Legislative Finance Committee

State election costs nearly tripled between the 2021 regular local election and the 2024 general election, largely due to increased vendor and county costs

Nearly two decades after LFC evaluators began tracking cohorts of prekindergarten students, evaluators are still finding that students who enroll in state-funded prekindergarten score better on literacy assessments and graduate at higher rates.

New Mexico has enacted legislation and significantly increased appropriations in support child welfare system improvements, but the state has faced implementation challenges.

While the Legislature has invested over $2.2 billion over the last three years to increase rates paid to healthcare providers and for startup costs for new health services, information on whether the investment is improving access is skimpy.

The healthcare insurance premium surtax generates more money for the healthcare affordability fund than needed to support programs that make health insurance more accessible, but changes on the federal level could increase demand.

Public school funding, teacher salaries, prekindergarten enrollment, the number of community schools, and Public Education Department staffing have all increased significantly since the court in the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit concluded New Mexico schools were failing to provide students with a sufficient education, but student performance has changed little.

While oil and gas operators plug most inactive wells, the state must plug thousands “orphaned” by drillers, a job that is likely to take close to a decade and cost more than $200 million.

Legislators entered the legislative session with an uncertain federal budget and slowing state revenue growth; however, the state was in a strong financial position, allowing for a 6 percent increase in recurring spending and $3 billion in special appropriations.