House Memorial 1 requests the Legislative Finance Committee to establish a bipartisan task force to study the feasibility of amending the New Mexico Constitution to create an independent Children, Youth and Families Department. This proposed department would operate separately from the Office of the Governor and would be overseen by an independent governing commission responsible for hiring an executive director to manage the department's operations. The memorial highlights the current challenges faced by the department, including high turnover rates, operational missteps, and poor outcomes for vulnerable children and families, emphasizing the need for a more effective organizational structure.

The task force is tasked with evaluating the potential benefits and challenges of this restructuring, including the costs associated with creating and maintaining the new commission, and examining similar commission structures in other states. It will also consider the impact on accountability, transparency, and coordination with other state agencies, as well as gather input from various stakeholders, including tribal governments. The task force is expected to report its findings and recommendations to the legislature and the governor by November 15, 2026, to inform discussions during the first session of the 58th legislature.