On November 10th, in a four hour special session, the two houses of the New Mexico State Legislature passed a single bill authorizing the use of $162.5 million to guarantee that the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients would would receive complete benefits regardless of Federal actions in response to the government shutdown.

House Speaker Javier Martinez said, “Once again, our state is coming together to deliver the critical services New Mexicans cannot live without,” and Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales, acting in the absence of Governor Michell Lujan Grisham. With the resolution of the government shutdown, the funds, none of which were used, reverted to the State’s Medicaid Trust Fund.

Legislators continue their work in various Interim Committees in preparation for the 2026 session which gavels to order on January 20th.  Pre-filing of Bills will begin on January 2, and with it begins the work of the VMFC Committee for Veterans’ Advocacy.