http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM Wed, 01 Apr 2026 06:41:30 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/66 <div>While the legislature passed and the governor signed legislation to bring New Mexico into the interstate licensure compact for doctors during the 2026 session,&nbsp;eight health care worker compacts that passed the House unanimously died awaiting a hearing in Senate committees.&nbsp;This is deeply disappointing since New Mexico also has dire shortages of&nbsp;EMTs, dentists, psychologists, counselors, physician assistants,&nbsp; physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists and audiologists. Please join us in urging Governor Lujan Grisham to call a special session later this year to pass the rest of the health care worker compacts, and urge your legislators to get them done!</div> Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/66 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/65 <div>Most doctors who are educated outside the United States are required to complete a U.S-based medical residency before they can be licensed to practice medicine here, even if they have practiced abroad for many years. This means there are many talented doctors who trained in other countries but who are unable to practice medicine here in New Mexico. House Bill 127 would allow foreign-trained physicians who meet specific qualifications to become licensed in New Mexico without completing a U.S.-based residency. Eighteen states have already enacted similar laws, and that number is growing rapidly, with eight others currently considering bills. Support legislation to ensure patient safety while opening New Mexico’s doors to doctors from around the world!</div> Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/65 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/63 <div>Preceptors are the practicing doctors and other health care professionals who provide community-based education for doctors, nurses, and others. This an essential part of the training process for health care professionals. Currently, New Mexico preceptors donate their time to teach the next generation of health care providers. Urge your legislators and the governor to establish a tax credit for preceptors in New Mexico, similar to those in place in a growing number of states!</div> Wed, 21 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/63 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/62 <div>In 2025, New Mexico lawmakers created a permanent Medicaid Trust Fund. Once the fund reaches its $2 billion goal, it will generate $100 million annually in recurring funding for Medicaid, which will be matched 3:1 with federal dollars, for a total of $400 million a year for Medicaid. However, with its current funding sources, the Medicaid Trust Fund won't reach that $2 billion goal until until 2043, while Medicaid program costs are set to rise in New Mexico in the very near future. Please urge your legislators and the governor to support additional funding for the Medicaid Trust Fund!</div> Tue, 20 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/62 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/61 <div>Prior to 2026, 36 states, including all of our neighbors, offered more generous student loan repayment programs for health care professionals. This put New Mexico at a disadvantage in recruiting new doctors, who carry an average of over $250,000 in student loan debt. In 2026, the legislature passed House Bill 66 to raise the maximum repayment amount for doctors from $75,000 to $300,000, making New Mexico's program the most competitive in the nation! Thank your legislators for enacting this reform.</div> Sun, 18 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/61 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/60 <div>Similar to the way that a person can hold a driver’s license from one state and legally drive in another, states that participate in an interstate compacts agree to recognize licenses issued to health care professionals by other states. New Mexico is in just two of the 10 major health care worker compacts, for doctors and nurses. By contrast, Colorado is in all 10, including compacts&nbsp;for psychologists, counselors, physical therapists, audiologists and speech therapists, physician assistants, dentists, and emergency medical personnel. Please urge your legislators and the governor to sign onto all of these additional nine compacts and immediately help alleviate the health care worker shortage in our state!</div> Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/60 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/56 <div> <div>New Mexico is now the only state in the nation that imposes a Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) on medical services.&nbsp;Unlike most businesses, which simply pass on the gross receipts tax to their customers, medical providers are generally not able to pass the tax on to insurance companies, Medicaid, or Medicare. As a result, doctors, dentists, and other health care providers end up bearing the full burden of the tax, making it more expensive to practice medicine in New Mexico than in other states. Please urge your lawmakers to take a big step toward eliminating the tax on medical services by repealing the GRT on coinsurance payments!</div> </div> Sun, 26 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/56 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/55 <div>Since 1973, New Mexico legislators have created twelve permanent funds to provide long-term dedicated funding for policy areas ranging from higher education to rural libraries. However, despite health care being the state’s second largest expenditure (after education), there is not yet a permanent fund for health care. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers added two permanent funds for health care: one for behavioral health and one for Medicaid. Join us in thanking your legislators and the governor for creating these permanent funds!</div> Fri, 24 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/55 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/57 <div> <div>In 2024, New Mexico had the highest rate of medical malpractice payouts of any state in the U.S., as well as unlimited punitive damages. In recent years, medical malpractice insurance premiums have been about twice as high in New Mexico as in other states in our region. Between 2019-2024, New Mexico was the only state in the nation to lose practicing physicians, and our medical malpractice system has been a major driver of that problem. In 2026, the legislature passed and Governor Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 99, which enacts many of Think New Mexico's recommended reforms for rebalancing the state's medical malpractice system. Thank your legislators for passing this important reform law!</div> </div> Thu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/57 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/52 <div> <div>After teacher quality, principal quality is the second most important factor in student success, because good principals are the key to recruiting and retaining good teachers. Unfortunately, the New Teacher Center identified New Mexico as one of the ten worst states for principal retention, with principals remaining in their jobs for less than four years on average. Among the top reasons why principals leave their jobs are inadequate preparation and low salaries. During the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers enacted a bill raising the standards for principal preparation programs and expanding access to residencies for incoming principals, where they have the opportunity to shadow an experienced principal for a year. Thank your legislators and the governor for supporting these important reforms!</div> </div> Fri, 26 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/52 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/50 <div>Smaller class sizes allow teachers to provide more personalized instruction to every student and also reduce teacher burnout and attrition. Think New Mexico noted in our 2022 report that the positive impacts of smaller classes are particularly important for the at-risk students who need the most support from the school system. Ask your legislators to enact a law capping the size of K-3 classes at 20 students!</div> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/50 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/49 <div>Over the past decade, the number of people completing traditional teacher training programs at New Mexico’s colleges of education has fallen by 75%. Graduates of New Mexico’s colleges of education report that the programs too often emphasize abstract theory over the practical, skills-based learning that is most valuable to future teachers. Think New Mexico has developed legislation that would convert the final year of a teacher preparation program into a teacher residency, a paid year-long experience in a classroom alongside an experienced teacher. Residencies have been shown to enhance teacher skills and reduce attrition, better preparing incoming teachers and keeping more of them in the profession. The legislation would also ensure that the state’s public colleges of education receive national accreditation and that their curricula are grounded in current best practices, including evidence-based math and literacy instruction. <strong>Please contact your legislators and the governor and urge them to support these reforms!</strong></div> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/49 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/48 <div>In 2024, the legislature passed and the governor signed legislation that will greatly enhance the training and transparency of local school boards. The law requires school board members to receive training in essential topics like public school budgeting and finance, best practices for supporting and supervising the local superintendent,&nbsp;and how board members can improve student outcomes. It also requires all school board candidates to disclose their campaign contributions, and requires school board and charter board meetings to be webcast and archived. Upgrading school board governance matters because a growing body of research shows that the decisions and actions of local school boards can positively impact student achievement when school boards make that a core focus. Thank your elected offiicals for enacting these reforms!</div> Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/48 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/47 <div>The research indicates that students need a high school curriculum that is relevant and engaging while maintaining high standards. Think New Mexico supports a modernization of the state’s high school graduation requirements that includes relevant and diverse courses like financial literacy, civics, world languages, career technical education, data analysis, and computer science, among other things. Please encourage your legislators and the governor to support legislation to ensure that students will receive a relevant and well-rounded high school education!</div> Wed, 25 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/47 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/46 <div>House Bill 130 passed during the 2023 legislative session to increase the minimum number of instructional hours from 990 for elementary school and 1,080 for middle and high school to 1,140 for all students. Increasing learning time is supported by extensive research that shows that it is one of the highest impact reforms we can implement to improve student achievement. Please email your legislators and the governor and urge them and thank them for passing this reform!</div> Wed, 25 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/46 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/45 <div>New Mexico has consistently ranked last in the nation for the quality of our public education system. Think New Mexico has developed a ten point plan with 30 separate legislative recommendations to improve the state’s public schools. <strong>Please encourage your legislators and the governor to support this evidence-based plan!</strong></div> Tue, 11 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/45 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/39 <div> <div> <div>Since 1977, New Mexico has been the only state that divides up its infrastructure funding among all 112 legislators, allowing each lawmaker to spend a portion of the money in their sole discretion.&nbsp;This haphazard process has meant that hundreds of millions of dollars have been appropriated for projects that were not shovel ready, were not fully funded, were not particularly necessary, or were not even infrastructure (like zoo animals and bronze busts of former elected officials). Meanwhile, many urgent projects fail to receive the funding they need. In 2021, we successfully advocated for making the system transparent by requiring legislators to disclose how each of them chose to allocate the funds. Now we are urging the legislature and governor to build on this reform by implementing a merit-based process to vet and prioritize infrastructure projects and target funds where they are most urgently needed.&nbsp;</div> </div> </div> Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/39 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/35 <div>New Mexico ranks 49th for overall financial literacy according to the online personal finance website WalletHub. Since 2008, financial literacy has been offered as an elective in New Mexico’s high schools, but only about 11% of students currently enroll in the course. Twenty-five states, including several of New Mexico’s neighbors, have made financial literacy a graduation requirement and are already seeing positive results. Think New Mexico recommends making a class in financial literacy or personal finance a graduation requirement for the state’s public high school students. <strong>Please contact your legislators and Governor Lujan Grisham and ask them to pass legislation to make personal finance a graduation requirement!</strong></div> Wed, 20 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/35 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/29 <div>Currently, no member of the PERA board, which oversees $18 billion for 100,000 public workers and retirees, is required to have any experience or expertise in financial or investment management. Research shows that poor governance can cost pensions 1% annually, meaning&nbsp;the dysfunction on the PERA board could cost the fund $180 million dollars a year.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Think New Mexico is supporting legislation to require that a majority&nbsp;of the PERA board must have relevant financial expertise. Please ask your legislators and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to require qualifications for PERA board members!<br /> &nbsp;</div> Mon, 13 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/29 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/11 <div>The Strategic Water Reserve is a pool of publicly held water rights dedicated to keeping New Mexico's rivers flowing to meet the needs of river-dependent endangered species and fulfill our water delivery obligations to other states. <strong>Please encourage your legislators and the governor to support increased funding for the Strategic Water Reserve!</strong></div> Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/11 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/18 <div>New Mexico's regressive tax on groceries was repealed in 2004, but since then there have been multiple serious attempts to reimpose it on New Mexico families. Legislation is introduced to bring back the food tax during just about every legislative session. Please contact your legislators and the governor and ask them to oppose any attempts to bring back the regressive food tax!</div> Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/18 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/17 <div>In 2007, Think New Mexico successfully championed the enactment of a law requiring the state lottery to deliver at least 30% of revenues to the college scholarship fund. Thanks to this law, students have received an additional $9 million annually, an average of $42 million a year. Unfortunately, legislation has been introduced during the past four years to eliminate the 30% guarantee. These bills have been pushed by teams of paid lobbyists representing the multinational gaming companies (International Gaming Technologies, Scientific Games, and Intralot) whose profits were reduced when New Mexico began sending a higher percentage of lottery revenues to students. Please email your legislators and the governor and urge them to put students before special interests and oppose efforts to repeal the 30% guarantee!</div> Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/17 http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/19 <div>In response to the ruling in the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit, which found that the state was not providing a sufficient education to at-risk students, New Mexico has significantly increased its investment in public education. However, the&nbsp;2025 Martinez-Yazzie Action Plan&nbsp;found that the state still needs to do more to ensure that those additional dollars are spent in the classroom rather than on school district central administration. Think New Mexico is working to pass legislation that would ensure that dollars appropriated for at-risk students actually reach those students in the classroom.&nbsp;<strong>Please urge your legislators and the governor&nbsp;to support this reform!</strong></div> Sun, 21 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT http:https://www.congressweb.com/TNM/19