New Mexico House Republicans announced that Democrats voted to table House Bill 225 (HB225), which proposed a $100-per-week tax credit for foster parents. The announcement was made in a press release on February 17, 2025.
According to the New Mexico Legislature, HB225, introduced in New Mexico’s 57th Legislature, aimed to establish a Foster Parent Income Tax Credit to provide financial support to foster caregivers. The proposal would allow eligible foster parents to claim $100 per week per fostered child as a refundable tax credit. To qualify, foster parents would need certification from the Children, Youth, and Families Department, which would verify eligibility and issue certificates specifying the credit amount and applicable tax years. Only one credit would be allowed per taxpayer annually, though married couples filing separately could each claim half.
"It's a shame that some people on this committee refuse to take action and support our foster care parents. These are tools that we need to have in place in ensure our foster parents have the resources that they need," said sponsor, Representative Alan Martinez.
Representative Rebecca Dow also expressed her support for the bill: "This was a commonsense approach to support our foster parents across the state. We should be throwing our full support behind these folks that step up and do such an important job. Supporting foster parents is a step in the right direction to solving our child welfare crisis."
Representative Cathrynn Brown emphasized the growing number of children entering the foster care system: "More and more children are entering the foster care system and it's important that we incentivize and support those who step up and take on the role of being a foster parent. This is common sense."
The New Mexico House Republicans focus on reducing government size, promoting individual responsibility, and protecting personal freedoms. They aim to preserve Second Amendment rights, address economic and infrastructure issues, and empower local authorities. Their policies include enhancing penalties for firearm-related crimes and opposing gun ownership restrictions for law-abiding citizens.
