New Mexico made national headlines last year with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement that it would be the first state in the country to offer child care to all families at no cost. Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department, was at the governor’s side during the news conference and has been a key figure in the landmark initiative.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Groginsky joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the progress of the program since the September announcement, the national recognition the initiative has received and the challenges ahead.

The governor’s push to remove all income limits to the child care assistance program is one of the most discussed issues during the current 30-day legislative session as lawmakers hash out a budget for the coming fiscal year. Groginsky speaks on her department’s desire for fully funding the program and on concerns regarding child care provider capacity.

To learn more about applying for universal child care and to access a child care finder, visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/.

New Mexico made national headlines last year with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&rsquo;s announcement that it would be the first state in the country to offer child care to all families at no cost. Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department, was at the governor&rsquo;s side during the news conference and has been a key figure in the landmark initiative.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Groginsky joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss the progress of the program since the September announcement, the national recognition the initiative has received and the challenges ahead.
The governor&rsquo;s push to remove all income limits to the child care assistance program is one of the most discussed issues during the current 30-day legislative session as lawmakers hash out a budget for the coming fiscal year. Groginsky speaks on her department&rsquo;s desire for fully funding the program and on concerns regarding child care provider capacity.
To learn more about applying for universal child care and to access a child care finder, visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/.

The Santa Fe New Mexican’s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Around the Roundhouse

The Santa Fe New Mexican&rsquo;s weekly podcast hosted by state government and lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n features the policies, politics and personalities at the state Capitol during New Mexico's 2025 legislative session.

Universal child care: New Mexico official discusses setting a blueprint for the nation

Cristina Parajón’s first day at the Roundhouse as a lawmaker got off to a bit of an awkward start when the  sergeant-at-arms initially wouldn’t let her in her seat in the House chamber because he thought she looked too young to be a legislator. With some notable early legislative successes, the now 28-year-old is relishing the opportunity to have a seat at the table and is making a name for herself at the Capitol.

The Albuquerque Democrat, who is the youngest woman serving in the Legislature, helped pass a bill last year that allows semi-open primaries in New Mexico. It allows voters who don’t state a party affiliation to cast a ballot in a Democratic or Republican primary without changing their registration.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Parajón joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss her path to the Roundhouse, her early legislative victories and her priorities for the current 30-day session.

Born to a Nicaraguan father and a Taiwanese-American mother who are both medical professionals, Parajón took an interest in health care access and housing issues at an early age. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a master’s degree in business and economics, and is now in her second year of law school.

Parajón was appointed to represent House District 25 in 2023 and won the seat in an election the following year. Chacón asks her about the legislation she’s helped pass thus far and how she views the opportunity to be a voice for younger generations of New Mexicans.

Parajón also discusses some of her priorities for the current session, including a constitutional amendment to pay legislators a base salary and a bill that would continue a pet food manufacturer fee that helps fund statewide spay and neuter programs.

Cristina Paraj&oacute;n&rsquo;s first day at the Roundhouse as a lawmaker got off to a bit of an awkward start when the&nbsp;&nbsp;sergeant-at-arms initially wouldn&rsquo;t let her in her seat in the House chamber because he thought she looked too young to be a legislator. With some notable early legislative successes, the now 28-year-old is relishing the opportunity to have a seat at the table and is making a name for herself at the Capitol.
The Albuquerque Democrat, who is the youngest woman serving in the Legislature, helped pass a bill last year that allows semi-open primaries in New Mexico. It allows voters who don&rsquo;t state a party affiliation to cast a ballot in a Democratic or Republican primary without changing their registration.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast, Paraj&oacute;n joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss her path to the Roundhouse, her early legislative victories and her priorities for the current 30-day session.
Born to a Nicaraguan father and a Taiwanese-American mother who are both medical professionals, Paraj&oacute;n took an interest in health care access and housing issues at an early age. She earned her bachelor&rsquo;s degree from Harvard, a master&rsquo;s degree in business and economics, and is now in her second year of law school.
Paraj&oacute;n was appointed to represent House District 25 in 2023 and won the seat in an election the following year. Chac&oacute;n asks her about the legislation she&rsquo;s helped pass thus far and how she views the opportunity to be a voice for younger generations of New Mexicans.
Paraj&oacute;n also discusses some of her priorities for the current session, including a constitutional amendment to pay legislators a base salary and a bill that would continue a pet food manufacturer fee that helps fund statewide spay and neuter programs.

Gen Z lawmaker Cristina Parajón discusses her path to the Roundhouse and early legislative wins 

During his years serving in the Legislature, state Sen. Jeff Steinborn has championed and passed a wide variety of legislation including the creation of an independent ethics commission, setting campaign contribution limits and banning the storage of high-level nuclear waste in New Mexico. This year, some of the bills Steinborn is working to pass bills involve increasing lobbyist transparency and holding data center microgrids in the state to renewable energy standards.

In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast the Las Cruces Democrat joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the first week of the 30-day legislative session and offer insight into some of the bills he’s championing.

Steinborn, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, speaks on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan to provide universal child care to New Mexico residents and if he thinks the state can fully fund it.

Steinborn also talks about the reintroduction of a lobbyist transparency bill, House Bill 35, that would require lobbyists to report when they lobby on a bill and if they were for it or against it. It would also require reporting if a lobbyist was involved in the creation of a bill prior to a session.

In 2025, the lobbyist transparency bill Steinborn co-sponsored passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the governor. Steinborn goes over why the governor said she vetoed the bill and discusses the changed that were made for the new bill.

Another major piece of legislation Steinborn is pushing for is a microgrid oversight act that would require new microgrids creating self-generated power to adhere to the same renewable energy mix required of publicly owned utilities. Currently, Steinborn said microgrids that power data centers are not required to generate any power through renewable sources. He said 40 percent of energy generated by public utilities in the state today must come from renewable sources.

Steinborn discusses how the proposed legislation could impact Project Jupiter, a massive data center project in Doña Ana County, and other projects in New Mexico.

During his years serving in the Legislature, state Sen. Jeff Steinborn has championed and passed a wide variety of legislation including the creation of an independent ethics commission, setting campaign contribution limits and banning the storage of high-level nuclear waste in New Mexico. This year, some of the bills Steinborn is working to pass bills involve increasing lobbyist transparency and holding data center microgrids in the state to renewable energy standards.
In the latest episode of the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast the Las Cruces Democrat joins&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n to discuss the first week of the 30-day legislative session and offer insight into some of the bills he&rsquo;s championing.
Steinborn, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, speaks on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham&rsquo;s plan to provide universal child care to New Mexico residents and if he thinks the state can fully fund it.
Steinborn also talks about the reintroduction of a lobbyist transparency bill, House Bill 35, that would require lobbyists to report when they lobby on a bill and if they were for it or against it. It would also require reporting if a lobbyist was involved in the creation of a bill prior to a session.
In 2025, the lobbyist transparency bill Steinborn co-sponsored passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the governor. Steinborn goes over why the governor said she vetoed the bill and discusses the changed that were made for the new bill.
Another major piece of legislation Steinborn is pushing for is a microgrid oversight act that would require new microgrids creating self-generated power to adhere to the same renewable energy mix required of publicly owned utilities. Currently, Steinborn said microgrids that power data centers are not required to generate any power through renewable sources. He said 40 percent of energy generated by public utilities in the state today must come from renewable sources.
Steinborn discusses how the proposed legislation could impact Project Jupiter, a massive data center project in Do&ntilde;a Ana County, and other projects in New Mexico.

Sen. Jeff Steinborn pushes for lobbyist transparency, more oversight for data center microgrids

Residents in communities across New Mexico have felt the impact of a physician shortage that has led to patients facing long wait times and a struggle to schedule appointments. A bipartisan group of state legislators has been working to help improve access to health care through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which would allow fully licensed physicians in one member state to obtain licenses more quickly in other member states.

State Sen. Linda Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, is a lead on the bill that will be introduced as the 30-day legislative session opens next week. She joins the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast to speak with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the importance of the bill, the changes that have been made since last year, and her level of confidence that the bill will reach the governor’s desk.

Trujillo discusses other bills she’s been working on, including legislation that deals with nontraditional health care options being included in health coverage plans, a bill addressing human trafficking and a juvenile justice bill.

Chacón asks Trujillo, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, if she anticipates a battle over child care funding between legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The LFC’s budget plan that was released last week didn’t fully fund the governor’s free universal child care initiative.

Trujillo also talks about how she preps for the legislative session, what the transition has been like going from the House to the Senate, and how her background as superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department has helped her now that she’s back in the Legislature.

Residents in communities across New Mexico have felt the impact of a physician shortage that has led to patients facing long wait times and a struggle to schedule appointments. A bipartisan group of state legislators has been working to help improve access to health care through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which would allow fully licensed physicians in one member state to obtain licenses more quickly in other member states.
State Sen. Linda Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, is a lead on the bill that will be introduced as the 30-day legislative session opens next week. She joins the &ldquo;Around the Roundhouse&rdquo; podcast to speak with&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;state politics reporter Daniel J. Chac&oacute;n about the importance of the bill, the changes that have been made since last year, and her level of confidence that the bill will reach the governor&rsquo;s desk.
Trujillo discusses other bills she&rsquo;s been working on, including legislation that deals with nontraditional health care options being included in health coverage plans, a bill addressing human trafficking and a juvenile justice bill.
Chac&oacute;n asks Trujillo, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, if she anticipates a battle over child care funding between legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The LFC&rsquo;s budget plan that was released last week didn&rsquo;t fully fund the governor&rsquo;s free universal child care initiative.
Trujillo also talks about how she preps for the legislative session, what the transition has been like going from the House to the Senate, and how her background as superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department has helped her now that she&rsquo;s back in the Legislature.

Universal child care: New Mexico official discusses setting a blueprint for the nation

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