The 2026 legislative session has just convened, and Think New Mexico has an ambitious agenda for the next 30 days. The most challenging items on that agenda are reforming New Mexico's medical malpractice law and joining all 10 of the interstate compacts for health care workers. Here's how you can help  Medical Malpractice Reform (House Bill 99) You may have seen in the news this morning that the Legislative Finance Committee just released a poll that found that 65% of New Mexico doctors are considering leaving the state. The top reason, cited by 83% of those doctors, is New Mexico's unbalanced medical malpractice system. For example, New Mexico currently allows unlimited punitive damages in medical malpractice cases, and we are one of a handful of states that requires only the lowest standard of proof for awarding punitive damages. Legislators have the opportunity to solve this problem this session. We are supporting House Bill 99, sponsored by Representative Christine Chandler, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and bipartisan co-sponsors. Among other reforms, this bill would raise the standard of proof for awarding punitive damages to "clear and convincing" evidence, similar to the laws in 32 other states. House Bill 99 would also cap punitive damages in the same way that compensatory damages are capped, meaning higher limits for hospitals than independent doctors. These reforms would make a profound difference to the doctors who are struggling to continue practicing in New Mexico: please urge your legislators to pass House Bill 99! Interstate Health Care Worker Compacts (House Bills 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 31, 32, 33, 44, 45 & 50) Last year, the House unanimously passed seven major compacts for health care workers, but they all died in the Senate Judiciary Committee. These compacts are the quickest way to open up access to more health care providers, because they make it much easier for doctors and other health care providers to become licensed to care for New Mexico patients. The good news this session is that the Senate leadership has committed to passing one of those compacts: the interstate compact for physicians. According to the New Mexico Medical Board, joining this compact will result in an increase of 10-15% in the number of doctors applying to practice in New Mexico each year, and it will significantly expand New Mexicans' access to telehealth. The bad news is that the Senate is still opposed to passing the other compacts this session, even though New Mexico has dire shortages of EMTs, dentists, psychologists, counselors, physician assistants,  physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists and audiologists. Colorado is in all ten of these compacts, as is a growing number of other states. New Mexicans should not have to wait more years for expanded access to the full array of health care professionals. Please urge your legislators to pass ALL the interstate health care worker compacts without further delay! We'll be in touch later this week with updates on the rest of our health care agenda, including bills to enhance student loan repayment for health care professionals, eliminate the gross receipts tax on coinsurance payments to health care providers, and increasing funding for the Medicaid Trust Fund. Stay tuned as well for updates on other bills we are working on, including legislation to improve New Mexico's public schools and to add funding to the Strategic Water Reserve, which keeps more water flowing through New Mexico's rivers. We look forward to keeping you posted throughout the next 30 days, and thank you in advance for speaking up about these important reforms! Fred, Kristina, Susan, Mandi, Katie, Lauren, and Noah Think New Mexico