THINK NEW MEXICO

IN 2024, THINK NEW MEXICO RESEARCHED, WROTE, AND PUBLISHED A POLICY REPORT TITLED, SOLVING NEW MEXICOS HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE, WHICH LAID OUT A 10-POINT PLAN WITH 20 SEPARATE LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THE URGENT CRISIS OF NEW MEXICOS HEALTH CARE WORKER SHORTAGE. COPIES OF THE REPORT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MORE THAN 20,000 NEW MEXICANS AS PART OF OUR EXTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS AROUND THIS ISSUE. THINK NEW MEXICO DEVELOPED LEGISLATION TO IMPLEMENT FOUR OF OUR PROPOSED REFORMS AND ORGANIZED A DIVERSE COALITION OF SUPPORTERS TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM DURING THE 2025 LEGISLATIVE SESSION. DURING THE 2025 SESSION, WE SUCCESSFULLY CHAMPIONED THE ENACTMENT OF A NEW PERMANENT TRUST FUND FOR MEDICAID, WITH 511 MILLION IN FUNDING OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND A GOAL OF 2 BILLION. WHEN IT REACHES THAT 2 BILLION TARGET, THE FUND WILL GENERATE 100 MILLION IN STATE FUNDING FOR MEDICAID ANNUALLY. WITH A 3:1 FEDERAL MATCH, THAT WILL MAKE 400 MILLION AVAILABLE TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT RATES FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS. IN ADDITION, DURING 2024, THINK NEW MEXICO CONTINUED OUR ONGOING EFFORT TO DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE STUDENT OUTCOMES IN NEW MEXICOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THINK NEW MEXICO ENGAGED IN EXTENSIVE PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS ABOUT OUR REFORMS. IN 2024, WE WON PASSAGE OF LEGISLATION ENHANCING THE TRAINING AND TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS, AND IN 2025, WE HELPED PASS LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TO ENSURE THAT TEACHERS LEARN THE BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO READ. FINALLY, IN 2024, THINK NEW MEXICO CONTINUED ITS LEADERSHIP INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH AIMS TO RETAIN A NEW GENERATION OF POTENTIAL LEADERS IN NEW MEXICO BY TEACHING THEM HOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HOME STATE. IN 2024, THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM SERVED SIX STUDENTS FROM ACROSS NEW MEXICO, TRAINING THEM HOW TO DEVELOP AND ENACT SOUND PUBLIC POLICY AND INTRODUCING THEM TO KEY POLICYMAKERS AND OPINION LEADERS.