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Senate panel gives due-pass to measure to enshrine Early Childhood Trust Fund in New Mexico constitution
Summary
The Senate Education Committee voted to give a due-pass recommendation for Senate Joint Resolution 6, which would place a constitutional amendment before voters to protect the Early Childhood Trust Fund and dedicate a predictable revenue stream for prenatal-to-kindergarten programs.
Senate Joint Resolution 6, a proposal to amend the New Mexico Constitution to protect the Early Childhood Trust Fund, won a due-pass recommendation from the Senate Education Committee after broad testimony from advocates, providers and business groups.
The measure, introduced on the committee floor by Senator Michael Padilla, would create a constitutionally protected Early Childhood Trust Fund and a distribution policy that a portion of the fund’s earnings would be used for prenatal and early childhood services. “We wanna make sure that it is funded in perpetuity and this is 1 of the most important things that we can do to make that happen,” Senator Michael Padilla said, opening the committee’s discussion.
Supporters told the committee the fund is already producing significant revenue and that codifying its protection in the constitution would provide long-term stability for home visiting, pre-K, child care assistance and workforce supports. Elizabeth Grubinski, secretary of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department, said oil and gas revenues and federal mineral leasing have accelerated the fund’s growth and that the department is “leading the nation” in early-intervention work. “It’s doing better than expected,” Grubinski said.
More than a dozen representatives from business, tribal and nonprofit organizations testified in favor, including JD Bullington of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce; Gwen Perea-Warnerman of the Lannan Foundation; Barbara Luna Tedrow of the New Mexico Early Childhood Association; and Bridget Dixon of the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce. Testimony emphasized workforce supports for early childhood professionals, pointing to long-standing gaps in wages, retirement and benefits for providers.
Committee members pressed for details about the fund’s size, distribution rules and audit procedures. Committee member questions elicited several clarifications: the department grants funds to community providers and the department’s rate-setting incorporates staff compensation (the department estimates roughly 80% of contracted program rates go to personnel costs), and many programs are delivered through a mixed-delivery system that includes private providers. Secretary Grubinski said the fund is projected to be valued in the billions within a few years; she clarified a projection that the fund could exceed $9.6 billion by the end of the year if current trends continue.
Padilla and supporters noted enabling statutory language is moving in a companion bill (Senate Bill 167) that would set the implementing statute if voters approve the amendment. Padilla moved a due-pass recommendation on SJR 6; the committee approved the motion by roll call (see Votes at a glance). The committee record shows unanimous support in that roll call.
The measure next moves through the legislative process; if approved by the Legislature, the constitutional amendment would go before voters in a future general election.
