SNAP

New Mexico lawmakers approved $162 million in state funding to ensure food assistance for citizens until January 20. The bill passed both chambers with minimal pushback, although it did come with an amendment to look into how the program is run.

On Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham called a special session for Monday to address the federal stoppage of food benefits. New Mexico has already drained a $30 million emergency fund to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through November 10.

Federal cuts to food assistance through the budget reconciliation bill, better known as the “Big Beautiful Bill,” put more than 450,000 New Mexicans at risk seeing their benefits drop by more than 20%, or losing their assistance altogether. But, state officials say they’ll do everything they can to fill gaps left by those federal cuts.

Food insecurity among New Mexico's college students could rise due to changes in the nation's food assistance program.

Lawmakers heard an update on New Mexico’s social safety net programs during a committee hearing recently and the presenters had plenty of good news about clearing long waiting lists

The state Human Services Department is urging New Mexicans who’ve gotten used to not having to renew their Medicaid coverage to not let it lapse. Since the renewal deadlines vary, the state has aligned them with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for those who receive both benefits.

As the federal public health emergency comes to end on May 11, so do expanded food and nutrition benefits. The New Mexico Human Services Department started issuing the last of the pandemic-era boost for children under 6 years old this week.

New Mexico is one of just five states that has kept its COVID-19 public health emergency order in effect. It was set to expire Friday but the governor announced it will stay in place for the rest of the month — the last of 41 extensions since March, 2020.

Most students enrolled half-time or more in college typically aren't eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), sometimes known as…

Episode 47 is all about this relief money folks have been promised. Where's that unemployment? That stimulus money? That small business relief? That food…