SANTA FE, New Mexico — New Mexico lawmakers on Monday approved an emergency spending measure to keep Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits flowing during the ongoing federal government shutdown, acting amid uncertainty in Washington and a brief court-ordered window that allowed the state to issue full November payments.
The bill, House Bill 1, authorizes up to $162 million to ensure SNAP benefits continue through at least Jan. 20, according to legislative documents. It also replenishes the state’s emergency authority and directs $30 million to cover an anticipated 10-day gap in federal support during the shutdown.
The state stepped in after weeks of gridlock in Congress, where Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján have joined 14 unsuccessful votes to reopen the government. With federal SNAP appropriations stalled, states have struggled to determine whether they can legally issue full benefits.
New Mexico moved ahead after a federal district court temporarily ordered full payments nationwide, loading 100 percent of November benefits early this month. That order was stayed last week by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, prompting concerns about future issuances. State officials said no transactions had been declined and that EBT vendors committed to honoring the cards.
Lawmakers adopted an amendment during House debate tightening reporting requirements and limiting emergency dollars strictly to continuing current benefit levels. The bill passed the House 52–9 before clearing the Senate.
Mixed reactions followed the vote. Supporters said the appropriation prevents a lapse in benefits for roughly 460,000 low-income residents who rely on SNAP each month. They also pointed to the program’s economic impact, with state officials estimating that each SNAP dollar generates up to $1.80 in local spending.
Some Republican lawmakers questioned the urgency of convening a special session as the U.S. Senate began advancing a bipartisan stopgap bill that could end the shutdown. They also argued the amendment’s audit provisions did not go far enough. New Mexico’s SNAP program has an estimated payment error rate of about 15 percent — one of the highest in the country — raising concerns about oversight as the state assumes temporary responsibility for funding the program.
Federal officials have not said when reimbursements will resume. Under HB 1, the state will stop spending its emergency allocation once federal funds become available.
