Hunger, Food, Human Needs-Related Legislative Priorities

 

We have compiled a a list of hungerr, food-related, and human needs-related legislative priorities put forth by partner organizations and coalitions, including the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, the Roadrunner Coalition to End Hunger,  the Rio Grande Food Project, the Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico, New Mexico Voices for Children, and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty.  Some of these priorities urge the legislature to "stay the course" by protecting initiatives that were approved in prior legislative sessions, such as universal school lunches and funding for our state's five food banks. Other initiatives seek to mitigate the impact of federal cuts on important benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A handful of initiatives seek new funding for important projects like the Roots Room a the Rio Grande Food Project.  Each of these initiatives require a companion bill (with a deadline of Feb 4) and/or also must be included in the budget proposals put forth by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham or the Legislative Finance Committee.   The List Let's start with an iniative for which there is an actual bill, championed by the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council and The Food Depot 1. HB101 Regional Farm to Food Bank, (see text)  invests in local producers to bring healthy, culturally relevant New Mexico-grown food to food banks and pantries across the state.The bill seeks to continue funding for this very successful program, which is a priority of the Office of the Governor and the NM Department of Agriculture. The funding request is included in the  in House Appropriations Committee FY27 Recommendations.  The measure has broad bipartisan support. The lead sponsor in the House is Rep. Joanne Ferrary, with Reps Tara Lujan, Jack Chatfield, Rebecca Dow, and Joseph Hernandez lised as co-sponsors. Additional supporters are Reps. Sariñana, Hermon, Herrrera and Brown.The same bill will be introduced  in the Senate by by Sen. Liz Stefanics. The co-sponsors on that bill are Sens. Pete Campos, Linda Trujillo, and Pat Woods. We continue with a request from the Rio Grande Food Project that has a bit of urgency.  2. Capital Outlay Rio Grande Food Project has submitted a capital outlay request (LCS #393) for $1.3 million to help build The Roots Room, a community classroom and demonstration kitchen that will anchor our planned Community Food Hub on Albuquerque’s Westside. "We are asking that you personally contact your State Senator and State Representative (Find your New Mexico state representative or senator) within the next 5 to 7 days or sooner and briefly request that they support and prioritize Rio Grande Food Project’s Capital Outlay LCS #393," said  Kathi Cunningham, development director at the RGFP  The deadline for submissions is February 4th so they will be making funding allocations Now. The Roots Room is a 2,000 sq. ft. classroom, demonstration kitchen, and covered patio community space and key component of RGFP’s shovel-ready Community Food Hub campus on Albuquerque’s Westside. Here is more information 3. Other priorities from the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council include Approved Supplier Program, New Mexico Grown Program for Seniors, Healthy Universal School Meals, Healthy Food Financing Fund, WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, Agriculture Water Resilience Program, New Mexicans Feeding New Mexicans: Nutrition Supports at Farmers' Markets, New Mexico Food Recovery, Organic Waste Reduction and Composting Act, Update New Mexico’s Land Conservation Incentives Act for our Land, Water, Economy & Culture  Incidentally, the House Appropriations Committee has recommended funding for the following NMFAPC priorities: Approved Supplier Program, Healthy Food Financing Fund, Soil and water conservation training and education, and Healthy Universal School Meals shortfall contingency. More Details on all of this Here   You can also learn more at the NMFAPC's Legislative briefings on Mondays. The next one is on Jan. 26   Register Here 4. Priorities put forth by the Roadruner Coalition to End Hunger  Respond to Federal SNAP Changes Continue to ensure that the Heallth Care Authority (HCA) and the Income Support Division (ISD) have sufficient funding for staffing and technology support so that federal SNAP eligibility changes are handled expeditiously;  Invest in job training programs to provide opportunities to those now facing expanded work requirements for SNAP and Medicaids   Continue Investing in New Mexico's Food Banks  $30 million was dedicated to New Mexico's food banks in the 2025 Regular Session, with $10 million distributed annually over three years (FY26, FY27, and FY28); During the October 2025 Special Session, the legislature allocated $8 million to New Mexico's food banks ($2.5 million of that for administrative costs such as transportation, staffing, etc.) to provide support for community members losing SNAP access due to federal changes, as well as the impacts from the Government Shutdown. Continue Universal School Meals  Healthy Universal School meals passed in 2023, ensuring students have free breakfast and lunch each day at school. Renewed funding for this important program is necessary each legislative session Continue Food Is Medicine Program Continue to support and grow the Food Is Medicine program that is already providing meals to homebound seniors and meals and groceries to pregnant women facing diabetes and seek out additional populations that desperately need access to healthy food for future program expansion. New Mexico was able to unlock federal matching funds for a Food Is Medicine program through an 1115 Medicaid Waiver for FY26-FY28  Invest in Food Systems Work  Support a New Mexico version of the Regional Farm to Food Bank Program which lost federal funding in 2025 - this program creates a pathway for local healthy food to be distributed through the food bank network across the state (HB 101)which connects local producers to institutions (appropriation of $430K in LFC FY27 budget) Modernize the Anti-Donation Clause Update the Anti-Donation Clause as it is currently written in the New Mexico Constitution (no specific bill at this time).The clause prevents state and local governments from directly funding nonprofits in essential areas such as food security, infrastructure, and disaster assistance. 5. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Agenda. The LAM-NM 2026 Policy Committee designated the following areas for Advocacy in the coming legislature: Hunger, Affordable Housing & Homelessness, Family-Sustaining Income, Health Care, Tax Policy, Criminal Justice, Care of Creation, Good Governance 6. New Mexico Voices for Children: The organization's 2026 legislative policy priorities aim to address federal cuts (including health care access and aff ordability, food security, i mmigrant safety and dignity, and ensuring robust state revenue and tax fairness), while advancing a forward-thinking vision centered on children and families. This includes several areas related to universal child care (Support child care workers with a clear, fair pay structure; Prioritize access for families and communities with the greatest financial need; Maintain quality and safety as the system rapidly expands; Monitor state agency spending to ensure transparency, sustainability, and measurable outcomes) Download the NMVC 2026 legislative policy priorities  7. New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty is advocating for adequate and sustained state investments to keep healthcare coverage affordable and prevent coverage loss for New Mexicans.  The NMCLP is also promoting a number of solutions to support people in meeting new work requirements, address the exclusion of immigrants in humanitarian statuses, and ensure the state has the workforce needed to effectively support New Mexicans facing new barriers to accessing assistance.  Additionally, the center is supporting efforts to expand affordable housing programs and strengthen protections for manufactured homeowners–which make up the largest stock of affordable housing in the state. New Mexicans Connnected with Legislators via Town Halls  Reps. Mariana Anaya, Cristina Parajón, Janelle Anyanonu, Debra M. Sariñana,Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (Town Hall, Jan. 11, 2026) Several legislators participated in Town Halls ahead of the Legislature, including  Sen. Katy Dughigg, Sen. Debby O'Malley, Rep. Kathleen Cates, Rep. Dyan Hochman-Vigil (Jan. 7); Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez, Rep. Mariana Anaya, Rep.Cristina Parajón, Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, Rep. Debra Sariñana (Jan. 11); Rep. Tara Lujan and Santa Fe city and county legislators (Jan.16); and  Sen. Michael Padilla, Rep. G. Andrés Romero, Rep. Art de la Cruz (Jan. 22) Join Us in Santa Fe! You can participate directly in the legislative process by checking a daily calendar, watching committee hearings virtually in real time (or later as recordings), tracking legislation in its various stages, and reaching out to your representative and/or senator, You can find all of this in the  NM State Legislature's web page. You can also participate in the following events at or near the Roundhouse Friday, January 30  9:00 am to 1:30 p.m. New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council, Farm to Table Food and Farms Day Roundhouse This annual event, including the Food & Farms Day Awards, celebrates the efforts of individuals, communities, organizations, and agencies that strive to create a thriving and resilient local food, farming and ranching economy, while at the same time emphasizing that everyone in the state deserves access to fresh, healthy, nutritional food. The awards ceremony will take place in the Roundhouse rotunda. Schedule 9:00-10:00 am Visit Your Legislators 10:00-11:00 am Public Awards Ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda 11:00-1:00 p.m. Visit Your Legislators 1:10 p.m. Group Photo (West Entrance) Wednesday February 4   9:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-New Mexico  2026 Issue Briefing First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Bishop's Luncheon La Fonda Hotel, 100 E San Francisco St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Schedule 9:15 a.m. - 10:00 Check-in and refreshments at First Presbyterian Church 10:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Devotion 10:15 a.m. Guest Speakers 11:15 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m. Bible Study - Bishop Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni 11:45 a.m. Advocacy Agenda and Issue Briefing 12:30 - 1 p.m. Transition to La Fonda Hotel 1:00-1:15 p.m. Bishop's Luncheon Begins 2:45 - 3 p.m. Luncheon concludes  Register Here     cost is $45 per person.  Note: LAM-NM is planning several days during the 30-day session for you to join executive director Kurt Rager and other volunteer advocates to "work the Roundhouse" by lobbying legislators and potentially offering public comment during committee meetings on priority bills for LAM-NM's advocacy agenda (Hunger, Affordable Housing & Homelessness, Family-Sustaining Income, Health Care, Tax Policy, Criminal Justice, Care of Creation and Good Governance). Please join LAM-NM on one or more of the following days: Monday, Jan. 26, Monday, Feb. 2, Tuesday, Feb. 10, Thursday, Feb 12, and Tuesday, Feb. 17 Please email Kurt (krager@rmselca.org) before the day you plan to be there to add your name to the list and to receive instructions for parking and meeting. Tuesday, February 17  5:00 - 7:00 p.m. NM Association of Food Banks Legislative Reception Details TBA Wednesday, February 18  9:00 am to 1:30 p.m. Roadrunner Coalition to End Hunger  Hunger Action Day Roundhouse (Home Base: Inn & Spa at Loretto, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501) Come together in Santa Fe to lift our collective voices around hunger in our state. The day will include Advocacy Training Sessions on Zoom leading up to Hunger Action Day Breakfast and Advocacy Training  A presentation in the Rotunda at 12pm, featuring a choral performance by Cibola High School Lunch provided for all attendees  Opportunities to meet with Legislators throughout the day Tentative Schedule   (Schedule will be finalized by the first week of February) 8am-9am: Breakfast 9am-9:45am: Advocacy Training 10:15am: Group picture at Roundhouse 10:30am-12pm: Opportunities to meet with legislators 12pm-1pm: Presentation in the Rotunda 1pm-4pm: Opportunities to meet with legislators Register Here  There is no cost to attend, but registration is required Note:  Some travel scholarships are available for those that live 3 or more hours away from Santa Fe. Please sign up soon if you are interested in being considered for one of those scholarships.   Other Roundhouse Action & Awareness Days Monday, January 26, Immigrant Day of Justice Somos un Pueblo Unido Monday, January 26, Climate & Health Day at the Roundhouse  Healthy Climate New Mexico Wednesday, January 28: Public Health Day  New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils Thursday, February 5: Environment Day at the Roundhouse  Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter and others Friday, February 6: Public Lands Rally at the Roundhouse  New Mexico Wilderness Alliance and others Friday, February 6: American Indian Day at the Legislature New Mexico Indian Affairs Department Wednesday, February 11: Disability Rights Awareness Day  Disability Coalition and Elevate the Spectrum   Friday, February 13:  Senior Day at the State Capitol NM Aging & Long-Term Services