Paid family and medical leave proposal to return this legislative session

Paid Family and Medical Leave proposal to return this legislative session

New Mexico's state lawmakers only have a few weeks each year to get new legislation across the finish line. So, it takes a few years for intricate proposals like Paid Family and Medical Leave to gain enough momentum.

SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico’s state lawmakers only have a few weeks each year to get new legislation across the finish line. So, it takes a few years for intricate proposals like Paid Family and Medical Leave to gain enough momentum. 

After five years of trying, Democratic lawmakers believe 2025 is the year they finally make it happen.

“It will be, I think, a bill that garners a lot of attention as it should, because it’s a very important bill for New Mexicans and New Mexico businesses,” said state Rep. Christine Chandler. 

But Chandler knows her Paid Family and Medical Leave Bill needs some explaining. The proposal would establish a program that allows all New Mexico workers to take up to 12 weeks of paid time off for family reasons like maternity leave or a death. Or up to nine weeks of paid time off for medical reasons like recovering from a serious illness or surgery. That’s even if their employers do not offer paid time off.

“It makes us competitive with other states in terms of drawing employees, because they see we have benefits that will allow them to care for themselves and family members and bond with their children,” said Chandler. 

According to the bill, all New Mexico workers would pay $5 for every $1,000 in wages into a new state fund to compensate employees on leave. While employers would pay $4 per every $1,000 but only if they have five or more workers.

“Just to be clear, it’s not the employer paying the person’s salary while they’re on leave, but it’s actually the fund,” Chandler said. 

But only up to a certain point. Chandler says those weekly payouts will be capped at the state’s median salary. So if you make $80,000 a year, your weekly compensation while on leave would only equal one week’s pay of someone making $55,000 a year. 

According to the bill, those contributions would begin in 2027 and workers could start taking paid leave in 2028. But in 2026, there would be an independent actuarial analysis to make sure all that math checks out. 

“The use of an actuarial study was something that some members of the business community asked us to do, and we embedded that in our bill,” said Chandler. 

Chandler says the Department of Workforce Solutions would oversee the program, including approving or denying a worker’s claims, and periodic reviews of all the finances.

“To ensure we remain on track, there are no surprises in terms of solvency. And we can ensure that we can pay the benefits we promise the participants,” said Chandler. 

Chandler says 13 other states already have programs like this, and she believes New Mexico needs to be next. 

“We want to bring people into the state. And if we’re a state that provides benefits like that, we’re going to be drawing young people into the state, early career people into the state, so that they see this as a desirable place to work. It’s going to support New Mexico’s economy,” said Chandler.