Somos Accionistas descended on the Capitol on Immigrant & Worker’s Day of Action and attended multiple legislative hearings to advocate for more workforce development and skills-building opportunities for low-wage, rural, and immigrant workers. Our members experience many barriers to participating in traditional workforce development programs. For more than a year, we've been making a strong case for improved on-ramps to these programs in order to access quality jobs.

What did we win this session?

• $5 million for NM’s Adult Education Division to expand integrated education and skills building programs for “disengaged and difficult to reach” adult workers. This will funding will be far more flexible than current federal dollars.

• HB 303, sponsored by Rep. Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe), creates a $1 million 3-year pilot to provide monthly cash stipends to low-income workers enrolled in adult education and integrated education programs. Our bill passed within the last half hour of the session and is a first-of-its-kind legislation in the nation! Read more about HB 303 here.

• $15 million for an early childhood education wage and career ladder for childcare workers and educators, a major priority for Early Childhood Education Coalition of which Somos is an active member. Plus, we won zero copays for parents with kids in childcare who are at or below 400% federal poverty level.

Other important workforce development investments we are excited about:

• HB 5, sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-ABQ), creates a $30 million workforce development and apprenticeship trust fund at the Department of Workforce of Solutions (DWS).
• $60 million to HED for more workforce development programs and tuition assistance
• $2 million to DWS for the implementation of a trades career exploration pilot program for disconnected youth and young adults
• $1.16 million additional funding to DWS for the Labor Relations Division specifically to address caseloads and reduce time to reach wage dispute determinations

We want to thank:

• Representative Linda Serrato
• Senator Antionette Sedillo-Lopez who sponsored HB 303 in the Senate 
• Representatives Nathan Small and Meredith Dixon who ensured funding for integrated education training expansion
• Representative Eleanor Chavez who introduced HB197 (instate tuition and financial aid for adult undocumented workers) and will continue to pursue it next year
• Speaker Javier Martinez and his incredible team who helped us usher HB 303 through the legislature 
• Amber Gallup, Director of the Adult Education Division at HED, for her technical assistance

AND finally, we are thrilled to have worked during the session with partners and allies at the Economic Relief Working Group (EL CENTRO, PCA, NM Voices & CAFé), Colonias Development Council, and the Workforce Equity Initiative.