The Legislative Finance Committee employs 14 evaluators who conduct program evaluations on various topics relevant to state budget and policy.
New Mexico’s Longitudinal Data System Project, also known as RISE-NM, will aggregate and link data from partner agencies into a single cloud data platform to evaluate education and workforce efforts in New Mexico. The project will analyze data, develop visualizations and reports, establish data governance policies and processes, respond to research requests, and provide the products of these efforts to state leaders, state education agencies (SEAs), workforce developers, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, the public, and others so they can:
Serve New Mexico Commission defines and prioritizes evidence in the AmeriCorps State Grant program. The New Mexico Corrections Department funds evidence-based wellness services for individuals under supervision, probation or parole through the Behavioral health and Transitional Living Services grant program.
New Mexico delivers several evidence-based services to improve family and youth outcomes:
Beginning in FY25, the state funds three-year pilot funding for direct services of some evidence- and research-based programming including Differential Response, Screening, brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), Safe Care home visiting, and salary differentials for teachers in hard to fill positions. For FY25, the funding for these programs totalled $14.4 million, with similar funding for FY26 and FY27.
NM is also funding behavioral health services, including Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), both in community settings and at correctional facilities, totaling approximately $6.8 million in FY25.
New Mexico’s Accountability in Government Act defines evidence-based, research based and promising programs. Beginning in 2023, the Legislature requires that agencies complete a budget expansion request form to expand funding for specific programs. This form includes questions regarding if the program has research behind it. The New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee publishes a post session review providing information on evidence-based items signed into law or vetoed. Budget guidelines provide additional information on consideration of evidence and outcome. New Mexico is a minority majority state, as well as a state with roughly 40 percent of its population on Medicaid, therefore, many of our state policies directly affect the needs of those who may experience unfavorable outcomes.
In 1999 the Accountability in Government Act was enacted, requiring New Mexico’s largest agencies to participate in quarterly performance management. Where yearly, specific performance metrics are picked to be tracked, allowing both the Department of Finance and Administration, and the Legislative Finance Committee to assess agency performance focused on process and outcomes.
In 2021, the New Mexico LFC launched an initiative called LegisStat, which focuses on key challenges the state is facing. Most often these challenges are faced by individuals experiencing unfavorable outcomes, including unemployment or interactions with the child welfare system. Meetings are led by the joint House-Senate committee that dives into root performance challenges (and successes). LegisStat continued in 2022 and 2023 with new agencies. Additionally, the state budget and associated budget documents from the LFC include performance data as called for by the Accountability in Government Act.
Each year, with agency budget submissions, specific performance metrics are picked to be tracked. These metrics allow both the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration and the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee to assess agency performance focused on both process and outcomes. The report cards are publicly available on the Legislative Finance Committee website.