2025 Legislative Session Recap

Legislative Session Recap: Big Wins for Food Banks!

The legislative session is over, and the Governor has officially signed bills into law Friday, April 11th, was the deadline for the Governor to sign or veto legislation Any bills left unsigned were automatically pocket vetoed.

We’re excited to share that this session brought some major wins for food banks and our legislative priorities. Below is a summary of the victories you helped make possible and the legislative priorities advanced

✅Historic Investment in New Mexico Food Banks

The New Mexico Association of Food Banks received a record $30 million investment in the state budget This funding will be distributed to the five food banks as $10 million annually over the next three years. The Food Depot will receive approximately $1.3 million per year to help feed individuals and families across Northern New Mexico

✅Launching New Mexico’s Food is Medicine Program

We also secured funding to launch a Food is Medicine program in the state through the New Mexico Health Care Authority This groundbreaking initiative will provide nutritious food and support to pregnant women and homebound seniors with health conditions like diabetes, ensuring they have access to healthy, medically tailored foods

The state invested $14 1 million over three years ($4 7 million per year), and we expect the federal government to contribute an additional $16.7 million per year. This brings the total annual investment to $21 4 million, or $64 2 million over three years, to help New Mexicans live healthier, fuller lives.

✅Funding for Universal Healthy School Meals

This session, we advocated for the state legislature to fund the Public Education Department to continue offering Healthy Universal School Meals to students across New Mexico. These meals are a critical part of food security and ensure that every student, regardless of their family’s income, has access to nutritious meals at school.

The 2025 legislative session not only maintained but also strengthened funding for universal school meals in New Mexico, reflecting the state's commitment to supporting student well-being

�� SNAP Outreach Bill Falls Short

Unfortunately, House Bill 77, which would have required the New Mexico Health Care Authority to consistently develop an annual, statewide outreach plan for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), did not advance this session The bill was passed by the Legislature unanimously but was ultimately vetoed by the Governor You can read her veto message here

�� Modernizing the Anti-Donation Clause: Next Steps Ahead

Efforts to modernize the Anti-Donation Clause unfortunately fell short this session Lawmakers concluded that “we need to work through the interim to figure out how to undo a 113-year web of complexity”

Since constitutional amendments must be approved by voters in a general election and the next opportunity is in 2026, there’s still time to advance this important issue during the 2026 legislative session

As a reminder, the Anti-Donation Clause, as currently written in the New Mexico Constitution, prevents state and local governments from directly funding nonprofits This creates unnecessary roadblocks to essential funding for areas like food security, infrastructure, housing, and disaster assistance.

We’ll continue working with partners and legislators through the interim to prepare for a stronger push in the next session.

�� Tax Package to Support Families Falls Short

This session, the Legislature failed to pass a tax package that would have expanded refundable tax credits, including an increase to the State Child Tax Credit (CTC) for children

This proposal was an important opportunity to support working families and help reduce child poverty across New Mexico While it didn’t pass this year, we’ll continue advocating for policies that support families and strengthen economic security in future sessions

Thank you to our legislative champions, community partners, and everyone who raised their voice this session to make these victories possible. Together, we’re building a healthier, hunger-free New Mexico.

Questions about the 2025 state legislative session or advocacy at The Food Depot? Email advocacy@thefooddepot.org.