Broad Anti-Hunger Bill Introduced in State Legislature

Rep. Joanne Ferrary

We are elated that a coalition-based bill to address hunger in New Mexico in a broad and comprehensive manner is finally introduced in the New Mexico State Legislature. We are so thankful to Rep. Joanne Ferrary and Rep. Melanie Stansbury, the lead sponsors of HB207 The measure has been referred to the Agriculture and Water Resources Committee and to the Appropriations Committee.

 

The bill is the result of input by hundreds of organizations (including the Interfaith Hunger Coalition), agencies, non-profits and others over a period of almost two years. Much remains to be done, but this is a great start!

 

Stay tuned for more information and updates.

Rep. Stansbury

AN ACT

RELATING TO FOOD; ENACTING THE FOOD, HUNGER AND FARM ACT;CREATING THE FOOD, HUNGER AND FARM COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP AND DUTIES; ESTABLISHING DUTIES FOR CERTAIN STATE AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TARGETED PLANS TO ADDRESS HUNGER AND NUTRITION, EXPAND ACCESS TO FOOD AND PROMOTE FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS FROM THE STATE; PROVIDING FOR DATA SHARING ON HUNGER AND FOOD SYSTEMS;CREATING THE FOOD, HUNGER AND FARM FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

Call to Action via New Mexico First
Like many of you, New Mexico First shares a deep commitment to local agriculture and its positive impact on community health and economic development. Our organization has been dedicated to the development of HB207 for over a year.

Now that this bill is active on the floor of the State House Chamber, we ask for your support of the bill and encourage you to contact your State Representatives and Senators.

Find out how to contact your legislators, by clicking here.

Highlighted Points.

If passed the Act will:

• Create a durable framework for addressing hunger, food insecurity, and agricultural sustainability in NM.
• Create a strategy that guides this work in Year 1 and which is updated annually and feeds into policy and budget recommendations for the agencies and the legislature in the subsequent years.
• Provide direction and guidance to the agencies to help lead work in the areas of their mandates.
• Provide authorization and direction to agencies in specific areas to solve persistent structural problems in the food system.
• Provide $750K to HSD in consultation with NMDA and other Departments to do the work and foster public and private partnerships.