New Mexico Establishes Early Childhood Trust Fund

During New Mexico’s recent 30-day legislative session, the legislature demonstrated its commitment to the state’s youngest citizens by passing House Bill 83 establishing the Early Childhood Trust Fund. The program provides a stable funding source to augment federal funds for prenatal-to-five services and the state’s annual appropriations to the newly-created Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD). It will launch with a 320 million dollar general appropriation. In future years, it will be supplemented by oil, gas, and federal mineral leasing revenues. Distributions from the fund will begin to support the ECECD in FY 2022.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared the trust fund a top priority for 2020 and issued a statement regarding the bill’s approval.