Saturday, February 20, 2021

Agriculture & Water Resources Committee to Hear HB207 on Saturday

This visionary bill seeks to end hunger and food insecurity, and promote resilient local food systems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has cross-partisan support from a wide range of people, including farmers and ranchers, food banks, researchers and academics, faith leaders, educators, dietitians and health experts, agricultural and food-related businesses, and much more. 

It brings together state agencies and non-governmental organizations together to foster public and private partnerships to find durable solutions for problems in the food system.

Public comment link
Observer link
Send an email in support to the committee to taylor.moya@nmlegis.gov

 

More Background

This ambitious bill would create the Food, Hunger, and Farm Council that would work with multiple state departments, institutions, non-profits, and individuals to develop a statewide strategic plan to assess the effects of hunger, malnutrition, and food and water insecurity in New Mexico. 

It would develop plans to increase access to food; improve food processing, distribution, and storage; improve the quality of and access to state and federal food assistance programs; address malnutrition among children, seniors, and low-income communities; promote traditional agricultural practices; increase the purchase of local agricultural products; enhance job creation from agricultural production and food distribution; provide emergency relief for food and water; provide food relief on an ongoing basis to address long-term systemic hunger and food insecurity; and increase food and income security by maximizing eligibility and enrollment in state and federal programs. 

Creates a non-reverting Food, Hunger & Farm Fund in the state treasury with a General Fund appropriation of $750,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2022.

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