Early September Newsletter

New Mexico Governor Calls Special Legislative Session

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will call lawmakers back to Santa Fe for a special session starting October 1st. The governor has the power to do this under the New Mexico Constitution when important issues need immediate attention.

The special session is needed because of major federal budget cuts that will hurt New Mexico families and communities. A new federal law signed by President Trump in July will cut billions of dollars from programs like Medicaid and food assistance. This means the state will lose money and have to pay for services that the federal government used to cover. Rural hospitals and healthcare providers will be hit especially hard.

During the special session, lawmakers plan to protect New Mexicans from these cuts. The Governor has directed the Legislature to work on five areas of most concern including:

●        Funding to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to allow stabilization grants for quality health care providers.

●        Taking action to make health insurance premiums more affordable in the marketplace and for New Mexicans losing Medicaid coverage.

●        New investments in food assistance for children, seniors and families in need.

●        Funding for public broadcasting which is a source of emergency information for many New Mexicans.

●        Additional resources to help the Health Care Authority prepare for upcoming Medicaid enrollment changes.

The Governor decides which areas to focus on in Special Legislative Sessions and those are the only pieces of legislation to be considered.

Worried About Your Child's Daycare? Here's How to Get Help

The Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) makes sure all licensed daycare centers and family daycare homes in New Mexico are safe and provide good care for young children.

If you have concerns about your child's daycare provider, you can report them. Call the ECECD at 1-888-351-0037 or email ChildCare.Complaint@ececd.nm.gov.

When you make a complaint, ECECD will look into it and take action if needed. Your feedback helps protect children and makes sure daycare providers do their jobs well.

Is Your Baby or Toddler Developing Normally? Get Free Help

If you're worried about how your baby or toddler is learning, moving, or talking, the Family Infant Toddler (FIT) Program can help. This free program is run by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

FIT can connect you with local experts who will check your child's development for free. If your child needs extra help, FIT offers free services like therapy and support to help your child grow and learn.

Most children who get help through FIT show improvement and need less special help when they start school. New Mexico's FIT program helps over 14,000 children each year and is one of the best programs in the country.

Anyone who is worried about a child's development can call 1-877-696-1472. Getting help early can make a big difference!

What Happened in August Committee Meetings

During the summer, lawmakers meet in committees to learn about important issues facing New Mexico. These meetings help them understand what new laws might be needed and how well current laws are working.

Here are some topics discussed in August:

Economic & Rural Development Committee met in Los Lunas to learn about geothermal energy. Experts explained five different ways to use underground heat to make electricity. New Mexico has great potential for this clean energy in different parts of the state. You can see their presentations at: ERDPC Aug11.25 agenda click on the geothermal topic in the agenda.

Water & Natural Resources Committee met in Las Cruces to talk about food programs in New Mexico. They heard about state programs that help feed people and how federal budget cuts might affect them. Local food producers and food banks also shared how they work together. Their presentations are at: WNRC Aug18.25 agenda click on the NM Food Systems & Local Food Access topics.

Courts, Correction & Justice Committee met in Las Cruces to learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Experts explained how AI works in our daily lives and what problems it might cause as it grows. You can find their presentations at: CCJ Aug 25.25 agenda click on the Artificial Intelligence topic.

You can watch recordings of all these meetings on the New Mexico Legislature website under the “Webcast " tab.

Congratulations Sunrise Clinics!

When people talk about healthcare in rural areas, they usually focus on problems. But today we want to celebrate Sunrise Clinics, which runs six clinics and more than 20 telehealth programs in rural schools across northern New Mexico.

The Santa Fe Community Foundation gave Sunrise Clinics their 2025 Piñon Resilience Award for being strong and creative during difficult times. This award honors nonprofits in New Mexico that find new ways to help their communities.

Sunrise Clinics started in Guadalupe County in 1993. In 2020, they added clinics in Las Vegas and Raton. In 2023, they opened a mental health clinic in Las Vegas and began providing healthcare services in 24 rural schools throughout northern New Mexico.

Congratulations Sunrise Clinics and thank you for taking care of New Mexicans!

Have a question or need assistance?

Please contact my District Legislative Aide (DLA), Anne Strader at anne.strader@nmlegis.gov or 505-946-5589.  Soon she will also have regular office hours available to meet in person.

Enjoy the end of Summer and be safe,

Liz Stefanics

Senator, District 39