This bill establishes the New Americans Division within the Workforce Solutions Department in New Mexico, aimed at supporting non-citizens and immigrants in achieving their economic potential. The bill defines "new Americans" as individuals residing in the U.S. who are not citizens or were not citizens at birth. The division will focus on initiatives that enhance the integration of new Americans into the workforce, improve licensure pathways for those trained abroad, assist businesses in attracting global talent, and provide resources related to policies affecting new Americans, including pathways to citizenship.

Additionally, the New Americans Division is tasked with studying and reporting on the economic impact and structure of refugee resettlement in New Mexico. The division is required to collaborate with various state departments and provide annual reports on its activities and findings, with the first report due by August 1, 2027. The bill also includes amendments to existing sections of the Workforce Solutions Department Act, such as changing the name of the "business services" division to the "unemployment insurance" division and adding the New Americans Division to the list of divisions within the department.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-26-3, 9-26-4