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

Transcript Highlights:

• I think when we hear CYFD, we often associate that with child safety, but CYFD is also responsible for
• fighting rings; B. establish a rooster rehabilitation and sanctuary fund to support the humane rescue and care
• departing governor shall be invited to symbolically adopt the roosters, pledging continued protection, care
• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will be honored with eight strong New Mexico gallos, placed in sanctuary care
• , but for flourishing. ...will be honored with eight strong New Mexico gallos, placed in sanctuary care

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:

• in universal child care.
• Many child care centers.
• But what are we doing to make sure that we don't just have child care, but quality child care, given
• And I think that's my biggest fear is that we're going to do child care, but not quality child care.
• care, but not quality child.

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:

• care centers, and more specifically focused on ensuring that tribal child care centers retain their ability
• to provide child care that is in a linguistic and culturally appropriate manner, so as not to infringe
• care or limit any educational regulations... ...and culturally appropriate child care or limit any educational
• So this is basically the clause that ensures that we expend federal child care assistance funds first
• So the department shall reasonably ensure that eligible federal and state child care tax benefits are

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:

• And then we've also added a provision on Amendment 28 on page 5 that registered child care providers—these
• And then we've also added a provision on Amendment 28 on page 5 that registered child care providers.
• Amendment 28, a registered child care provider...
• or universal child care.
• Their 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

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we need to be very careful about the guardrails.
• We need to take care of those rural schools.
• In the words of my child, they have found their people.
• The parents care about them, and I truly believe you care about them.
• The parents care about them, and I truly believe you care about them, Secretary.

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:

• The Health Care Affordability Fund was built to use money generated within the health care system and
• Hospitals have uncompensated care.
• And yes, medical care is very, very important. I understand that.
• We’ve seen health care costs as one of the biggest challenges.
• Yes, this bill creates the Foster Care Plus pilot project, directing CYFD and the Health Care Authority

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:

• As an eligible activity to be eligible for child care assistance.
• care centers, and more specifically focused on ensuring that tribal child care centers retain their
• And then we added in page 20, subsection C on lines 3 through 7, requiring that registered child care
• licensed child care provider.
• Lines 3 through 7 require that registered child care providers shall not be eligible for capital improvement

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:

• , family child care, registered homes, licensed homes and centers, and how do we do that?
• to sustainably expand universal child care over time.
• The early child care work. The workforce is the infrastructure behind universal child care.
• food program by child care facility.
• , and the high cost of child care.

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:

• I'm a registered lobbyist for Playing for Education.
• He was careful about what he ate. He was careful about where he went.
• He was careful about everything.
• I think that every building is supposed to take care of their ADA issues within that building.
• Because I'm a state legislator and because I'm responsible for the kids that are put into our care.

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:

• It allows child care operators and at-home child care facilities to provide assistance or to provide
• child care without additional regulations.
• Finally, child care is a revenue generator.
• For every dollar invested in child care, states realize about $2 in local spending because child care
• This legislation is critical to supporting registered and licensed child care homes that want to operate

Bills: HB303, SB96, HM6

Keywords: public utility, certificate of public convenience and necessity, certificate of need, Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility regulation, ratemaking, energy storage, battery storage, grid reliability, renewable energy, transmission, distribution, generation plant, utility expansion, service territory, mutual domestic water consumer association, economic development department, clean energy, fossil fuel reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's not big enough for me to give free child care to Senator Wirth's kids, who he doesn't need now
• If you ask the people that are making 400% of poverty right now to pay 50% of the child care bill, that's
• They live paycheck to paycheck to pay for child care, health insurance, and to put food on their table
• So we are going to finish off tonight with Senate Bill 96, which is a regulated child care zoning requirements
• This is a really great bill that helps our child care system. I know, but I would take this.

Bills: SB12, SB36, SB92, SB120, SB133, SB151, SB18, SB96

Keywords: tax credit, physician, healthcare, income tax, rural health, quantum technology, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, journalism, local news

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 96, Regulated child care zoning requirements.
• New Mexico needs more child care centers.
• So, when child care operators who are offering care in a home go from serving six to seven children suddenly
• child care Programs and child care centers.
• Child care has very specific space requirements: square footage per child, indoors, outdoors, clay areas

Bills: SB20, SB53, SB86, SB96, SB129

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• And it creates greater barriers to care for someone. And so there are concerns with it.
• And finally, it requires AHCA to adopt rules for minimum standards for pediatric care.
• We want every child to have the best when they need it. Thank you. I appreciate your support.
• That was, again, 119 fatal child drownings in Florida.
• That was, again, 119 fatal child drownings in Florida.

Bills: S0068, S0096, S0340, S0428, S0606, S1480, S7018

Keywords: pediatric care, emergency departments, hospital regulations, patient safety, health care standards, veterans, dental care, healthcare, grant program, income assistance, human trafficking, nurse licensure, registered nurse, RN, licensed practical nurse, LPN, Florida Board of Nursing, Department of Health, licensure by examination, nursing education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard public comment first on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program and the iBudget waiver. Testimony on the HIV program warned that proposed Department of Health changes could disrupt care for thousands of clients, create confusion, and force people off life-saving medications; a senator suggested affected clients explore medically needy and FQHC/340B options. Testimony on iBudget urged support for a roughly 7% rate adjustment for direct support professionals, citing rising costs and the need to sustain the developmental disabilities workforce. The committee then considered several bills. SB 428 expanded Florida’s swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7 and was reported favorably. SB 68 required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, equipment standards, and readiness assessments; an amendment aligning reporting dates with the House was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 1718 lengthened the time an adult may stay in an out-of-home placement before being treated as a visitor, reduced background screening burdens for foster families, made the Step Into Success program permanent, and created a best-practices program; it was also reported favorably. The committee next approved SB 606, which adds drowning-prevention and safe-bathing education to postpartum materials and requires related compliance records, and SB 96, which expands the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program to veterans up to 400% of the federal poverty level; an amendment removed the bill’s specific $500,000 appropriation so funding can be handled in the budget process. SB 340 required nursing education to include a two-hour human trafficking course before licensure, and SB 1480 created a grandfathering process for certain area-of-critical-need health care providers if federal designations change, both of which were reported favorably. The committee adjourned after all bills passed their roll calls.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this could be your child. This could be your grandchild. Your grandchild, your child can...
• I take care.
• It is about equal, informed, timely care.
• continuing care of the department in extended foster care, who are under 21 will no longer need repeated
• or in the continuing care of the department in extended foster care who are under 21 will no longer

Bills: S0006, S0036, S0560, S0778, S0844, S0864, S1002, S1016, S1022, S1030, S1630

Keywords: child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, nursing title, advanced practice registered nurse, advertising, professional standards, disciplinary action, psychotropic medication, community-based care, liability insurance, forensic services, defendants, mental health, judicial system, defense, legal definitions, sickle cell disease

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard and advanced a series of health, child welfare, aging, disability, and public records bills. CS/SB 1002, on child welfare and parental substance abuse, was described as clarifying that acute or chronic parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect when it creates an ongoing risk to a child; it passed after limited questions and supportive testimony from Florida Smart Justice Alliance. CS/SB 1630, a broad aging and long-term care modernization bill, would streamline eligibility screenings, allow temporary DOEA services during emergencies or lead agency failures, tighten oversight of area agencies on aging, permanently establish the Florida Alzheimer’s Care Center of Excellence, and expand guardianship training and enforcement tools; it drew support from AARP, area agencies, and the Alzheimer’s Association and was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 1022 to add Bay County and Pompano to the Florida Children’s Initiatives, and CS/SB 1030, via strike-all amendment, to streamline regulation of substance abuse and behavioral health providers and clarify background screening and privacy rules. Several bills focused on health care practice and patient access. CS/SB 36, with an amendment, allows nurses with doctoral degrees to use appropriate titles while requiring clear identification as nurses and making misuse grounds for discipline; nursing organizations supported it and it passed. CS/SB 844 requires physicians and nurses to complete a one-time, board-approved continuing education course on sickle cell disease care management, with multiple patients and advocates testifying about delayed care, bias, and the need for better provider education; the bill was reported favorably after an amendment aligning it with the House version. CS/SB 560 streamlines procedures for psychotropic medication for children in DCF custody by reducing duplicative reports, clarifying evaluator qualifications, limiting repeated background checks, and simplifying consent documentation; an amendment removed postsecondary education language, and the bill passed. The committee also approved a public records exemption bill for a uterine fibroids research database (CS/SB 864). The committee also advanced measures affecting disability services and forensic care. SB 6, a claims bill, would pay $3.8 million to a trust for a child who suffered severe abuse-related injuries after DCF involvement; it passed without opposition. SB 778 updates the definition of forensic clients so certain individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism found incompetent to proceed can be housed in the same secure forensic setting, reducing duplicative staffing and space needs; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 1016 codifies the Working People with Disabilities Program, allowing eligible developmentally disabled adults to work while retaining Medicaid waiver benefits and requiring notice to enrollees; advocates described the bill as essential to employment and independence, and it passed. Throughout the meeting, most bills received supportive public testimony, few questions, and unanimous or near-unanimous favorable votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a child safety and due process bill that improves how child protective investigations address complex
• legal custodian requests a medical examination, child protective investigators and child protection teams
• Child protective investigators and child protection teams rely on qualified medical professionals with
• abuse, not because they refused care.
• They must obtain this memory care services license if the ALF serves one or more memory care residents

Bills: S0042, S0196, S0878, S0902, S0914, S1092, S1168, S1340, S1404, S1414, S1684, S1686

Keywords: child protection, medical records, investigation, abuse, neglect, healthcare, Child Protection Team, diagnosis, uterine fibroids, health database, medical research, personal data protection, women's health, clinical laboratory, licensure, healthcare personnel, technologist, technician, medical marijuana, low-THC cannabis

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to hear and vote on a series of health, human services, and education-related bills, along with a presentation of the committee’s proposed HHS budget. The budget was described as increasing by more than $2.1 billion over the current base, with major funding highlighted for Medicaid and KidCare, rural health, provider rate increases, child welfare, mental health and substance use, opioid treatment, Alzheimer’s initiatives, cancer research, ADAP, veterans’ services, and IT modernization. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding and concerns about Department of Health changes affecting access, premium assistance, notice, and continuity of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Among the bills reported favorably were measures on podiatric medicine and tissue-based products (SB 1092), background screening and clearinghouse procedures (SB 1168), child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses and second opinions (SB 42), clinical laboratory personnel licensure standards (SB 878), uterine fibroid data tracking and research (SB 196), medical marijuana treatment center oversight and related health provisions (SB 902), dyslexia and dyscalculia screening and intervention in schools (SB 1340), memory care licensure for assisted living facilities (SB 1404), congenital CMV education materials (SB 1414), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption bills (SB 1684 and SB 1686), and occupational therapy dry needling licensure standards (SB 914). Several bills were amended before passage, including SB 1092, SB 42, SB 902, SB 1684, and SB 1404. Testimony generally came from professional associations, advocacy groups, and affected stakeholders, with support voiced for most measures. The committee adopted amendments on the floor, heard no opposition during debate on the bills described, and then voted to report each measure favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• second thing that we did is that on the bottom of page three, number five, we were clear that the Child
• Care Advisory Committee will provide the update.

Bills: HB1119

Keywords: child care, childcare, day care, daycare, early childhood education, child care licensing, provider licensing, child care regulations, administrative rules, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, licensing advisory committee, child care providers, group child care, preschool programs, child to provider ratios, square footage requirements, staff training, certification requirements, child care funding

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee reconvened to consider House Bill 1119 with amendment version 02005. Senator Hogan explained that the amendment removed a section requiring the Department of Human Services to respond to legislative management, in order to make the bill feel more like a program evaluation than an audit and to avoid placing an unreasonable burden on the executive branch. The amendment also clarified that the Child Care Advisory Committee would provide an update and that the committee would dissolve after the rewrite of licensing standards, making it a time-limited body. Committee members discussed the bill as a novel approach to forming a group to study an issue and then disbanding after reporting back. Senator Larson noted the concept was similar to broader performance-review ideas, and Senator Hogan said the Legislative Council program evaluation effort was parallel to, but separate from, other performance-review proposals. The committee then voted 4-0-1 to adopt the amendment. Afterward, the committee moved to give House Bill 1119, as amended, a do pass recommendation. That motion also passed on a roll call vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Director of Bernalillo County Animal Care Services.
• This will be Senate Bill 101, Health Care Delivery.
• The Health Care Delivery and Access Act was created through legislation during the 2024 session.
• Hospitals are required to reinvest this funding in health care, workforce, and quality of care initiatives
• I'm the cabinet secretary of the Health Care Authority. We're all a little tired tonight.

Bills: HB25, SB38, SB101, HB199

Keywords: juvenile delinquency, firearm possession, criminal background checks, state law, gun control, youth offense, conviction, public safety, SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration