Special Session: Legislature Approves Emergency Food, Health Funding

 

Legislature Approves SNAP Assistance During a special session held on Oct 1-2, the New Mexico State Legislature approved about  $162 million in emergency funds to help mitigate the impact of federal cuts to health and food assistance programs, as well as lost health insurance tax credits. The emergency allocations became necessary because of federal changes to SNAP requirements that would leave many New Mexicans without access to food assistance. See a graphic and a timeline from New Mexico Voices for Children. Source New Mexico  and AgriBrief (NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council) offer additional background.  Below are a few important points from the Special Session in the NM Voices for Children chart and excerpts from the text of HB1 (which has the full details). $4.6 million to maintain the minimum federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit for elders and people with disabilities; $12 million to  maintain the minimum federal supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit for lawfully present residents; Nearly $1.25 million to prevent layoffs of employees administering the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program nutrition education and obesity prevention grant program at the university of New Mexico and New Mexico State University; $8 million to support food banks, food pantries, regional distribution organizations and partner agencies in the state to ensure access to nutritious food, including  $2.5 million for capacity building, transportation, logistics and operational expenses; $2 million to support educational-based centers and food pantry and food distribution programs in consultation with the early childhood education and care department, the public education department and the higher education department; $1.5 milllion to support individuals in meeting work and volunteer requirements necessary to qualify for benefits under the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program and the state medicaid program; Health Care $3 million to contract for health care services provided by nonprofit health care facilities not eligible under federal law to receive medicaid funding. Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the general fund. $17.3 million to reduce health care premiums and cost sharing for New Mexico residents who purchase health care coverage on the New Mexico health insurance exchange contingent on enactment of House Bill 2 or similar legislation of the first special session of the fifty-seventh legislature. Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2026 shall revert to the health care affordability fund. So What's Next? The New Mexico legislature will continue to focus on the potential impacts of federal decisions.  Stay tuned for information from coalition partners about strategies ahead of the 2026 Legislative Session is scheduled for January 20 to February 19.  Also, it's not too early to think about the New Mexico gubernatorial election. The anti-hunger strategies of our coalitions and partnerships over the past several years have involved cooperation with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's office. How will our next governor, who also played an important role in the funding approved in the special session, address hunger issues in New Mexico? The gubernatorial primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026. The general election will be held on Nov. 3, 2026. Here is a background article from Source New Mexico.    There are also municipal elections in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell  and many other communites around the state on Nov. 4.  Upcoming Events Saturday, October 18, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm Hike with the Rio Grande Food Project The Rio Grande Food Project's 10th annual Hike to End Hunger will take place at Pat Hurley Park Lower Loop, 3828 Rincon Rd. NW. In-person registration opens at 9:30 am. Enjoy a heart-healthy walk and join in the fun on the beautiful lawn at Pat Hurley Park to eat, play, and relax in the gorgeous New Mexico sunshine! Click here to pre-register and to learn about related activities and fundraising/donation opportunities.  Saturday, November 15  9:00 am to 1:30 p.m.   Registration/Refershments begin at 8:15 am Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico Fall Conference Held concurrently at  Central United Methodist Church 201 University Blvd NE, Albuquerque Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 Missouri Ave., Las Cruces Registration costs: $25.00 in person attendance (includes morning refreshments and lunch) $15 on Zoom   Use QR code below to register. Registration link is also available on LAM-NM website. For more information contact Kurt Rager, krager@rmselca.org Special Events in Santa Fe during 2026 State Legislature Friday, January 30, 2026  Food and Farms Day, NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council/Farm to Table New Mexico Wednesday, February 4, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico Bishops Luncheon  Wednesday, February 18, Hunger Action Day, Roadrunner Coalition to End Hunger Follow us on BlueSky Interfaith Hunger Coalition (New Mexico)    @ihc-nm.bsky.social