US EditionNew Mexico Governor Signs Nation's First No-Cost Child Care Into Law
The law covers 16,743 children and removes local zoning barriers, aiming to improve family affordability and serve as a model for other states.
- Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in Santa Fe signed the universal child care bill into law, making New Mexico the first state to guarantee no-cost child care and meeting the signing deadline.
- To improve affordability and child outcomes, the law aims to set young children up for success and help New Mexico families focus income on other needed payments.
- Implementation pairs enrollment expansion with local regulatory changes as 16,743 children enter the free system and state lawmakers remove local zoning and homeowners association barriers.
- Lujan Grisham said, 'All parents who need child care can now get it', and observers called the signing one of the most high-profile moves in state child care reform.
- Early implementation signals could inform other U.S. states considering similar programs, as officials note the rollout began with few hiccups.
24 Articles
24 Articles
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Signs Nation’s First Universal Child Care Law
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham From the Office of the Governor: New Mexico is a national model for early childhood care and education SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed universal child care into law, making New Mexico the first state in the nation to guarantee no-cost child care that sets young children up for success and helps make life more affordable for families. The governor also signed legislation removing local zoning and …
Universal free childcare program becomes law in New Mexico
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Celebrating it as a first-of-its-kind law anywhere in America, New Mexico's ambitious plan to give families free child care regardless of income now has the governor's signature. It was a landmark moment for Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday, as she signed off on a huge investment for New Mexico child care. [...]
New Mexico signs free, universal child care into law
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined lawmakers, cabinet officials, children and child care providers on March 10, 2026, to sign her free, universal child care initiative into law. New Mexico is the first state in the U.S. to offer such a program. (Joshua Bowling/Source NM)New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined a group of children, parents and educators at a Santa Fe preschool Tuesday morning to sign her free, universal child care…
New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham signs free, universal child care into law
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined lawmakers, cabinet officials, children and child care providers on March 10, 2026, to sign her free, universal child care initiative into law. New Mexico is the first state in the U.S. to offer such a program. (Joshua Bowling/Source NM)New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined a group of children, parents and educators at a Santa Fe preschool Tuesday morning to sign her free, universal child care…
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