Counting Our Victories
 
(L) Participants in Hunger Action Day (Photo from Roadunner Coalition to End Hunger)
(R) Emily Wildau, Gabrielle Uballez (NM Voices for Children) at Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-NM event
Hunger-related legislative outcomes in the New Mexico State Legislature are often measured by what is included or excluded from the general budget (HB2), although every now and then an important stand-alone measure is approved on the floor, such as the Healthy Universal School Meals in 2023. Even so, funding to keep this program going must be eventually included in the budget, which was the case this year.
Again, our measuring stick for the 2026 legislative session is guided by what was included in HB2, which starts out as a list of priorities by the governor and the Legislative Finance Committee. During the debate process, some items are added or deleted (and later re-added) the respective budget committees in each chamber. That was the case again this year.
This partial listing below was put together with great input from Pam Roy from the New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council/Farm to Table, Sovereign Hager from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (NMCLP) and Katy Anderson from the Roadrunner Coalition to End Hunger.
The Latest on SNAP
There was an "elephant in the room" as members of the legislature considered measures related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other important initiatives. Decisions were in part guided by the federal budget that was approved in July, which cut billions of dollars from SNAP. This prompted the Legislature to hold a special session in October to respond to the cuts, but the funding approved then was just a temporary fix.
Support for SNAP recipients. The reality is the legislature cannot fully make up for the federal reductions in the program. What it can do is help beneficiaries in New Mexico comply with new work and reporting requirements.To that end, the Senate added additional funding to ensure that the Health Care Authority (HCA) has the capability of helping as many SNAP recipients as possible. According to Sovereign Hager, the funding falls short of the amount requested by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in her budget, but is an increase from the original House proposal.
Incidentally, the NMCLP has put together a very valuable resource entitled Know Your Rights--SNAP Work Requirements in New Mexico. The document is also available in Spanish.
Three Other Outcomes. There was one positive and another not-so-positive outcome on SNAP in the recent legislative session. On the plus side, the state SNAP supplement for older adults and people with disabilities was fully funded, despite coming out of the House with a cut. The budget also included $2.5 billion for SNAP Program Education.
On the minus side, the budget lacked additional funding for SNAP for immigrants who are losing benefits due to the federal budget cuts. Read an article and an op-ed on this issue in the Santa Fe New Mexican. (Note: The articles are behind a paywall) "The advocacy on this continues with the governor's office," said Hager. "The funding was secured for healthcare to continue for this same population using state funds - mainly through the passage of HB4."
Other Nutrition, Food Programs Funded
HB2 contained funding for several important programs. These include:Other Important Funding. The budget also approved funds for other health, water and conservation initiatives to our farming and rural communities. These include Health Councils, Farmers and ranchers soil and water conservation training program,Farmers and ranchers water efficiency grant program, Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, Acequia repairs and improvements, and Water Trust Fund.
Thank You Rep. Joanne Ferrary!
  
We are deeply grateful to Rep. Joanne Ferrary for her leadership in advancing hunger-related issues in the New Mexico State Legislature during nearly 10 years in office. Rep. Ferrary has decided not to seek reelection to the State House, representing District 37 in Doña Ana County.
Rep. Ferrary partnered with the Interfaith Hunger Coaltion and other organizations to create an informal Hunger Caucus in the legislature. (Read an Op-Ed in the New Mexican) While the caucus did not have any formal duties, it helped create a mechanism for legislators to support efforts in our state to end hunger. And the caucus also played a behind-the-scenes role in the The Food, Farm, and Hunger Initiative, which served as the backbone for our efforts to address hunger in a unified manner.
"Representative Ferrary had a real heart for others and was a delight to work with in the New Mexico State Legislature," said Ellen Buelow, a former member of the IHC steering committee.
 
"It was a pleasure working with Rep. Ferrary in the New Mexico legislature to bring well needed change to New Mexicans," said Brenda Sinfield, also a former member of the IHC steering committee."Her love and dedication paid off and she can know her constituents will benefit from her work."
Thank you Representative Ferrary for your great work and partnership. We wish you the best as you transition out of the State Legislature.
Farm Bill and Federal Program Updates
The Farm Bill debate is back after numerous delays in the renewal of this important food and agriculture omnibus legislation. Congress has been unable to agree on a new five-year package after the original 2018 Farm Bill expired in 2023. In mid-February, the chair of the House Agriculture Committee presented his proposed text for a five-year bill. But critics say the measure does little to fight food insecurity in our country and boost support systems for farmers..
Two New Mexico federal legislators, Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Sen. Ben Ray Lujan are members of their respective Agriculture Committees, and will play a key role in the debate. Below are a couple of comments - We strongly oppose this bill as written, because it fails to address the kinds of challenges farmers, ranchers, and support systems in New Mexico are facing. Our farmers need meaningful access to the farm safety net, they need real investments in local food supply chains, and they need access to proven, popular conservation programs. (Farm to Table New Mexico/NM Food and Agriculture Policy Council)
- Instead of strengthening the very tools designed to support food security — during a time when an alarming number of households are struggling to put food on the table —(the draft proposal) fails to include funding to restore the historic $187 billion in cuts to SNAP and harmful SNAP provisions enacted in the budget reconciliation law (HR.1). (Food Research and Action Center)
- Members of about a dozen congregations in New Mexico will be writing our three members of the House of Representatives and our two members of the US Senate to approve a strong bipartisan Farm Bill. This is part of the Bread for the World 2026 Offering of Letters, which also seeks to protect and strengthen domestic and global nutrition programs.
- In January, House Agriculture Committee minority members, including Rep. Gabe Vasquez, unveiled their framework for the Farm and Family Relief Act. The framework targets families impacted by SNAP program changes, farmers impacted by years of losses ,and trade. The note was included in the latest issue of Field Notes: AgriPolicy Brief
World Food Day
 The Food and Agriculture Organization has yet to officially release the theme for this year's commemoration. But sources indicate that the theme could again center around on the right to food and sustainability.
The FAO has also launched a separate campaign in 2026, entitled the International Year of the Woman Farmer. This theme seems to have gained a lot of traction among supporters of the Interfaith Hunger Coalition, and we intend to make this the theme of our celebration in October 2026. We will begin the planning process this summer. Stay tuned for more details.
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