**New Mexico Lawmakers Act Quickly to Support Food Assistance and Rural Health Care Amid Federal Cuts**
*SANTA FE, N.M. (AP)* — New Mexico lawmakers moved swiftly Thursday during a special legislative session to bolster funding for food assistance and rural health care services. The actions respond to federal spending cuts under President Donald Trump’s administration affecting Medicaid and nutrition programs.
The Democratic-led Legislature passed a bill delivering more than $16 million to sustain food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to strengthen food banks statewide. This move comes as the federal government ends SNAP eligibility for many noncitizens and changes benefit calculations for others.
“We need to act to make sure that New Mexicans don’t go hungry with SNAP changes at the federal level,” said Democratic state Sen. George Munoz of Gallup.
In addition, lawmakers approved $50 million to maintain medical services at rural health clinics and hospitals, institutions that heavily depend on Medicaid funding.
Republicans in the legislative minority opposed the spending provisions unanimously, arguing that major federal Medicaid changes remain distant and that New Mexico should focus on reducing errors in benefit distributions.
At the same time, Democrats and some Republican legislators backed a measure to backfill subsidies for health insurance on New Mexico’s Affordable Care Act exchange if federal credits expire. These federal subsidies are a central issue in the ongoing budget standoff in Washington, which led to the federal government shutdown on Wednesday.
**Temporary Measures Amid Delayed Federal Cuts**
Many federal health care changes in Trump’s legislation do not take effect until 2027 or later. Democratic legislators in New Mexico acknowledge that their bills serve as temporary relief.
“Some of the most significant (federal) cuts are delayed a few years, and these are deeply significant,” said state Rep. Nathan Small of Las Cruces, lead sponsor of the spending bill. “I want to make sure that we’re all thinking of, not hundreds of millions, but billions of dollars of reduced Medicaid support to our state.”
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, supports major provisions of the bills, but retains the authority to veto any or all spending measures.
While this urgent action is taking place in several Democratic-led states, such measures have not been seen in Republican-led states.
### Funding for Food Assistance
New Mexico lawmakers approved a rapid allocation of state funds to support food assistance through SNAP, with a focus on elderly recipients. Nearly one-fourth of New Mexico residents receive food assistance via SNAP, making it a critical defense against hunger.
The bill includes an $8 million increase in direct state funding to food banks across New Mexico, along with $2 million dedicated to restocking food pantries at universities and public schools.
Trump’s legislation expands work and reporting requirements for SNAP participants, eliminates eligibility for many noncitizens, and alters benefit calculations.
### Addressing Rural Health Care Challenges
The federal bill designates $50 billion over five years for rural hospitals, providers, and clinics; however, these funds may not fully offset looming cuts.
With approximately 38% of New Mexico residents relying on Medicaid, the stakes remain high. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers warn of a rural health care crisis as the state struggles to retain medical professionals and keep rural clinics and hospitals operational.
State Sen. Pat Woods, a Republican from the sparsely populated eastern plains, co-sponsored changes to rural health care grants designed to support existing services.
A strong bipartisan majority in the House (64-3) passed the bill Thursday, sending it to the governor for consideration.
“We’re trying to figure out a way to fund and keep some of these clinics open. What’s going to happen in the future? Who the hell knows,” Woods told a panel of state lawmakers. “What I worry about is keeping these clinics and hospitals open until the dust settles.”
### Insurance Subsidies and Preventing Coverage Losses
Legislators also approved setting aside $17 million to ensure that subsidies on New Mexico’s Affordable Care Act exchange do not lapse. This initiative would extend insurance subsidies to middle-income residents earning 400% or more of the federal poverty level — approximately $128,000 annually for a family of four.
Democratic state Sen. Carrie Hamblen of Las Cruces emphasized the importance of the subsidies in averting a “perfect storm” of unaffordability. Rising insurance rates threaten to reduce participation in the exchange and worsen coverage gaps.
State health officials have warned that tens of thousands of residents could drop insurance coverage as exchange rates increase in 2026.
### Support for Public Broadcasting
In a separate measure, legislators approved $6 million in state funding for public broadcasting stations, including $430,000 allocated to five tribal stations. These stations have been adversely affected by congressional defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The federal grants for the current budget year were rescinded under a bill signed by President Trump in July.
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*For more updates on New Mexico’s legislative actions and health care developments, stay tuned.*
https://mymotherlode.com/news/national/10024690/new-mexico-legislature-approves-bills-to-prop-up-rural-health-care-underwrite-food-assistance.html