House Democrats Preview Priorities for 2026 Session
Affordability, healthcare access, public safety, and family well-being priorities for budget-focused session
Albuquerque, N.M. – Today, New Mexico House Democrats shared a preview of an ambitious policy agenda centered around the needs of working families for the 30-day Legislative Session beginning January 20. House Democrats are focused on making life better and more affordable across the state by expanding access to healthcare and housing, improving public safety, and investing in the well-being of New Mexico families and communities.
“While the Trump administration makes life harder and more expensive for your family, your House Democrats are focused on delivering real, pragmatic solutions to the issues that matter most—from healthcare and housing to the safety of our communities and well-being of our kids,” said Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). “New Mexico is ready to show the nation what it looks like to stand up to chaos and cruelty and to lead the way forward with values, vision, and compassion.”
Under the state’s constitution, the primary focus for 30-day legislative sessions is creating and passing the state’s budget. Even as federal chaos leads to weakening state revenues and reduced budget capacity, the state remains in a strong fiscal position to make smart, targeted investments in key areas of need for New Mexicans in the upcoming session.
The Governor has the authority to include additional items on the agenda for the legislature to consider in 30-day sessions. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is expected to put healthcare, public safety, and immigration issues on the call for this session, among other items.
“We have a broad, ambitious healthcare agenda for the upcoming session because we know that is what it will take to make sure every single New Mexican has access to affordable, quality healthcare,” said Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe). “In addition to lowering your out-of-pocket healthcare costs, we want to build a competitive edge for New Mexico in recruiting and retaining providers, because no one should have to wait months or travel out-of-state to see a doctor.”
Currently, New Mexico is the only state in the nation that has been able to fully backfill the lapsed federal subsidies to keep marketplace health insurance premiums affordable. House Democrats plan to extend those state-level subsidies in the coming session, while also bringing forward robust proposals to lower out-of-pocket healthcare costs, recruit and retain more providers, and make targeted changes to the state’s medical malpractice laws to protect both patients and healthcare practitioners.
House Democrats will also pursue proactive and holistic public safety solutions in the upcoming session. These proposals include commonsense gun safety measures, strengthened supervised release procedures, increased services and supports for at-risk youth – including children in the custody of CYFD, and continued investments in law enforcement and local communities to prevent crime.
“When it comes to public safety, New Mexicans deserve more than just talk – you deserve meaningful, evidence-based solutions that actually make our communities safer,” said Majority Whip Day Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque). “Many of us are also deeply concerned about the safety of our neighbors and loved ones, as we see horrific scenes of ICE violence play out across the country. House Democrats are ready to protect our people, regardless of their immigration status, the color of their skin, or the languages they speak, because all New Mexicans deserve to feel safe in their communities.”
House Democrats are preparing to protect and support immigrant communities by reintroducing the Immigrant Safety Act, which was passed in the House in 2025, but died in the Senate. This legislation would prevent the state from contracting with private ICE detention facilities to detain innocent immigrants. Additional proposals aim to address the identification and accountability of federal ICE agents, ensure routine state surveillance data cannot be misused by ICE, and create an Office of New Americans that would help immigrant families integrate into New Mexico’s workforce and communities.
The 2026 Legislative Session begins on Tuesday, January 20 at Noon. The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 30-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.
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Select Legislative Preview
Below is a snapshot of select House Democratic priorities for the 2026 session. This is not a comprehensive or final list. The Governor will determine what additional legislation beyond the state budget may be considered in the 30-day session.
Additional details and priorities will be shared in the coming weeks.
Strategic Budget Investments
Maintaining significant, recurring investments in key areas, like education, public safety, housing, healthcare, and infrastructure
Protecting access to the services families depend on, amid federal cuts
Making impactful one-time investments in our communities’ areas of greatest need
Continuing to save wisely for New Mexico’s future
Healthcare & Housing
Lowering out-of-pocket healthcare costs
Improving access to healthcare by joining interstate medical compacts and creating a licensure pathway for qualified international physicians
Investing heavily in provider recruitment and retention, including expanding the state’s loan repayment program, offsetting the cost of training for residents, and expanding the Rural Healthcare Practitioner Tax Credit
Investing in shovel-ready housing developments to expand access to housing that is affordable for working families
Public Safety
Addressing juvenile justice proactively and holistically, including improving services for at-risk youth
Implementing commonsense gun safety solutions, like holding stores accountable for following our laws and closing loopholes that allow dangerous individuals to have access to firearm
Strengthening GPS-tracking for those released with ankle monitors
Continuing investments in law enforcement and our communities to address root causes of crime
Child & Family Well-being
Responsibly building a sustainable, high-quality universal childhood care system, that prioritizes the families who need it most and pays childcare workers a living wage
Continuing investments in education, from cradle to career
Building on last year’s CYFD reforms by creating an independent commission to appoint the agency’s leadership, ensuring leaders hold the necessary skills and expertise, and reducing turnover at the agency. This Constitutional Amendment would go to the voters if passed by the legislature.
Immigrant Rights
Preventing the state from contracting with private ICE detention facilities to detain innocent immigrants, through the Immigrant Safety Act
Addressing the identification and accountability of federal ICE agents
Ensuring routine state surveillance data cannot be misused by ICE
Establishing the Office of New Americans to help immigrant families integrate into New Mexico’s workforce and communities
