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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR<\/p>\n
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham plans to sign emergency legislation passed by legislature providing $162 million to protect New Mexicans from federal budget cuts that threaten health care and food benefits statewide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe refuse to let New Mexico families fall through the cracks because Republicans in Washington have abandoned their responsibility to the American people,\u201d said\u00a0Lujan Grisham, who called lawmakers into a special legislative session this week. \u201cThe legislation passed during the special session protects families from being priced out of health care when their premiums double or triple, and we\u2019re supporting providers who are keeping the doors open in our smallest communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lujan Grisham criticized Republicans in the House who voted on a straight party line to restrict access to COVID-19 vaccines for children in New Mexico for 90 days.<\/p>\n
The New Mexico House and Senate passed five bills passed during the special legislative session that ended Thursday. They include:<\/p>\n
House Bill 1<\/a>\u00a0provides $162 million in emergency funding in response to recent federal cuts to food assistance programs and other urgent state needs.<\/p>\n The Health Care Authority receives the largest share at $66 million total. This includes $16.6 million to maintain SNAP food benefits; $8 million for food banks and pantries; $2 million for school-based food programs; $1.5 million to help people meet work requirements for benefits; $1.2 million to retain SNAP program staff at UNM and NMSU; $6.6 million for additional staffing at HCA; $10 million for IT system upgrades; $3 million for nonprofit health clinics; and $17 million to reduce health insurance costs on the state exchange.<\/p>\n House Bill 1 also transfers $30 million into the state\u2019s emergency contingency fund and $50 million into the rural healthcare fund, provides $17 million to help New Mexicans afford health insurance through the state exchange, provides $8 million to close budget shortfalls at the Regulation and Licensing Department, and allocates $6 million to protect public broadcasting in New Mexico. To offset these costs, the state is recovering $120 million in unspent money from a previous Health Care Authority budget, keeping the state\u2019s financial reserves healthy at 32% of annual spending.<\/p>\n House Bill 2<\/a>\u00a0bolsters New Mexico\u2019s ability to help residents maintain affordable health insurance coverage amid federal policy changes. The legislation removes income caps for state-subsidized health insurance, allowing New Mexicans above 400 percent of the federal poverty level to receive assistance through the state\u2019s Health Care Affordability Fund if they meet other eligibility requirements. This change addresses the pending expiration of enhanced federal premium tax credits at the end of 2025, which could leave approximately 6,300 New Mexicans facing significantly higher insurance costs. The law also gives state officials broader authority to protect residents\u2019 health coverage if future federal actions reduce access to Medicaid or marketplace insurance. The emergency legislation is estimated to cost $17.3 million in the current fiscal year. The funding is included in House Bill 1.<\/p>\n Senate Bill 1<\/a>\u00a0transfers $50 million from the general fund to the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to stabilize existing health care services at risk of reduction or closure in rural and underserved areas across New Mexico. The legislation broadens eligibility beyond counties with populations under 100,000 to include providers in federally designated high-needs health professional shortage areas and tribally operated facilities. It allows grants to stabilize existing essential services and supports start-up costs for new services. House Bill 1 provides $50 million to fund the expanded program.<\/p>\n Senate Bill 2<\/a>\u00a0allows metropolitan court judges to preside over criminal competency proceedings. This reverses a change made earlier in 2025 that required all such cases to go to district court. The bill takes effect immediately as an emergency measure. The bill will increase access to behavioral health services by relieving administrative pressure on district courts.<\/p>\n