Historic Legislative Funding Will Help Provide Food and Support to Hunger-Relief  Organizations throughout New Mexico

April 21, 2025

Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM (April 18, 2025) – The close of the New Mexico legislative session resulted in historic bipartisan support for New Mexico’s hunger-relief network. With the legislature’s approval and the signature by the Governor of House Bill 2, this $30 million investment in food and capacity building over the next three years will help New Mexicans experiencing hunger across the state.

Funds can be used by regional food banks to procure food to provide to hundreds of food distribution partners in New Mexico. In addition, the funding can assist partner locations to upgrade older facilities or obtain the necessary equipment to distribute food. Currently, there is limited or inadequate cold and dry good storage space for many hunger-relief partners — especially in rural, frontier and tribal communities. The ability to use part of the funds for capacity building would allow food distribution sites to increase the variety of foods coming from their regional food bank. It will also enhance their capacity to capture unsold or “rescued” food products from food industry partners, a low-cost way to get more food donations.

“Every pound of food provided to our food distribution partners reduces the growing meal gap in our state. Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty with cuts to USDA programs at the federal level and waning consumer confidence – which is one of the main drivers of charitable giving,” said Katy Anderson, vice president of strategy, partnerships and advocacy at Roadrunner Food Bank. “The funding will help offset a portion of the federal food cuts we have already experienced, but even with this historic and bipartisan commitment, there is still much more work and funding needed to build a hunger-free New Mexico.”

House Bill 2 also included start-up funding for a new initiative called Food is Medicine. The program will be housed within the state’s Health Care Authority. The concept of “Food is Medicine” links the critical role that food and nutrition have on health and healing. In New Mexico, the program will establish a framework for healthcare entities, food banks and other community organizations to provide medically tailored foods, groceries and meals. Patients managing chronic health conditions will receive access to nutritious food as a therapeutic health intervention and will receive referrals for wraparound services to improve their health outcomes. While the program is still in the planning phases, the initial focus of the Food is Medicine program will include pregnant women and homebound seniors facing chronic health issues.

Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot said, “In these uncertain times, hunger-relief organizations are proud to talk about the important successes from this year’s legislative session. Progress is made possible by partnership, persistent advocacy, and the commitment of our elected officials. We sincerely thank Senate Finance Chair Sen. George Muñoz, House Appropriations & Finance Chair Rep. Nathan Small, the members of those committees, the New Mexico House and Senate, and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for their leadership and commitment to addressing hunger in our state. It takes everyone to address the challenges that food insecurity creates here in New Mexico.”