UNM’s 2026 legislative priorities advance health care, public safety, workforce development and statewide opportunity

When the Second Session of the 57th New Mexico Legislature begins on Tuesday, Jan. 20, legislators and the executive branch will face difficult decisions on how to invest in New Mexico during the 30-day session, given revenue projections that have been trending downward from previous years.

As of December 2025, approximately $105 million ($892 million) in "new" revenue projections are anticipated heading into the session. In August 2025, the new revenue projections for the 2026 legislative session were approximately $484.8 million. "New money" is defined as projected recurring revenues for the following fiscal year minus current year recurring appropriations. The state is publishing minor updates and associated revisions to those numbers this week.

The FY27 Executive Budget Recommendation from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's administration totals $11.3 billion in recurring spending statewide, an increase of 4.6 percent from FY26. The executive recommendation also maintains reserves at 30 percent, totaling $3.4 billion. For FY27, the overall recommendation includes $1.48 billion in recurring general fund appropriations to the Higher Education Department and New Mexico higher education institutions, which includes $168 million for the Opportunity Scholarship, an increase from $146 million last year.

Similarly, the FY27 Legislative Budget Recommendation from the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) similarly totals $11.1 billion, a 2.5 percent increase, or $268 million increase over FY26 spending statewide. Reserves would be 33 percent of planned spending. In this proposed scenario, the Higher Education Department and the state's colleges and universities would get $51.3 million more in FY27 over FY26, or 3.6 percent.

As New Mexico's flagship university, The University of New Mexico enters the 2026 legislative session focused on priorities that strengthen health care, expand educational opportunity, promote cutting edge research, build a homegrown workforce, and enhance the state's long-term competitiveness.

Aligned with UNM 2040, the University's long-term strategic framework, UNM's FY27 legislative priorities emphasize investments that improve outcomes for students, patients, communities, and the state as a whole, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

UNM's legislative agenda centers on four priority areas:

Improve Health Care Access and Health Outcomes Statewide

UNM seeks to expand New Mexico's health care workforce and improve outcomes, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

• Increase capacity at the School of Medicine to educate and train more medical doctors and allied health professionals
• Integrate clinical care, research, prevention, and public health strategies to address societal impacts of substance use disorder.
• Support recruitment and retention for health professionals in New Mexico's rural and underserved areas
• Support a flexible health care system that is protective of patient access and responsiveness to changing conditions in the federal funding landscapes

Develop a Well Educated, Homegrown Workforce and Contribute to a Diversified Economy

UNM advances workforce readiness and innovation through education, research, and economic development.

• Support growth in emerging science areas such as quantum information science, artificial intelligence, advanced energy, public health and the biosciences
• Bolster STEAM-H education, expand research and tech development, create synergy with the national labs, spawn new business development, promote the arts economy and embrace cultural heritage preservation
• Support improved math and literacy outcomes in the pre-K-12 education system
• Strengthen educational pathways that interconnect New Mexico's pre-K-12 system, UNM branch campuses, UNM's Albuquerque campus and rural and underserved populations

Enhance Equitable Educational Access, Student Support Services and Campus Safety

UNM prioritizes affordability, student success, and safe, accessible learning environments.

• Support I&G increase, UNM RPSPs, capital requests and other targeted appropriations, including improvements to campus safety, accessibility, cybersecurity, and building and equipment renewal/replacement
• Sustain state investments in the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarship program state investments
• Provide advocacy support to ASUNM and GPSA regarding expanded educational access, student success and well-being, and new capital requests
• Modernize Lobo Athletics facilities and increase program support for student-athlete success
• Advance UNM facilities improvements that create student-centered educational environments, attract new learners and top-tier faculty, and promote new operational efficiencies

Improve New Mexico's National Competitiveness and Resident Quality of Life

UNM supports policies that strengthen workforce stability and statewide resilience.

• Fully fund a compensation increase for all employees and provide flexibility in the administration of compensation increases to address inequities
• Strengthen other recruitment and retention incentives for faculty, staff and graduate learners
• Support public broadcasting
• Partner with the public and private sector to effectively navigate the changes to the federal funding landscape and full leverage New Mexico's economic potential

In terms of specific capital outlay projects, UNM has identified several campus and infrastructure projects also interconnected to the UNM 2040 Goals including:

Central Campus

• School of Law renovation ($15.5 million)
• University Stadium Facility Improvements ($50 million)
• Softball Improvements Phase 3 ($5 million)
• Technology & Video Board Replacement & Improvements ($2.5 million)
• Data Center - CNM Improvements ($5.5 million)
• Utility Service Geo-Exchange ($8 million)
• STEM Facilities Strategic Planning Study ($300,000)

Health Sciences Capital Priorities

• School of Medicine Education Building & Enabling Projects ($600 million)
• North Campus Targeted Demolition ($2.5 million)

UNM Branch Campuses
Gallup campus

• Calvin Hall North Wing Renovation ($3 million)

Los Alamos Campus

• Student Services & Success Center Renovation ($3.15 million)
• Open Space Upgrade Phase 2 ($1.25 million)

Taos Campus

• Armory Renovation ($5.95 million)
• Pueblo Hall Renovation ($2.5 million)

Valencia Campus

• Automotive & Welding Technology Program ($3.75 million)

The session will end at noon on Thursday, Feb. 19.

For more information on the 2026 Legislative Session, visit Government Relations.