New Mexico National Guard $500,000 Death Benefit

The National Guard Death Benefit Act, Laws 2023, chapter 41, sections 20-14-1 to 20-14-3. Section 20-14-3: the adjutant general decides whether a member of the national guard or of the state defense force division "has been killed while on state active duty", and if so the beneficiaries the member designated on the Department of Military Affairs form are paid "five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) as supplemental death benefits", "in addition to any other death benefits provided by law". It is paid from the national guard death benefit fund under section 20-14-2. Two limits. It is only for death on state active duty, such as a Governor's call-up for a fire, flood or border mission, not on federal orders, where SGLI and the federal death gratuity apply. And it goes to the named beneficiary, so a member should keep the Department's form current. The surviving spouse and minor children also get free tuition to a first degree under section 20-4-11, and the children the state scholarship for children of the fallen (see that entry).