Advocates applaud passage, urge Senators to further strengthen the bill
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2025
Santa Fe, NM – The Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition applauded the passage of HB 11 out of the Senate Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee with friendly amendments that strengthened the bill, but urged the Senate to further refine the bill as it moves forward. During the hearing, advocates offered an amendment to committee members to restore medical, safe, and military exigency leave to nine weeks, as stipulated in the original version of HB 11, but the committee declined to consider it.
“We’re encouraged that committee members passed HB 11, but we urge lawmakers to restore nine weeks of leave for non-parental leave to ensure it’s fair, equitable, and works for all families,” said Tracy McDaniel, policy director at the Southwest Women’s Law Center. “We can’t overstate how critical it is that we pass the most robust version of this bill to ensure our community members are healthy, financially secure, and better able to make it through their most challenging times.”
The Paid Family and Medical Leave Coalition packed the committee hearing and delivered powerful testimony on providing up to nine weeks of leave for people recovering from serious illness, surgeries, and sexual and domestic violence, as well as caregivers. Business owners also spoke in support of the bill as a measure that will help them reduce turnover and compete for workers with top credentials.
“The only reason I am before this committee is because I have access to comprehensive medical leave. Cancer patients like me will continue to struggle and six weeks of leave is not enough to go through treatment like a bone marrow transplant,” said Lan Sena, MHA, policy director at the Center for Civic Policy and stage four Hodgkin lymphoma patient. “I stand in support of HB 11, but urge this committee to amend the bill from six to nine weeks.”
Polling shows 76% of New Mexican voters want a state-run paid family and medical leave program. Research at both the national and state-level shows paid leave programs can reduce poverty and foster economic security—a finding that is especially important for New Mexico, which has one of the highest rates of poverty in the nation. PFML programs have also been shown to reduce infant mortality, improve physical and mental health outcomes for new parents, and reduce medical complications.
Additional quotes from supporters of PFML are below:
Joey Sena, family caregiver
“I have been my wife’s caregiver in the 15 years she’s been battling cancer in the 17 years we have been together. I didn’t have access to PFML and worked by her hospital bed the entire time she went through her bone marrow transplant for her cancer. Caregivers need more than six weeks for medical leave and New Mexicans need access to a true paid family medical leave policy that meets our needs.”
Gabrielle Uballez, executive director, New Mexico Voices for Children
“Every child deserves the best start in life. Early bonding and care are essential for brain development, with crucial cognitive and emotional growth occurring during infancy. Paid family and medical leave is a critical investment in both children’s well-being and our state’s future, allowing caregivers to focus on their child’s needs without facing financial hardship because of lost wages.”
Awesta Sarkash, policy director, Small Business Majority
“I stand in strong support of HB 11 because small businesses across the state need an opportunity to compete on a level playing field. Those who support and oppose the legislation have at least one thing in common, and that is that they struggle to hire talented employees. It’s no surprise this is the case given that jobs without benefits like paid family and medical leave aren’t as attractive. What’s more, we should increase the amount of paid medical leave from six weeks up to nine to bring that benefit closer to what large corporations are already offering.”
Francine Campos, SHRM-SCP, small business owner, Co-Chair of the Women in Business Industry Group at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce, member of Main Street Alliance:
“As a small business owner and HR professional, I know that policies like paid family and medical leave are not just good for employees—they’re good for business. When workers have the ability to care for themselves and their families without fear of losing income, they return to work healthier, more focused, and more productive. HB 11 ensures that small businesses can offer this essential benefit without shouldering the full cost alone, helping them remain competitive with larger employers. It’s a smart investment in our workforce, our families, and our state’s economic future.”