NM Food & Agriculture Policy Council
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Values Statement: A just, equitable, and sustainable food system is one that provides physical, economic and community health; regenerates, protects, and respects natural resources and animals; and ensures that all people live with dignity and freedom from oppression and exploitation.
Issue Statement: New Mexico’s food value chain is vulnerable with a disproportionate emphasis on exporting food outside of the state; insufficient food processing, storage and distribution systems; deficient systems to ensure the health of our vulnerable populations and natural resources; and inefficient plans to sustain and grow the agricultural economy of NM.
Priority
Primary Ask/Goal
Food, Hunger and Farm Initiative
Purpose of the Initiative: To cultivate a just food system that measurably reduces hunger, provides equitable access to nutritious, culturally meaningful, foods, and honors the wisdom of our land-based traditions. A comprehensive legislative approach to support community food programs, NM Grown Program, supply chain support, and a long range strategy for sustainability.
This is a statewide initiative of the Governor. Multiple state agencies have requested funding in their budgets, totaling $14.2 million dollars. Currently there is $8 million in non-recurring and $700,000 in recurring funds recommended by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
Thank House Appropriations and Finance Committee members for their leadership and commitment to food and agriculture in New Mexico. Click here for a list of HAFC Committee Members and their contact information.
Updated briefing sheet on the $14.2 million DFA budget request
Governor’s Office fact sheet
Food, Farm and Hunger Legislative Request from Partner Orgs 1-21-22
- 2/14 The Senate Finance Committee added an amendment to HB 2 that included the full $24 million in funding.
- 2/2 House passed HB2&3: $8 million, to DFA, page 217, Section 5 $700,000 in DFA bar budget.
- 1/31 The House Appropriations and Finance Committee recommended $8 million in non-recurring and $700,000 in recurring funds.
- 1/25/22 Presentation to the Senate Finance Committee.
- January 2022: House Bill 2 (HB 2) is in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee.
- September 2021: Eight state agencies* submitted their requests for funding to the Department and Finance and Administration (DFA) and Legislative Finance Committee (LFC), which included information about this critical inter-agency initiative. State agencies also presented their base budget expansion requests to the LFC and other committees during the interim session.
* Agencies: Aging and Long Term Services Department (ALTSD), Economic Development Department (EED), Early Childhood Education & Care Department (ECECD), Department of Health (DOH), Higher Education Department (HED), Human Services Department (HSD), New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA), and the Public Education Department (PED)t Senate Finance Committee members and ask them to address the remaining funding needed. Please reach out to them today. Click here for a list of SFC members and their contact information.
Purpose: House and Senate memorials declaring February 8, 2022 “New Mexico Food and Farms Day” in the House of Representatives in celebration of community food and farm initiatives toward ending hunger.
Legislative Sponsors: Representatives Joanne Ferrary, Raymundo Lara, Kelly K. Fajardo, Andrea Romero and G. Andrés Romero for the House Memorial and Senators Pete Campos, Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics and Linda M. Lopez.
SM 24 was not heard on 2/8, and is currently listed as “Business on the President’s Table.”
2/8 House Memorial 46 (HM 46) was introduced on House Floor declaring February 8, 2022. NM Food & Farms Day. 2022 Food & Farms Day Awardees were recognized during the Memorial reading and many Representatives joined in recognizing this important day!
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the economic development department to contract with community economic development centers to promote the expansion and sustained growth of local farms, ranches, community kitchens and food entrepreneurs and the production and distribution of New Mexico agricultural products.
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Pamelya Herndon
- 2/1 Introduced into House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee
Purpose: Making an appropriation to carry out the purposes of the acequia and community ditch fund act, $400,000. The purpose of the ACDF is to conserve water resources through the adjudication of water rights. It is used to support regional acequia associations to provide legal representation and experts for the adjudication process, including settlement negotiation and implementation.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales
Representatives Susan K. Herrera, Ambrose Castellano, Kristina Ortez, Andrea Romero and Derrick J. Lente
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2/8 SB 46 is currently in the Senate Finance Committee
- 2/8 HB 121 is now in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
- 2/3 HB 121 Passed House Agriculture, Acequias And Water Resources Committee.
- Current location for SB 46: Senate Finance Committee
- 1/25 SB 46 Passed Senate Conservation Committee.
NM Climate & Conservation Fund
Committees:
Senate Finance Committee
House of Representatives
House Appropriations and Finance
Purpose: Creates a long-term, sustained investment fund for conservation initiatives that can transcend political cycles and deliver consistent funding to:
- sustain and enhance New Mexico’s agricultural and natural heritage through stewardship, conservation, and restoration of our lands and watersheds;
- make New Mexico’s natural resources resilient to the impacts of climate change;
- provide for wildlife populations and habitat;
- ensure the continuation of agricultural production on working farms and ranches;
- leverage additional private and federal funding, which in turn creates jobs and economic opportunity.
2/3 HB2&3 passed by House of Representatives and sent to Senate Finance Committee
2/1 $10 million for NM Soil & Water Conservation Districts funding included in House Appropriations & Finance in HB2&3.
The NM Climate and Conservation Fund is an advocacy effort of the Western Land Owners Alliance, NM Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts, and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.
Purpose: This Memorial requests that certain state agencies determine potential actions to facilitate insurance coverage for agri-tourism activities.
HM 2 requests the NM Departments of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism to compile a current inventory of agritourism business in NM and the estimated value of agritourism in the state, survey what other states do to promote agritourism, find best insurance policies, and create a report of findings and recommendations in support of NM’s agritourism to be presented to an interim committee.
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Marian Matthews
- Currently in the House Judiciary Committee.
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the Aging and Long-term Services Department to purchase New Mexico-grown fruits and vegetables for senior center meal programs: $1 million and $10,000 for admin & promotion.
Also included in the Food, Farms and Hunger Initiative.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
- Goes to the Senate Finance Committee.
- 1/28 Passed the Senate Conservation Committee.
- 1/20 Reported by Senate Conservation Committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session.
- Endorsed by the Health and Human Services Committee
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the Department of Health for a match of federal funds for an expansion of the senior farmers’ market nutrition program; $1.1 million and $500,000 for additional promotion & administration.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
- Goes to Senate Finance Committee.
- 1/27 Passed the Senate Conservation Committee.
- Endorsed by the Water and Natural Resources Interim Committee.
- Endorsed by the Health and Human Services Committee.
Purpose: An act making an appropriation to the human services department to adjust the average senior supplemental nutrition assistance program benefit to cost-of-living increases.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
- Goes to Senate Finance Committee.
- 1/27 Amendment introduced to include “disabled” in the language.
- 1/26 Passed Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.
- 1/20 Reported by Senate Conservation Committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session.
- Endorsed by the Health and Human Services Committee.
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the human services department for additional food purchase and delivery to state food banks: $12 million.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
- Goes to Senate Finance Committee.
- 1/26 Passed Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.
- 1/20 Reported by Senate Conservation Committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session.
Purpose: The Public Banking Act will establish a State Public Bank to improve the state’s focus, efficiency and effectiveness in the management of its funds. The public bank’s mission is to collaborate with community banks, credit unions and local governments in order to increase social capital, extend infrastructure and regenerates natural assets. Among these investments would be regenerative agriculture, expanding food production and processing, and protect water resources and the environment.
Legislative Sponsors: Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero and Senator Jeff Steinborn
- 1/31 This bill was tabled with the understanding that legislators would work with the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperty through the interim to bring it to the next session.
- Senator Jeff Steinborn joined Representative Roybal Caballero as a co-sponsor.
- Bill (HB 75) was introduced by Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero.
The Public Bank of New Mexico is an advocacy effort by the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity (AFLEP)
Purpose: Requesting the Public Education Department to investigate how to incorporate curriculum pertaining to agriculture, food and nutrition into K-12 school systems. ***Of note, the NMFAPC would like to make sure that local curriculum, local farming and local organizations are prioritized in this memorial and any subsequent legislation.
Legislative Sponsors: Representative Derrick J. Lente
- 1/24 Referred to House Education Committee
Purpose: An act making an appropriation from the funds allocated to the state pursuant to the Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Board of Regents of New Mexico State University for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to continue the Chile Labor Incentive Program; requiring that employers provide adequate proof that workers received higher wages because of Chile Labor Incentive Program Funds; requiring reports.
Legislative Sponsors: Senator Jeff Steinborn
- 2/8 Currently in Senate Finance Committee
- 2/2 Reported by committee with Do Not Pass but with a Do Pass recommendation on Committee Substitution (language above reflects the Committee Substitution)
- 1/24 Referred to Senate Conservation Committee
BILLS & MEMORIALS OF INTEREST
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the board of regents of New Mexico state university for the New Mexico department of agriculture to continue to support statewide agricultural education programs, $250,000
Legislative Sponsor: Senators Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, Pat Woods and David M. Gallegos, Crystal R. Diamond and Joshua A. Sanchez
- 1/31 Passed in Senate Conservation Committee
Purpose: Livestock Board Meat Inspection Authorizing NM Livestock Board to Conduct Meat Inspections to Ensure Safety and Quality of Meat.
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Jack Chatfield
- 1/31 Passed House Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources Committee
Committees:
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the office of the state engineer for water planning, administration and management, $12 million.
Endorsed by the Water and Natural Resources Interim Committee
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the water trust fund, $50 million. Funds prevention, water storage, water deliver project, water restoration and management project.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics
Purpose: Making an appropriation to the water trust fund, $60 Million
Endorsed by the Water and Natural Resources Interim Committee.
Funds prevention, water storage, water deliver project, water restoration and management project.
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Herrera
Purpose: Urging New Mexico’s Congressional Delegation to take into consideration the impact of drought when setting federal agricultural policy.
Endorsed by the Water and Natural Resources Interim Committee
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Zamora
Purpose: A memorial declaring January 25, 2022 “agriculture education day” in the Senate in recognition of the importance that agriculture, food and nutrition play in the daily lives of all New Mexicans.
Legislative Sponsor: Senator Benny Shendo