A Senate Rules committee hearing examined House Bill 15, a proposal to establish a Healthcare Strategic Recruitment Program within the Department of Workforce Solutions to recruit and help re‑establish health-care workers trained in New Mexico. Representative Javier Anaya, the bill sponsor, described the program as "a headhunter slash concierge program" intended to bring New Mexico graduates back into state practice.

The bill would target graduates of New Mexico postsecondary institutions within the previous 10 years who do not currently work in-state in a health-care shortage field. Representative Anaya told the committee the program aims to remove barriers such as licensing delays, partner employment and childcare, and to coordinate incentives like loan-repayment programs. "What this program will do... is open up a file for them, and we'll start walking them through the process," Anaya said.

Sarita Nyer, secretary of the Department of Workforce Solutions, said the program builds on the state’s workforce plan and that New Mexico has experienced net out-migration of workers. "Between 2010 and 2022, New Mexico had a negative net migration to the tune of 30,000 individuals," Nyer said, arguing the proposal would allow proactive outreach to “boomerang” workers and free local career counselors to focus on other industries.

Supporters included private-practice representatives such as Dana Gray of the Desert States Physical Therapy Network. Key issues raised by senators included program scope, duplication with existing recruitment entities, funding, performance targets and data reporting. Several lawmakers suggested adding explicit goals and baseline metrics to measure success. "If it gets fixed, I'll support it on the floor, but I just don't wanna throw money at it and have no metrics," Sen. Block said.

The bill text requires an annual report that would include counts of graduates contacted, successful applicants, hires, days from recruitment to placement and obstacles encountered. The committee also discussed the bill’s funding: the sponsor said $2 million in the executive budget (House Bill 2) would support the program start-up and administrative costs.

Opponents and skeptics at the hearing pressed for clearer performance goals, noted the risk of poaching in-state providers and asked for alignment with existing entities such as the health-resources recruitment groups. The sponsor and secretary said they expect to coordinate with existing recruiters and local workforce partners, including local workforce development boards and licensing boards, and to expand the program if it succeeds.

A senator moved a "do pass" recommendation and the committee conducted a roll-call-style vote. The transcript records a roll call with both yes and no votes recorded; the hearing transcript does not include a final, explicit committee disposition of the motion in the text provided.

Next steps: The bill will proceed through the committee process; the transcript shows the motion for a do-pass recommendation was taken to roll call, and supporters and critics indicated they will pursue amendments on metrics, reporting detail and interagency coordination.