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10.01.2025

Universal Free Child Care - New Mexico’s Roadmap

By Denise Tanata, J.D., Early Childhood Systems Advisor, The Children’s Cabinet

Getting affordable, high‑quality child care is one of the biggest challenges many families face—balancing work, school, and caring for young children is hard enough without worrying about child care costs. That’s why what’s happening right now in New Mexico is so important—and inspiring for families in Nevada who are pushing for better child care policies, too.

What is New Mexico Doing?

Beginning on November 1, 2025, New Mexico will become the first U.S. state to offer universal free child care to all families—no matter their income. Here are the 5 key features of New Mexico’s approach:

• All families qualify, regardless of income.
• No work-hours requirement for free child care.
• Relatives caring for children also qualify.
• Incentives for providers to pay staff a fair wage and offer long hours.
• Investments in more child care centers, home‑based caregivers, and licensing improvements.

This effort is expected to save families an average of $12,000/year per child.

Why It Matters for Families

Access to affordable, reliable child care doesn’t just make daily life easier—it can transform a family’s future. When families no longer spend thousands of dollars each year on care, parents can pursue education, work more hours, or save for housing and other essentials. Children benefit from safe, nurturing environments that support their learning and social skills, while caregivers gain stability through better pay and recognition. Together, these changes strengthen entire communities by reducing stress on families and ensuring that every child, no matter their background, has the chance to thrive.

Ensuring families have access to high quality, affordable child care through financial assistance means:

• Less financial stress for families.
• More choices in care options.
• Stronger child development outcomes.
• Better support and pay for caregivers.

What is Happening in Nevada?

In Nevada, child care is already expensive. According to the 2025 Early Education and Care Fact Sheetproduced by The Children’s Cabinet, infant care in a licensed center in Nevada averages more than $12,600 per year and over $9,700 in licensed family care.

Nationally, Nevada is the 8^th least affordable state for infant care in licensed family child care and 17^th least affordable in licensed centers.

Despite the high cost for families, the current market rates do not reflect the needs of child care providers to offer high quality care. A recent report from the Prenatal to Three Policy Impact Center, Child Care: From Market Failure to Strategic Investment, highlights that:

Programs must keep prices within what families can afford, which results in low wages for early educators and fuels high turnover. The resulting instability and poor working conditions make it difficult to maintain quality, while thin profit margins make it difficult for programs to keep doors open or for entrepreneurs to be interested in entering the market.

Although the subsidy program exists in Nevada, changes in eligibility requirements made last year due to the loss of federal COVID relief funds and our state’s reliance on federal funding for this program means many working families no longer qualify.

Those that do still pay a significant share of their income. Advocates have been pushing for expanded subsidy eligibility, higher provider reimbursement rates, and stronger child care infrastructure, however to-date no state funds have been allocated to this program.

5 Ways Families in Nevada Can Get Involved

1. Stay informed—track proposals, read news, and follow groups working on child care policy. Check out the Get Involved page on First 5 Nevada to learn more, including a list of parent groups, advisory groups and policy resources.
2. Talk with your representatives—share your story and what support your family needs. Click here to learn more about the Nevada Legislative Process and how to contact your legislators.
3. Participate in public hearings or comment periods on child care policies. Click here to see general information and updates from the Nevada Child Care and Development program. You can also sign up for the listserv to receive notices and program updates.
4. Join or organize with advocacy groups to strengthen family voices. Click here to learn how to get involved, including information on Nevada’s advisory boards, parent groups, and policy and advocacy resources.

Share your child care story – a statewide coalition of child care advocates are currently collecting stories from families and child care providers. Click here to share your story now.

5. Be an informed voter and understand where candidates stand on child care. Campaign season is coming up – ask candidates their positions on child care and what they will do to ensure that more families have access to quality, affordable programs. And don’t forget to vote!

A Vision for Nevada’s Future

Imagine a Nevada where no family has to choose between work and child care, every child starts school with quality early learning, and caregivers are fairly paid and supported.

New Mexico’s example shows it’s possible. Families, communities, and leaders came together to make it happen—and Nevada families can, too.

New Mexico is paving the way with universal child care. For families in Nevada, that vision offers hope—and a roadmap. When families raise their voices, states can build child care systems that work for everyone.