Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for the institution of paid family and medical leave in the new legislative session. At a press conference, the sponsors of the proposed bill and its advocates highlighted the importance of paid leave for individuals who fall ill, have children, or need to care for family members. As it stands, the United States is the only wealthy country without guaranteed paid maternity leave, but 13 states and Washington D.C. have implemented their own paid family and medical leave programs. In New Mexico, this debate, primarily concerning how to finance the plan, has been ongoing. Issues during the previous legislative session occurred when the Legislative Finance Committee expressed worries about the potential insolvency of the fund created by the legislation due to underestimation of the people who would utilize the leave. This led to both Democrat and Republican members voting against the bill. However, recent draft legislation consists of changes that could ensure state spending is responsible. The new bill would reportedly be funded by the initial budget allocation and subsequent employer and employee contributions. Another proposed alternative involves financing the leave via payroll tax. Despite challenges, lawmakers remain committed to finding a viable solution to establishing paid family and medical leave.