New Mexico Breaks Ground as First State to Offer Universal Child Care

The program may offer a blueprint for other states on an issue that was prominent during the 2024 campaign.

Beginning in November, it will be the first state in the nation to provide child care to all residents regardless of income. (Melina Mara/The Washington Post/Getty Images)

In a groundbreaking move that could reshape the conversation around family policy in America, New Mexico has become the first state to guarantee free universal child care. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the expansion this week, describing it as an investment in both families and the state’s economic future.

The program builds on an initiative launched three years ago that already lightened the load for thousands of parents. Beginning in November, every household in the state will be eligible for free child care or reimbursement, regardless of income. State officials estimate that families will save an average of $12,000 per child annually.

“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said in her announcement. “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.”

A Model for the Nation?

New Mexico’s expansion goes further than policies in other Democratic-led states that have increased access to early education. Advocates argue that it could serve as a blueprint for broader change at the national level, especially as child care access emerged as a central issue during the 2024 presidential campaign.

For parents like Marisol Reyes, a single mother in Albuquerque, the program is more than policy — it’s survival. “I’ve had to choose between paying rent and paying for child care,” she said. “This change means I don’t have to make that choice anymore. It means I can keep working and know my daughter is safe.”

Years in the Making

The governor first campaigned on the issue in 2018. A year later, her administration and the state legislature created the Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

In 2022, voters approved a constitutional amendment that redirected part of the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund — an endowment fueled largely by oil and gas revenues — to early childhood and public education.

That funding shift enabled the state to provide free care to most families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or approximately $124,000 annually, while waiving co-pays. The new expansion removes income limits entirely.

The state is also creating a $13 million fund to build, expand, and renovate child care facilities, with Lujan Grisham pledging to request even more in next year’s budget.

A Win for Women and the Workforce

Policy experts say New Mexico’s approach could have ripple effects nationwide. “New Mexico is creating the conditions for better outcomes in health, learning, and well-being,” said Neal Halfon, a professor of pediatrics and public policy at UCLA, who called the program “a model for the nation.” He also cautioned that replicating the funding structure would be difficult in states without New Mexico’s unique financial resources.

For child care providers, the expansion represents a long-awaited recognition of their work. Ana Lopez, who runs a family child care center in Santa Fe, said she often watched parents struggle with bills. “So many moms were exhausted trying to juggle everything — work, kids, money. Now we can tell them: you don’t have to carry it all alone,” she said.

Working mothers in particular see the program as a turning point. Jessica Martinez, a nurse in Las Cruces, described the relief it brings: “I used to spend nearly half my paycheck on child care. With this program, I can breathe. I can save. And I can actually think about my future.”

The Bigger Picture

The stakes extend beyond family budgets. Advocates note that universal child care strengthens workforce participation, especially among women, while also laying a stronger foundation for children’s education.

By lifting the financial burden of child care, New Mexico is betting on long-term benefits: more women in the labor force, healthier families, and children who start school on a stronger footing.

As Reyes put it simply: “This isn’t just about money. It’s about dignity. It’s about knowing our kids matter.”