Judge considers arguments in challenge to New Mexico’s universal childcare program
Plaintiffs say the expansion was launched without legislative approval, and state analysts have raised concerns after enrollment grew faster than expected.
- District Judge Elaine Lujan could issue a ruling Thursday on whether a lawsuit challenging New Mexico's universal childcare program can proceed, brought by former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez.
- Plaintiffs allege Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham launched the program expansion unlawfully by eliminating income caps before legislative approval. The state's childcare agency disputes this, arguing lawmakers later "expressly authorized" and funded the program.
- Financed largely by oil and gas revenue, New Mexico's program waives daycare costs for families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty rate, or roughly $132,000 annually, positioning it among the nation's most generous childcare models.
- Albuquerque daycare provider Ilene Harding reports the expansion has boosted enrollment and streamlined billing, yet some providers express concerns that proposed rule changes may not work for all businesses.
- Legislative analysts previously raised concerns about potential overspending, while New Mexico aims to cement its status as the first state to cover all working families' daycare bills despite sustainability questions.
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Judge rejects lawsuit challenging New Mexico Gov. Lujan Grisham’s universal childcare program
Co-plaintiff Zac Anaya, left, attorney Jacob Candelaria, middle, and former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez, right, speak with press after Second Judicial Court Judge Elaine P. Lujan rejected their lawsuit alleging that state leaders improperly implemented the universal childcare program. (Joshua Bowling/Source NM)A New Mexico judge on Thursday rejected a lawsuit alleging that state leaders circumvented the public rulemaking pr…
Lawsuit challenging universal child care in New Mexico dismissed
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – A judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging New Mexico's universal child care program. The judge weighed in on whether Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham had the legal authority to launch it. Governor Lujan Grisham's administration launched the high-profile universal child care program in November, before lawmakers passed a bill codifying it into law. Opponents [...]
New Mexico's universal free childcare program heads to court
@keyframes spin { 0% { transform:rotate(0deg); } 100% { transform:rotate(360deg); } } Judge to address New Mexico’s universal child care programThe lawsuit that brought this to court argues the program implementation was unlawful. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A judge is scheduled to hear arguments in a lawsuit over New Mexico’s first-of-its-kind universal free childcare program Thursday. Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez is behind …
Associated Press News
Judge considers arguments in challenge to New Mexico's universal childcare program
It is up to a New Mexico judge to settle a challenge over the legality of New Mexico’s fledgling universal childcare program, an ambitious and closely watched effort to eliminate daycare costs for all working families.
New Mexico judge dismisses a legal challenge to first-in-the-nation universal childcare program
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the state’s universal childcare program, allowing the ambitious and closely watched experiment to continue.Attorneys for former Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez and other plaintiffs had questioned the process used by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration to eliminate an income cap and co-pays for childcare assistance bef…
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