New Mexico unemployment rate

Foreign-born residents include naturalized citizens and both lawfully and unlawfully present noncitizens. The reviewed immigration provisions address subsets of this population and do not change birthplace or determine any particular resident’s status. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained New Mexico evidence context: Residents who are foreign-born. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SECTION 1. Section 9-26-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 200, Section 3) is amended to read: "9-26-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Workforce Solutions Department Act: A. "department" means the workforce solutions department; B. "new Americans" means people residing in the United States who are not citizens of the United States or who were not citizens of the United States at birth; and C. "secretary" means the secretary of workforce solutions." SECTION 2. Section 9-26-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 200, Section 4) is amended to read: "9-26-4. WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT CREATED.--The "workforce solutions department" is created in the executive branch pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act. The department is a cabinet department that includes: A. the office of the secretary; B. the administrative services division; C. the unemployment insurance division; D. the labor relations division; E. the workforce technology division; F. the workforce transition services division; and G. the new Americans division." SECTION 3. A new section of the Workforce Solutions Department Act is enacted to read: "NEW AMERICANS DIVISION--PURPOSE--DUTIES.-- A. The purpose of the new Americans division of the department is to support new Americans residing in New Mexico in achieving their maximum economic potential in New Mexico's workforce and as entrepreneurs. In furtherance of this purpose, the division shall: (1) support and expand educational, workforce training and other initiatives that improve the integration of new Americans into the state's economy; (2) identify strategies for improving licensure pathways for new Americans who have been professionally trained or licensed in another country; (3) assist businesses that employ new Americans by identifying, attracting and retaining top global talent required to remain competitive in a global economy; (4) identify and support pathways for new Americans to advance priority sectors identified in the state's workforce development and economic development plans; and (5) serve as an information center by providing resources and engagement opportunities to businesses, community-based organizations, workers, community members, state agencies and local governments on policies and legislation affecting new Americans, including supporting eligible lawful permanent residents in becoming naturalized United States citizens. B. The new Americans division shall, as deemed necessary and appropriate by the department, work with other divisions within the department, the economic development department, the higher education department, the public education department, the department of health, the health care authority, the homeland security and emergency management department, the department of public safety or the regulation and licensing department to fulfill the duties of the new Americans division. C. By August 1, 2027, and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the new Americans division shall provide a report to an interim committee that studies economic and rural development and policy, the secretary, the governor and members of the legislature on the activities of the division in the preceding twelve months, including an analysis of the economic impact, status, population and workforce numbers of new Americans in the state."

Foreign-born residents include naturalized citizens and both lawfully and unlawfully present noncitizens. The reviewed immigration provisions address subsets of this population and do not change birthplace or determine any particular resident’s status. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained New Mexico evidence context: Residents who are foreign-born. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SECTION 1. Section 9-26-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 200, Section 3) is amended to read: "9-26-3. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Workforce Solutions Department Act: A. "department" means the workforce solutions department; B. "new Americans" means people residing in the United States who are not citizens of the United States or who were not citizens of the United States at birth; and C. "secretary" means the secretary of workforce solutions." SECTION 2. Section 9-26-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 200, Section 4) is amended to read: "9-26-4. WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS DEPARTMENT CREATED.--The "workforce solutions department" is created in the executive branch pursuant to the Executive Reorganization Act. The department is a cabinet department that includes: A. the office of the secretary; B. the administrative services division; C. the unemployment insurance division; D. the labor relations division; E. the workforce technology division; F. the workforce transition services division; and G. the new Americans division." SECTION 3. A new section of the Workforce Solutions Department Act is enacted to read: "NEW AMERICANS DIVISION--PURPOSE--DUTIES.-- A. The purpose of the new Americans division of the department is to support new Americans residing in New Mexico in achieving their maximum economic potential in New Mexico's workforce and as entrepreneurs. In furtherance of this purpose, the division shall: (1) support and expand educational, workforce training and other initiatives that improve the integration of new Americans into the state's economy; (2) identify strategies for improving licensure pathways for new Americans who have been professionally trained or licensed in another country; (3) assist businesses that employ new Americans by identifying, attracting and retaining top global talent required to remain competitive in a global economy; (4) identify and support pathways for new Americans to advance priority sectors identified in the state's workforce development and economic development plans; and (5) serve as an information center by providing resources and engagement opportunities to businesses, community-based organizations, workers, community members, state agencies and local governments on policies and legislation affecting new Americans, including supporting eligible lawful permanent residents in becoming naturalized United States citizens. B. The new Americans division shall, as deemed necessary and appropriate by the department, work with other divisions within the department, the economic development department, the higher education department, the public education department, the department of health, the health care authority, the homeland security and emergency management department, the department of public safety or the regulation and licensing department to fulfill the duties of the new Americans division. C. By August 1, 2027, and by July 1 of each year thereafter, the new Americans division shall provide a report to an interim committee that studies economic and rural development and policy, the secretary, the governor and members of the legislature on the activities of the division in the preceding twelve months, including an analysis of the economic impact, status, population and workforce numbers of new Americans in the state."

Census household money income is measured before taxes and includes wages and specified cash benefits. Minimum-wage provisions concern earnings; tax credits and in-kind benefits are not themselves increases in this statistic. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained New Mexico evidence context: Median household income. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SECTION 2. Section 50-4-22 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1955, Chapter 200, Section 3, as amended) is amended to read: "50-4-22. MINIMUM WAGES.-- A. On and after January 1, 2026, an employer shall pay to an employee a minimum wage rate of seventeen dollars ($17.00) an hour adjusted annually pursuant to the provisions of Subsection C of this section. B. An employee shall not be required to work more than forty hours in any week of seven days, unless the employee is paid one and one-half times the employee's regular hourly rate of pay for all hours worked in excess of forty hours. For an employee who is paid a fixed salary for fluctuating hours and who is employed by an employer a majority of whose business in New Mexico consists of providing investigative services to the federal government, the hourly rate may be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the regulations pursuant to that act; provided that in no case shall the hourly rate be less than the federal minimum wage. C. On January 1, 2027 and on January 1 of each successive year, the minimum wage rate shall be adjusted by multiplying the minimum wage as of January 1, 2026 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the consumer price index ending in September of the previous year and the denominator of which is the consumer price index ending September 2025; provided that the minimum wage rate shall not be adjusted downward as a result of a decrease in the consumer price index. By November 1, 2026 and by November 1 of each successive year, the workforce solutions department shall post on its website and otherwise notify employers of the minimum wage for the next year."

The fact measures diploma-or-higher attainment among adults age 25 and older. Programs for younger students concern a possible future component of adult attainment rather than the previously measured population. This connection does not establish causation. Actions after the measurement period cannot explain the earlier observed value.

Retained New Mexico evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

O. Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the 2025-2026 school year, successful completion of a minimum of twenty-four units aligned to the state academic content and performance standards shall be required for graduation and the award of a diploma of excellence. These units shall be as follows: (1) four units in English, which shall include a three-unit sequence; provided that department- approved work-based learning, career technical education or English language development courses that meet state English or English language development academic content and performance standards may qualify as required English units; (2) four units in mathematics, two of which shall include a sequence of algebra 1 and geometry or another integrated pathway of mathematics equivalent to algebra 1 and geometry; provided that financial literacy courses or department-approved work-based learning or career technical education courses that meet state mathematics academic content and performance standards may qualify as required mathematics units; and provided further that algebra 2 shall be offered as a mathematics course; (3) three units in science, two of which shall have a laboratory component; provided that department- approved work-based learning or career technical education courses that meet state science academic content and performance standards may qualify as required science units; (4) four units in social science, which shall include United States history and geography, which course content contains New Mexico history; government and economics and personal financial literacy, which course content contains civics; and world history and geography; (5) one unit in physical education, as determined by the school district or charter school, which may include a physical education program that meets state academic content and performance standards or participation in marching band, dance programs, junior reserve officers' training corps or interscholastic sports sanctioned by the New Mexico activities association or any other co-curricular physical activity; (6) one-half unit in health education; provided that this one-half unit may be earned in either middle or high school; (7) five and one-half elective units that meet department academic content and performance standards and that shall include a two-unit pathway concentration of the student's choice in a language other than English, including American sign language; fine arts; health; military career preparation; a career technical education program; or community or service learning, a capstone course or work- based learning; provided that financial literacy, computer science, student service learning, career technical education courses and a sequence of languages other than English shall be offered as electives; and provided further that media literacy and pre-apprenticeship programs may be offered as electives; and (8) two units set by each local school board or governing body of a charter school that meet department academic content and performance standards. P. If a high school student who has taken one or both units provided in Paragraph (8) of Subsection O of this section moves from one school district or charter school to another, the receiving school district or charter school shall accept those earned units toward the student's graduation.