2024 Legislative Outcomes

The 2024 New Mexico Legislative Session concluded mid-February and on March 7th Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a $10.2 billion appropriations budget that begins July 1st. The Budget, a 6.8 percent increase from last year, will provide funding increases for education, state policy, health programs, public housing, and more. The Legislature and Governor focused on substantive measures including:

• fully funding the Conservation Legacy Fund to $350 million.
• funding to expand the Healthy Universal School Meals Program with $41 million (and $19.9 million to shore up the current year budget).
• increasing the State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplement for seniors and individuals with disabilities by $14.8 million, an increase from $25 per month to $100.
• passing the New Mexico Meat Inspection Act.
• appropriating essential funding for the state’s forty-four County and Tribal Health Councils statewide of $3 million.
• passing a memorial to develop a Pollinator Plan for New Mexico.

 

The Conservation Legacy Fund passed with the $300 million investment. SB 9, sponsored by Senators Steven P. Neville, Peter Wirth, and Joseph Cervantes. The Legacy Fund is important to New Mexico, especially our agricultural communities, because it will provide a variety of resources for farmers and ranchers towards land stewardship. How we manage our natural resources directly affects the health, safety, livelihoods and quality of life of every New Mexican. “A sizable investment in the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will result in healthier rivers and watersheds, preserve working lands for future generations, and create more jobs in a growing restoration-based workforce,” said Dan Roper, New Mexico Program Lead, Trout Unlimited. Learn more.

The NM Public Education Department’s Healthy Universal School Meals budget request, also a priority of the Office of the Governor, was close to fully funded at $41 million plus $19.9 million for the current year shortfall.

The programs included in the Food Initiative received a mixed result. A highlight is increased funding for seniors and individuals with disabilities on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from $25 to $100 per month. Food Banks will receive $5 million in support. Other NMFAPC priorities were not funded or were underfunded, particularly NM Grown programs in state agencies. 

Of major significance is the passage of the New Mexico Meat Inspection Act, SB 37 and HB 162. We want to thank the Senators and Representatives who sponsored this bi-partisan legislation and the Governor for putting it on the call to be heard. We commend the New Mexico Livestock Board, Belinda Garland, Executive Director for her stellar work to set up the program in preparation for its passage and implementation.  Bill sponsors included Senators Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, George K. Muñoz, Pat Woods, Joshua A. Sanchez, and Representatives Gail Armstrong, Jimmy Mason, Susan K. Herrera, and Harlan Vincent. 

The New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils saw a major investment of $3 million into the work of the forty-four county and tribal health councils across the state. They have been historically underfunded.  A big thanks to Representative Allison who sponsored the appropriation.

HM 33, the Pollinator Protection Plan Work Group, sponsored by Representative Kristina Ortez, passed on the last morning of the NM Legislative session! This requests the state Department of Agriculture (NMDA) to convene a working group with representatives of NMDA, the New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council, and the New Mexico Beekeepers Association to consider acceptance of the association’s “pollinator protection plan.”

SB 79, the Statewide Composting Program, got a good start to help educate legislators about the importance to develop a statewide set of composting recommendations. The bill did not get any funding yet received support for its future. Much appreciation to the NM Healthy Soil Working Group for getting this discussion started and setting the stage for the future..