Compare versions

--- version:introduced version
+++ version:(document, no version)
@@ -1,46 +1,128 @@
-underscored material = new[bracketed material] = delete
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
-7
-8
-9
-10
-11
-12
-13
-14
-15
-16
-17
-18
-19
-20
-21
-22
-23
-24
-25
-HOUSE BILL 157
-57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026
-INTRODUCED BY
-Jenifer Jones and Rebecca Dow
-AN ACT
-MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DEVELOP
-A PREGNANCY AND PARENTING RESOURCE WEBSITE AND HOTLINE TO
-PROVIDE RESOURCES TO EXPECTANT FAMILIES AND NEW PARENTS.
-BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
-SECTION 1.  APPROPRIATION.--One hundred thousand dollars
-($100,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
-department of health for expenditure in fiscal year 2027 to
-develop a pregnancy and parenting resource website and hotline
-that provides information on social services, financial
-assistance, adoption services, pregnancy and parenting
-information, planning guidance, care centers and other available
-public and private resources for expectant families and new
-parents.  Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal
-year 2027 shall revert to the general fund.
-.233202.1
+Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Le gislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
+committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for th e accuracy of these reports if they
+are used for other purposes.
+
+F I S C A L    I M P A C T    R E P O R T
+
+BILL NUMBER: House Bill 157
+SHORT TITLE: Pregnancy & Parenting Resource Website
+SPONSOR: Jones/Dow
+LAST
+UPDATE:
+ ORIGINAL
+DATE:
+
+01/29/2026
+
+ANALYST: Chilton
+
+APPROPRIATION*
+(dollars in thousands)
+FY26 FY27 Recurring or
+Nonrecurring
+Fund
+Affected
+ $100.0 Recurring General Fund
+*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
+
+ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
+(dollars in thousands)
+Agency/Program FY26 FY27 FY28 3 Year
+Total Cost
+Recurring or
+Nonrecurring
+Fund
+Affected
+DOH: Helpline
+Expansion 0 $443.3 $443.3 $886.6 Recurring General Fund
+DOH: Website  0 $8.8 $8.8 $17.6 Recurring General Fund
+Total 0  $452.1 $452.1 $904.2 Recurring General Fund
+Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
+*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
+
+Sources of Information
+
+LFC Files
+
+Agency or Agencies Providing Analysis
+Department of Health
+Health Care Authority
+Children Youth and Families Department
+
+Agency or Agencies That Were Asked for Analysis but did not Respond
+Office of Family Representation and Advocacy
+
+SUMMARY
+
+Synopsis of House Bill 157
+
+House Bill 157 (HB157) appropriates $100 thousand from the general fund to the Department of
+House Bill 157 – Page 2
+
+Health (DOH) for the purpose of  developing a website and hotline that would provide
+information on “social services, financial assistance, adoption se rvices, pregnancy and parenting
+information, planning guidance, care centers and other available public and private resources for
+expectant families and new parents.”
+
+This bill does not contain an effective date and, as  a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
+Legislature adjourns, which is May 20, 2026.
+
+FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
+
+The appropriation of $100 thousand contained in  this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the
+general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered ba lance remaining at the end of FY27 shall
+revert to the general fund.
+
+Department of Health (DOH) has estimated the cost of de veloping and ma intaining the
+envisioned website would cost $8.8 thousand per year, a continuing expense.  DOH estimates
+that three FTE specialist nurses would be required to staff the hotline, at a total cost (including
+personnel, office space and equipment) of $443.3 thousand per year.
+
+SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
+
+Pregnancy and parenting – especially parenting young children-- stress young parents.  Although
+myriad resources exist to help with general concerns or specific problems, they are not organized
+in a way that makes them easy to access.  As with any other subject in the internet era, a mix of
+good information and misinformation can be hard to negotiate; the Children Youth and Families
+Department (CYFD) and the Hea lth Care Authority both emphasi ze the importance of selected
+resources that avoid misinformation.
+
+Home visiting services are av ailable throughout mu ch of New Mexico, with trained and
+personable home visitors providi ng needed support, sometimes beginning during pregnancy,
+sometimes after the birth of a baby. The Early Childhood Education and Care Department
+(ECECD) has been instrumental in supporting early home visiting programs and directing young
+families to them.
+
+Among sources of reliable information available by telephone, the DOH Health Helpline and the
+ECECD hotline provide reliably good informati on.  United Way of North Central New Mexico
+provides good information about av ailable services on its 2-1-1 li ne.  Many pediatric and family
+practice offices and community clinics offer telephone help to their patients.
+
+Information is on parts of the DOH website and through the American A cademy of Pediatrics,
+the American Academy of Family Medicine Practitioners and numerous other groups.
+
+As noted by DOH, having a respected single so urce for New Mexico pare nts-to-be and parents
+would be a major forward step in improving the well-being of young New Mexico families,
+despite the current availability of the in person, telephone, and online services mentioned above.
+
+However, as also mentioned by DOH, the a ppropriation of $100 thousand will not go far in
+House Bill 157 – Page 3
+
+providing a working hotline, though it might be sufficient to fund the specified website.
+
+DOH also points out the importan ce of marketing a website and/or  a hotline, and of continually
+updating the information available through both, since resources in New Mexico communities
+are continually changing.
+
+OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES
+
+DOH points out the importance of assuring acce ss to a website and a helpline to all New
+Mexicans, including those who sp eak another language, those who have limited or new internet
+access and/or phone service, and those whose reading ability is limited.
+
+HCA mentions the importance of having informat ion about birth and abortion options available
+through the website and hotline and suggests that  omitting crisis pregnancy centers may be
+prudent, as they would likely “not align with  evidence based practice or recommendations by
+professional organizations.”
+
+LAC/ct/cf