Wirth Legislative Plans
(continued)
Over the last few years the Legislature has been very effective at building mechanisms for creating better long-term revenue stability, including using “new money” to set up a series of permanent funds. This year we’re looking to do the same for behavioral health, establishing a $1 billion Behavioral Health Trust Fund with an annual 5% disbursement to support regional behavioral health initiatives. This fund is intended to provide long-term, sustainable funding for ongoing regional efforts in behavioral health and recovery support. The Early Childhood fund established in 2020 with just $320 million has now grown to almost $10 billion, so these funds are an incredible way to safeguard our future and avoid the inevitable up and down swings in revenue from oil and gas.
In addition to the Behavioral Health Trust Fund, we’re looking at upwards of $140 million in targeted behavioral health appropriations to be distributed across various sectors to enhance services. This funding will include appropriations for regional planning, judicial system support, outpatient treatment and transitional acute care facilities. Additional investments in crisis response infrastructure, discharge planning for those leaving correctional facilities, outreach to homeless populations, and the expansion of housing services linked to behavioral health recovery will also be included.
I once again will sponsor several pieces of legislation focused on protecting our environment and natural resources, including two bills related to New Mexico’s precious water resources. New Mexico is one of only three states that have not exercised “primacy,” which in essence allows states to manage the Clean Water Act rather than letting the EPA do it. I’ll carry a bill for the Environment Department to assert this primacy and bring the control back to where it will be most effective. A second bill relating to water will clarify and expand what kinds of waters are covered under the Clean Water Act. Currently areas where rivers are not always running (not unusual in our state) are excluded from coverage. I’ll work to change that.
As people across the state continue recovering from the devastating wildfires experienced over the last few years, many are now facing additional hardship from increased insurance rates and fewer insurers willing to provide any coverage at all. I’ve been working with the superintendent of insurance on the “Fair Plan,” which provides last resort insurance for those who cannot otherwise find coverage. Under the current plan coverage is limited to $350,000 for residential property and $1 million for commercial. These caps have not been changed for years so we’ll draft legislation to increase these caps to keep up with the market, while simultaneously working with existing insurance companies to encourage them to stay in the state.
These issues are just a glimpse of what we plan to address in the coming session. With a strong focus on behavioral health, public safety, environmental protections and insurance reforms, I’m optimistic that we will make meaningful progress on behalf of New Mexicans in 2025. It promises to be a year of hard work, collaboration and positive change for our state.