This page is your hub for breaking legislative updates, ways to act, and stories from our communities.
Everyone in New Mexico deserves quality, affordable healthcare. Federal policy changes are raising costs and putting coverage at risk for families across our state. The legislature can protect access through the Health Care Affordability Fund (HCAF) and shield families from decisions made far from our communities. Together, we’re demanding action to keep healthcare affordable and accessible by:
- Supporting the Governor’s budget request for the Health Care Affordability Fund (HCAF), because it does the most to protect coverage.
- Advocating for lawmakers to pass House Bill 4 (HB 4), sponsored by Rep. Szczepanski, which would increase funding for the HCAF.
Weekly Updates:
- Week 4 (Feb 9-13, 2026): Families, providers, and advocates get HB 4 through the finish line! In the final 24 hours of the session, in response to overwhelming calls and emails from community, HB 4 cleared the full Senate and House concurrence, sending the measure to the Governor’s desk and securing the long-term sustainability of the HCAF.
- Week 3 (Feb 2–6, 2026): NMT4HC urged lawmakers in HAFC and the Senate to support the Executive’s budget request for the Health Care Affordability Fund in HB 2. Securing these dollars is critical to prevent premium spikes and coverage losses this year, especially as federal changes threaten affordability for thousands of New Mexicans. In response, House lawmakers added $25 million toward the $28 million BeWell shortfall and fully covered the $38.1 million needed to support middle-income New Mexicans, with the Senate expected to maintain those commitments. The remaining gap impacts New Mexicans who will lose Medicaid coverage in October. While the House did not include funding for this group, the Senate added $40 million toward the $92.9 million needed. That investment would significantly narrow the shortfall, but additional funding will likely be required next session to fully protect coverage and ensure stability for affected families.
- Week 2 (Jan 26–30, 2026): NMT4HC urged lawmakers in HAFC and the Senate to support the Executive’s budget request for the Health Care Affordability Fund in HB 2. Securing these dollars is critical to prevent premium spikes and coverage losses this year, especially as federal changes threaten affordability for thousands of New Mexicans. House lawmakers largely addressed the funding gaps: they added $25 million toward the $28 million BeWell shortfall and fully covered the $38.1 million needed to support middle-income New Mexicans, with the Senate expected to maintain those commitments.
- Week 1 (Jan 19–23, 2026): HB 4 was introduced by House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Reena Szczepanski to increase funding for the Health Care Affordability Fund and received it’s first committee assignment.
In The News:
Check out Abuko Estrada’s op-ed in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Carmen Meyer’s op-ed in the Albuquerque Journal and Dr. Caryn McHarney-Brown’s op-ed in Source New Mexico—two powerful looks at what’s at stake for New Mexicans’ healthcare this session and what lawmakers must act now.
On January 27, families, providers, and advocates came together at the state capitol to call for the Health Care Affordability Fund to be fully funded in the budget and for the passage of HB 4, which would leverage the HCAF to its full capacity to keep New Mexicans covered in the face of federal cuts. Huge thank you to everyone who showed up and spoke out. Local news highlighted the ripple effects facing New Mexico. Read more in the Albuquerque Journal!
Resources & Tools:
- Share our Storybook: Keep New Mexicans Covered
Featuring voices from across our network — neighbors, families, providers, and advocates — sharing how healthcare policy impacts real lives. Please help amplify these stories by sharing the book with your networks and inviting others to read and engage.- Sample text you can use to share on social media or by email/text:
- All New Mexicans deserve quality, affordable healthcare. Federal changes are threatening coverage for thousands of families. NM didn’t choose these cuts, but this #nmleg session we can choose how we respond. Read the stories of our neighbors and share to make sure state lawmakers protect healthcare here at home: https://nmtogether4health.org/2026-storybook-keep-new-mexicans-covered/
- Sample text you can use to share on social media or by email/text:
- HCAF overview & budget request (1 pager)
- HB 4 fact sheet (what it does & why it matters)
- Systems impact (how coverage losses would strain families, the healthcare system, and the economy)
Stay Connected:
Join our email list — and invite others to join you. Stay connected for year-round updates, action alerts, and opportunities to make your voice heard. Share the sign-up with your friends, family, colleagues and community — there is real power in numbers, and every new voice strengthens this movement.
Share your story with us. We work year-round to amplify community voices, uplift community priorities, protect the progress we’ve made, and build toward a healthcare system that works for everyone — one that is affordable, accessible, secure, and stable for all. We celebrate the milestones along the way, but the work continues, and we invite you to be part of it.
