SANTA FE, N.M. (KFOX14/CBS4) — New Mexico has secured over $100 million to fight food insecurity in the state as the longest government shutdown in history continues.
On Monday, after a special legislative session, New Mexico officials announced the state had allocated $162 million from the New Mexico Health Care Authority to continue to keep funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to recipients in the state.
House Speaker Javier Martinez highlighted the urgency, stating, “Nearly half a million seniors, children, people with disabilities, and working parents across our state are worrying about where their next meal will come from—all because the Trump Administration is fighting tooth and nail to avoid their obligation to fund SNAP.”
According to New Mexico officials, House Bill 1, passed during the session, includes provisions to end state funding once federal obligations are met.
House Majority Floor Leader Reena Szczepanski praised the community’s response, saying, “Restaurants, grocery stores, food banks, neighbors, and state leaders have banded together to help New Mexicans keep food on the table.”
The Trump administration’s unprecedented move to halt SNAP funding during the shutdown has prompted New Mexico’s proactive measures.
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Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart emphasized the program’s importance, stating,
The SNAP program is not only the nation’s largest and most effective anti-hunger program, it allows struggling Americans to shop for their own groceries and feed their families with the dignity they deserve.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and legislative leaders have ensured state funds cover food assistance through early November.
Additionally, $30 million has been allocated to replenish the Appropriation Contingency Fund.
Despite a federal judge’s order for the Trump administration to release SNAP funds, the administration continues to challenge the ruling.
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth underscored the program’s significance, saying, “SNAP is a lifeline for over 460,000 New Mexicans, including children, working families, seniors, and people with disabilities. It reduces poverty, supports health, and stimulates our economy.”
The special session marks the second of 2025, following an earlier session addressing federal budget cuts’ impacts on health insurance, food assistance, rural healthcare, and vaccine access.
Attached is HB1:
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