New Mexico will become the first state to provide free, universal child care beginning Nov. 1, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced.

The initiative will make no-cost child care available to all New Mexico residents, regardless of income, by removing income eligibility requirements for the state’s child care assistance program, according to a news release . The program will equate to an average family savings of $12,000 per child per year, according to the release.

“Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexico’s future prosperity,” Lujan Grisham said. “By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.”

The announcement comes

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