New Mexico Launches Universal Child Care Nov. 1

New Mexico became the first U.S. state to offer free universal child care effective Nov. 1, providing state vouchers to cover public and private child care fees for all legal residents regardless of income. The program, built on efforts since the creation of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019, is expected to save families about $12,000 a year and to boost workforce participation, education opportunities and the state’s economy, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. To reach full universality the state must create nearly 14,000 new child care slots and recruit about 5,000 educators, and officials are establishing a $12.7 million low‑interest loan fund and raising reimbursement rates to encourage entry‑level pay of at least $18 per hour. Officials say roughly 89% of surveyed providers are ready to join and enrollment opened Nov. 1, but long waiting lists and staffing and facility shortages mean capacity will be a near‑term challenge. New Mexico expects to roughly double the number of children served over the next 18 months. Families such as Taos special education teacher Allyson O’Brien — who previously earned just above the old income cap — say the policy will relieve severe financial strain and change choices about work, bills and family time.