New Mexico will become the first U.S. state to guarantee no-cost universal child care beginning later this year.
Why It Matters
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the policy will save families an average of $12,000 per child annually, and that the state aims to expand care supply and raise provider pay to meet demand.
Several other states have limited free child care provision, but nowhere is it universal.
What To Know
Beginning November 1, the state will eliminate income eligibility requirements for its child care assistance program and continue waiving family co-payments.
Prior to the change, the state offered child care free for families earning up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $124,000 for a family of four.
“Families who receive child care assistance report greater financial stability, more time to focus on their children, and the ability to choose higher-quality care settings,” a press release from the governor’s office reads. “Now, every family in New Mexico will have the same opportunity.”
To support the expansion, the governor’s administration plans to request additional funding during next year’s legislative session. The funds would go toward opening new child care centers across the state and meeting the demand for an estimated 5,000 more early childhood workers.
As part of the initiative, child care providers that pay employees at least $18 an hour will also qualify for higher reimbursement rates from the state.
Apart from New Mexico, no state has yet offered universal free child care, although momentum is building in some. In Connecticut, there are plans for families earning under $100,000 per year to pay no cost for child care starting in 2027. Several other states offer free or subsidized pre-K for at least a certain number of hours per week. According to a study by Lending Tree, the average cost for day care in 2025 in the U.S. is $17,836.
What People Are Saying
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a press release: “Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity. 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.”
Michelle Kang, president and CEO of the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) said: “By prioritizing public investments in early childhood educators, families, and children, New Mexico continues to lead the way in building a sustainable, affordable, and quality child care and early learning system that helps its communities and economy thrive. Achieving universal child care will make a huge difference for the state’s children, families, businesses, and educators—and for all of us, by showing that it can be done.”
More Information
The New Mexico Early Childhood Education & Care Department published an online resource hub with FAQs, a communications tool kit and contact information for families and providers looking to get more information.
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