The New Mexico Senate has approved a series of bills aimed at enhancing the state's behavioral health system. The legislation, described as the "guardrails bill," is designed to ensure that funding for mental health and substance abuse services is allocated with oversight and accountability.

Senate Bill 1, which passed with a vote of 37-5, establishes a billion-dollar trust fund dedicated to behavioral health initiatives statewide. This fund will be managed by the Health Care Authority, which will make annual disbursements to support mental health and substance abuse treatment, intervention, prevention, and necessary infrastructure. Additionally, this trust fund may attract further matching funds from federal, local, and private sources. Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (D – Cerrillos) commented on the initiative: “The creation of this Behavioral Health Trust Fund represents a forward-thinking approach to addressing the state’s growing needs for mental health and substance abuse services.”

Senate Bill 2 received approval with a 37-4 vote. It allocates $200 million to expand regional behavioral health services throughout New Mexico. This funding will address various community needs such as planning, outpatient services, crisis response, mobile units, education on behavioral health issues, homelessness solutions, corrections discharge processes, and housing assistance. Senator Benny Shendo (D – Jemez) expressed his support: “SB 2 marks a transformative step forward in addressing the behavioral health needs of our communities.”

All three bills now proceed to the House for further deliberation.

“As we work to rebuild our behavioral health system from the ground up,” said bill sponsor Peter Wirth (D – Santa Fe), “we’re partnering closely with our courts to build a framework that includes all three branches of government and brings all the stakeholders to the table.”