New Mexico Lawmakers Fund Efforts to Address Missing, Murdered Indigenous People Crisis

State budget includes appropriations for testing human remains and victim support services, as well as extending funding for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 10:50pm

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During the latest legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers approved funding for efforts related to the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state. This includes appropriations to the Office of the Medical Investigator for testing human remains and the Crime Victims Reparation Commission, as well as extending the funding for the state's Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force. The task force was created in 2024 after the previous administration disbanded an earlier group focused on the issue.

Why it matters

The crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people is a major concern in New Mexico, where Native people have the highest average missing persons rate in the state. The new funding aims to provide more resources and support for affected families and communities, as well as strengthen the state's response to these cases.

The details

The state budget includes appropriations to the Office of the Medical Investigator for testing human remains and the Crime Victims Reparation Commission. It also gives the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force more time to spend the $200,000 set aside for its operations during a previous legislative session. Lawmakers had previously called on the state attorney general to create the task force after the previous administration disbanded an earlier group focused on the crisis.

  • The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force was created in late 2024.
  • The task force is working to update the state's response plan, issued by the old group in 2022, by the end of 2026.

The players

Aaron Mark Bradley

A 68-year-old citizen of the Navajo Nation who went missing in northern Arizona last summer.

Kayla Benally

The daughter of Aaron Mark Bradley, who drove to a task force meeting to raise awareness about her father's disappearance.

Rep. Charlotte Little

An Albuquerque Democrat from San Felipe Pueblo who is a member of the task force's legislative subcommittee.

Michelle Lujan Grisham

The governor of New Mexico whose administration had previously disbanded another task force focused on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people.

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What they’re saying

“We're all looking for the day that we don't have to do this anymore, but until that time, we're going to focus our efforts towards getting the funding that's needed.”

— Rep. Charlotte Little, Member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples Task Force (nmindepth.com)

“They connected her with counseling services and a search and rescue workshop, among other resources that have 'given our family a circle of support so we don't feel as alone as we did before.'”

— Kayla Benally (nmindepth.com)

What’s next

The task force's legislative subcommittee, of which Rep. Charlotte Little is a member, will be exploring potential legislation and funding recommendations throughout the year. The task force is also working to update the state's response plan, issued by the old group in 2022, by the end of 2026.

The takeaway

The new funding and efforts by New Mexico lawmakers demonstrate a commitment to addressing the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in the state, which has disproportionately impacted Native communities. However, there is still more work to be done to provide the necessary resources and support for affected families and strengthen the state's response to these cases.