Federal cuts to SNAP benefits that 459,500 New Mexicans depend on for food assistance could soon be offset by $192 million in state dollars, under the bill that will be taken up during Monday’s special legislative session. The announcement came on Monday during a press conference held by New Mexico House Democrats and came just […]
Category: NM Legislature
Reports from the Roundhouse, New Mexico’s state Legislature.
Posted inNM Legislature
Governor calls special session to extend food benefits amid federal shutdown
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday she will call the New Mexico Legislature into special session Monday to extend state-funded food benefits as a federal government shutdown continues, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The one-day session comes 10 days after Lujan Grisham released $30 million in emergency state funds to provide benefits […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
State GOP legislators disapprove of Gov’s SNAP fix and unusual use of emergency powers to fund it
A day after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the state would use $30 million of its own funds to cover SNAP benefits for 459,500 New Mexicans, State legislative Republicans are questioning the decision and the unusual way the governor made the funds available. New Mexico Legislative Republicans contacted today by New Mexico Political Report […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Freshman state senator steps down citing health concerns
State Sen. Nicholas Paul (R-Alamogordo) has resigned from the Legislature, less than a year after the businessman was elected to the New Mexico Senate. “After much prayer and reflection, my family and I have decided that due to current and ongoing health concerns, it is necessary for me to prioritize my health,” Paul said in […]
Posted inNM Legislature
NM’s vaccine shake-up: Governor acts to set independent immunization standards amid CDC turmoil
A bill that temporarily allows New Mexico to formulate its own immunization policy was signed Wednesday by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Senate Bill 3, which passed on a party-line vote during last week’s special session but had not yet been acted upon by Lujan Grisham, requires that immunization policy for children and the state purchase […]
Posted inHealthcare
As more New Mexico hospitals become owned out-of-state, legislators debate how to improve local care
New Mexico Lawmakers on Tuesday heard a presentation about the potential harms of private equity’s role in healthcare, something many New Mexico Democrats have argued has siphoned dollars away from addressing New Mexico’s healthcare needs while profiting out-of-state interests. The Legislative Health and Human Services Committee heard the presentation from Olivia Kosloff, a senior fellow […]
Posted inNM Legislature
New Mexico allocates $5.9 million to public broadcasting after federal funding cuts
New Mexico lawmakers have allocated $5.9 million to support in-state public television and radio stations statewide after Congress eliminated federal funding for public broadcasting. The state funding includes $1.7 million specifically for New Mexico PBS, which faced an 18% budget cut totaling $1.7 million for fiscal year 2026 due to the congressional rescission vote, according […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Gov signs 3 of 4 special session bills to soften impacts of federal cuts
By Alex Ross, NM Political Report New Mexico lawmakers concluded a two-day special legislative session on Thursday, where they shored up state food assistance and health care programs amid looming cuts in federal funding and spiking health insurance premiums. The New Mexico Senate adjourned Sine die shortly after noon, and the New Mexico House of […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Legislative update: Senate, House adjourn after tackling fixes to plug budget holes caused by federal cuts
The New Mexico House and Senate adjourned Thursday, completing a special session called to offset anticipated federal funding cuts to state programs. Senators adjourned just after noon, while the House remained in session until 5:15 p.m. All five bills brought up that align with the issues listed in the governor’s proclamation for the special session […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Gov., legislators move quickly to OK $150 million for healthcare, SNAP and public broadcasting to backfill fed funding cuts
New Mexico legislators gathered at the Roundhouse on Wednesday and quickly passed legislation authorizing more than $161 million in one-time spending to fill state budgets gaps for healthcare, food assistance for the needy and public broadcasting stations caused by federal spending cancelations pushed through Congress by President Trump and Republicans last spring. In line with […]