SNAP

Experts say food insecurity in the Land of Enchantment has been on the rise, with food banks seeing a 40% to 60% increase in demand all while federal contributions to food assistance programs has been cut and 25,000 people, including 13,000 children, lost their SNAP coverage, putting more strain on the food bank network.

SNAP underwent some big changes last year, and as a result an upcoming deadline is set to lock-out thousands of New Mexicans from food assistance for the next three years.

As new work requirements take effect for federal food assistance, following uncertainty created by the lengthy government shutdown late last year, a Santa Fe-based organization is expanding its work providing free meals.

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.