The 2025 legislative session began with hope and determination as advocates, including a coalition of over 100 organizations and small businesses, rallied behind House Bill 11 (HB 11), a robust paid family and medical leave bill tailored to meet the needs of New Mexico families. Despite historic progress, the bill was changed mid-session in ways that fell short of what communities deserve. It failed in its second Senate committee.

The HB 11 sponsors introduced a committee substitute that overhauled the funding structure, replacing the original contribution model for parental leave with a rebate model. The committee substitute also reduced medical, safe, and military exigency leave from nine to six weeks. 

Our coalition urged lawmakers to restore vital protections from the original. Despite our best efforts, the committee substitute of HB 11 fell short of what New Mexicans need and deserve and ultimately failed in the Senate Finance Committee.