SOCIAL SERVICES MONETARY STIPEND PROJECT

HB 404 creates a three-year pilot program providing monthly monetary stipends (up to $2,000) to New Mexico adults under 26 who are former foster youth, previously adjudicated under the Delinquency Act, or aged out of foster care. The stipends, administered by the Higher Education Department, are intended to cover basic living costs and improve educational, employment, and health outcomes for eligible participants enrolled in school, apprenticeships, or job-training programs. The program requires annual reporting to the legislature and a final evaluation by 2031, with $3 million appropriated from the general fund for fiscal years 2026-2028. The bill was postponed indefinitely by the legislature on June 3, 2025, and is not currently active.