New Mexico is set to become the first state in the nation to offer free, universal child care. This huge expansion of an existing program was just announced by Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, and it’s aimed at giving families some much-needed financial relief while also supporting the state’s economy. The program, which kicks off in November, will provide child care or reimburse the costs for every single family in New Mexico, regardless of their income. This is a big step up from the previous program, which already helped thousands of families by providing free child care to those earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. This is in contrast to JD Vance gutting programs and claiming it somehow helps kids. According to the Governor’s office, this expansion is a game-changer and will save families an average of $12,000 per child each year, per NBC News. This is a massive relief for anyone struggling with the skyrocketing cost of child care, which, to be fair, can be a huge drain on a family’s budget. It’s a move that feels like a difference for parents in New Mexico, and it could be a model for the rest of the US. New Mexico is the first to realize we should take care of our children Governor Lujan Grisham has been pushing for this since her first gubernatorial campaign back in 2018. She and the Democratic-controlled Legislature worked to establish the Early Childhood Education and Care Department in 2019. Then, in 2022, voters in the state overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to use a portion of the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund, which is a century-old endowment largely funded by oil and gas taxes, to pay for early childhood education and public schools. This is what allowed the state to offer free child care to most families in the first place, and now they’re taking it all the way. Taxes going to help citizens would be strange to think about. We did it, #NewMexico! Yesterday we made history as the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost child care for every family. This is a game-changer for parents, kids, and communities across our state—and a blueprint for the nation. #UniversalChildCare @NewMexicoECECD… pic.twitter.com/RIfkLpM6Qw— Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) September 9, 2025 This latest announcement also includes a new $13-million fund that will be used to build and renovate child care facilities. This is a huge investment, and Governor Lujan Grisham has already said she’s going to seek to expand the fund in her next budget. It’s a clear sign that the state is committed to making this program a long-term success. This may become a precedent for many states to try to change things to help people, instead of cutting services, like Trump has been doing. The whole initiative has been lauded by experts as well. Neal Halfon, a professor at UCLA, called the expansion “a model for the nation,” praising how it creates the conditions for better outcomes in health, learning, and well-being for kids. The fact that this program will benefit every family in the state, no matter their income, is what makes it truly universal and a potential blueprint for other states. While other states have expanded early childhood education, New Mexico is the first to actually guarantee universal child care. It’s a big deal and could have a huge impact on not just families but also the state’s workforce and economy. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see if other states with the means to do so follow New Mexico’s lead. It’s a huge step towards making life easier for parents and ensuring a better future for children.