NM Organizations Advocate for State Funding

Article by Pam Roy, Farm to Table NM

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The New Mexico Legislative session concluded on Thursday, February 19, marking a period of significant progress. Key victories included the expansion of no-cost childcare, increased affordable housing, medical malpractice reform, and a ban on local government contracting for federal immigration detention. Additionally, the state saw major investments in Economic development.

The New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council focused its efforts on securing vital funding for statewide food, agriculture, and conservation initiatives. We are deeply grateful for your collaboration and the care you bring to this work. A special thank you to everyone who joined us for New Mexico Food & Farms Day and our awards ceremony – your presence truly made a difference.

See below to view the status of our priorities as they head to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for signing. New Mexico food, agriculture, conservation and water budget requests included in the FY2027 budget bill include:

Double Up Food Bucks Expansion $1 million in the NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA, #306, page 223)

Regional Farm to Food Banks Program, $2 million to the NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA, #312, page 224)

Approved Supplier Program, $430,000 to the NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA, #310, page 224)

New Mexico Grown and raised food for senior meal programs, $1.5 million in the Aging and Long-Term Services Department, “Kiki Saavedra Dignity Fund” (ALTSD, #153, page 203)

Healthy Food Financing Program, $2 million annually for three years (totaling $6 million in SB177) to the Economic Development Department (EDD, page 193)

WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Programs, $1 million to the Department of Health (DOH,#186, page 208)

Health Councils, $4 million (#185, page 207)

Student nutrition, $42,201,000 (Healthy Universal School Meals) to the Public Education Department’s Student Success and Wellness Bureau (PED, page 132)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education, $2.5 million (HCA, page 205)

Farmers and ranchers’ soil and water conservation training program, $1 million to the NM Department of Agriculture (NMDA)

Farmers and ranchers water efficiency grant program, $10 million (#302, page 223) to the NM State University Water Resilience Research Institute (WRRI) and an additional $5 million (#320, page 225-6)

Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, $4,345,000 to the NMDA, water protection program of the environment department $1,936,100, and conservation services program of the department of wildlife $4,348,340.

Acequia repairs and  improvements, $5 million (#140, page 200). SB 193 passed which will double the funding for the
Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund (ACDIF) from $2.5 to $5 million per year. 

Water Trust Fund, $100 million (pages 269 -270)

There’s additional funding for acequia and land grant education, bovine reproductive trichinosis eradication, $5,100,000; veterinary education and retention, $1,500,000; and support for NM State University’s meat processing facility, $3 million (pages 225-226).

While these items have passed both chambers of the New Mexico State Legislature, they now await the signature of the Governor to
become law.