early childhood and higher education.
• And you'll regularly hear me say, because they got high-quality early childhood education.
• And you'll regularly hear me say high-quality early childhood education, not just child care.

Bills: SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department

Transcript Highlights:

• I was involved in the early stages of distance ed way back at San Jose State when I got to teach their

Bills: HB2, SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 253, as substituted, which would create a framework for full-time virtual/distance learning programs in New Mexico. Sponsors and agency witnesses said the bill is intended to preserve virtual options while adding approval, reporting, and compliance requirements, including definitions for distance learning programs, annual reporting, renewal every three to five years, and a pause on new programs while existing ones are grandfathered for a period. They also said the bill addresses budget concerns by limiting enrollment growth units and excluding distance-learning students from certain funding calculations, including rural population units, to prevent unexpected losses in the state equalization guarantee. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters included district superintendents and education officials who said the bill is needed to protect school funding, improve accountability, and gather basic data that the state currently lacks. Opponents included parents, students, teachers, charter-school representatives, and business and advocacy voices who argued virtual education has been lifesaving for medically fragile, bullied, rural, neurodivergent, and working students, and that the bill’s caps, geographic limits, and approval authority would reduce school choice and could eliminate some programs. Several witnesses stressed that virtual charter schools such as Pecos Cyber Academy and New Mexico Connections would not be affected, while others said the bill still reaches too broadly. Committee members raised extensive questions about the 10% enrollment cap, the adjacent-district requirement, the denial-and-appeal process, the treatment of charter schools versus district programs, and the effect on rural or small districts. Witnesses explained that the bill is meant to be temporary, with an interim study in 2026 to develop longer-term policy, but some members said they remained concerned about overreach and unintended consequences. No final vote or action on the bill was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was involved in the early stages of distance ed way back at San Jose State when I got to teach there

Bills: HB2, SB204, SB241, HB34

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, higher education, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, appropriation, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool

Transcript Highlights:

• A key component of that is early childhood learning.
• They are not early childhood centers.
• As I mentioned, they're not early childhood centers.
• They are not early childhood centers.
• As I mentioned, they're not early childhood centers.

Bills: HCR47, HB628, HB737, HB1008, HB1062, HB1079, HB1112

Keywords: mandatory reporter, child abuse training, online training, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, educator requirements, early childhood education, microcenter, school board, cooperative endeavor, economic disadvantage, vaccination, meningococcal disease, school entry, immunization requirements, public health, academic freedom, free speech, retaliation, faculty rights

Bills: HF719, HF2484, HF2486

Keywords: safety, school transportation, infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, library construction, education funding, early childhood, child protection, funding, bonds, education facilities

Bills: HF719, HF2484, HF2486

Keywords: safety, school transportation, infrastructure, capital investment, state bonds, library construction, education funding, early childhood, child protection, funding, bonds, education facilities, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• My family is one of the lucky ones because we all made it through her childhood alive.
• childhood mental health during the prenatal to age three period.
• childhood mental health during the prenatal to age three period.
• In other words, youth mental health starts with early childhood mental health.
• Early childhood mental health starts with parent mental health during and after pregnancy.

Bills: SB5979, SB6308, SB6319

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments, 904, all

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held an evening hearing on January 28th and took testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 6249 would require all people convicted of stalking to be supervised by the Department of Corrections after release. Staff explained current sentencing and community custody rules, and Senator Torres said the bill is intended to increase accountability and survivor safety. Victims and advocates testified in support, describing stalking as dangerous and arguing that mandatory supervision would help prevent reoffending; one sponsor noted possible amendment language had been emailed to the committee. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6255, which renames and expands the Legislative Executive Poverty Reduction Oversight Task Force into the Legislative Executive Economic Justice and Well-Being Task Force. Staff said the bill updates membership, duties, and reporting requirements tied to the 10-year plan to dismantle poverty, with a partial fiscal note showing a $4,000 OSPI cost. Senator Lovelett and agency and public witnesses supported the measure as a cleanup and coordination bill that strengthens poverty-reduction work and better incorporates lived experience and ethnic commissions. No vote was taken. Senate Bill 6286 would authorize the Department of Health to fine private detention facilities that deny entry for inspections, with escalating daily penalties and a new account to fund assistance for wrongfully detained people and others harmed by ICE agents. Senator Orwall and Senator Trudeau framed the bill as a human-rights and accountability measure, and testimony from a Tacoma councilmember and others supported stronger enforcement. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6224, which creates a Children and Youth Behavioral Health Leadership Council and formalizes implementation of the Washington Thriving strategic plan. The bill drew broad support from parents, providers, advocates, and state officials who emphasized early intervention, coordination, and system accountability, though a few witnesses raised concerns about psychiatric framing and urged amendments. The chair adjourned the meeting after testimony concluded; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• environment that families are also impacted by, the lack of SUD treatment beds, the lack of access to early
• And in that time, after doing focus groups and stuff, I've come to learn that ESIT, early supports for
• As you see, Cherish is in the middle between early supports, child welfare, and infant mental health.
• a child's development, including specialization in how to best offer support by catching children early
• We have early engagement work where the defense social workers at every shelter care hearing connect

Bills: SB5979, SB6308, SB6319

Keywords: opioids, substance abuse, dependent children, child welfare, caregiver substance use, court orders, shelter care, judicial discretion, family law, early childhood, family services, diversion programs, court-ordered assessments, 904, all

Summary: The committee focused on child welfare, with three bills and a work session on national and state child safety trends. Senator Torres briefly introduced SB 5979 on in-home dependencies and dependency filing standards, and committee staff explained it would direct DCYF to develop guidelines and training with courts and child welfare stakeholders, give greater weight to high-potency synthetic opioids and prior referrals, and require clearer petitions when removal is not sought. Senator Torres and several supporters said the bill is intended to prevent avoidable harm and improve coordinated, earlier intervention; DCYF said it already has a case-by-case process and raised concerns about duplicative work. Public testimony on SB 5979 was generally supportive, though some witnesses asked for amendments to protect access to justice and clarify the bill’s scope. The committee then heard a lengthy informational presentation from Casey Family Programs on Washington’s child welfare performance compared with national data. The presenters said Washington is doing as well as or better than the national average on several measures, including lower foster care entry rates, higher kinship care use, and lower re-entry rates, but noted continuing concerns about maltreatment recurrence, permanency timelines, and child fatalities, especially among infants. They emphasized the need for stronger safety planning, better data, more kinship and family-finding supports, and integrated services for substance use, behavioral health, and domestic violence. Senators raised concerns that fewer foster care entries may not be a success if child deaths are rising, and asked about housing and court decision-making. DCYF then provided an update on child welfare operations and critical incidents, describing intake pathways, shelter care and dependency timelines, and recent data showing 2025 as a record year for fatalities and near-fatalities, many involving fentanyl and children ages birth to three. DCYF said it has made practice changes, safe child consults, hotspot mapping, and other responses, and pointed to budget proposals for additional prevention supports. The committee also heard from providers and parents about prevention and post-reunification services, including home visiting, infant mental health, family preservation, and substance-exposed infant care. Maddie’s Place described its non-pharmacological model for substance-exposed newborns and said it is not fully Medicaid reimbursed. The committee then took testimony on SB 6319, which would allow some high-risk CPS cases involving children under four and high-potency opioids to remain open longer; supporters said it could improve engagement and follow-through, while opponents warned about constitutionality, surveillance without counsel, and the risk of leaving older children unprotected. Finally, the committee heard SB 6308, which would let courts order certain safety-related conditions at shelter care hearings when a child is returned home; DCYF supported it, while public defense raised due process and constitutional concerns about moving dispositional requirements earlier in the case.

Keywords: KY LRC YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PF1ArOYiACI, 2026-06-21T07:17:04+00:00, 2.2.24, Data collected via generic collector engine, 00:00:00 Meeting Start 00:00:11 Roll Call 00:01:45 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 00:02:21 Discussion of The Federal Early Childhood Policy Landscape 00:14:55 Discussion of the Family Child Care Network 00:41:06 Discussion of the YMCA Child Care Realities & Considerations 01:11:11 Discussion of Early Childhood Educator Pathways & Educational Supports 01:31:33 Discussion of the Little Purples Academy, 958, all, 2.2.42, 2.1.47

Transcript Highlights:

• It is early, isn't it?
• It aims to build a workforce. workforce pipeline in early childhood education.

Bills: HB 1079, HB3651, HB4980

Keywords: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, Leadership Officer Training Corps, public school, career education, military readiness, public school accountability, funding allotments, healthcare, insurance, cost control, patient access, regulation, affordability, public health, JROTC, automobile maintenance, high school education, elective course, student skills, practical knowledge