SANTA FE — Sen. Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) has introduced Senate Bill 137, legislation aimed at strengthening accountability within New Mexico’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, by closing loopholes that allow benefits to be granted without verified income or asset thresholds.
Brantley said the measure is designed to protect the long-term stability of a program relied upon by tens of thousands of families across the state, particularly in rural communities.
“SNAP is a lifeline in rural New Mexico,” Brantley said. “But public confidence in that lifeline matters. When eligibility rules are stretched beyond their intent, the program becomes weaker, less credible, and ultimately less reliable for the families who depend on it most.”
The bill comes as new national polling released by the America First Policy Institute shows overwhelming voter support for stronger guardrails in SNAP, including mandatory income and asset tests, work requirements, and improved fraud protections.
According to the AFPI survey of 2,000 registered voters conducted in December, 89% agree SNAP benefits should only go to those most in need, while 86% favor increasing fraud protection measures. The poll also found 78% support mandatory income and asset limits, 70% agree able-bodied adults should be required to work to receive benefits, and 77% favor requiring state welfare agencies to share SNAP data with the federal government.
Under current federal rules, states may confer SNAP eligibility through a process known as categorical eligibility, which can be tied to minimal or non-cash assistance, rather than verified income or assets. Brantley said this approach has allowed individuals with significant assets, lottery winnings, or no demonstrated hardship to qualify for benefits.
SB 137 would limit categorical eligibility to households receiving meaningful cash assistance, Social Security benefits, or general assistance, while prohibiting eligibility based solely on nominal or non-cash benefits.
The legislation also follows a recent preliminary evaluation by the Legislative Finance Committee that identified persistent payment error rates and millions of dollars in improper SNAP spending in New Mexico, driven largely by overpayments. LFC data show New Mexico’s SNAP payment error rate exceeded 14% in fiscal year 2024 and increased further in early fiscal year 2025, ranking among the highest in the nation. Analysts warned the state could face hundreds of millions of dollars in additional liabilities under new federal cost-sharing rules if error rates are not reduced.
“Polling shows New Mexicans understand something important: accountability protects programs,” Brantley said. “When error rates rise and eligibility becomes disconnected from need, the entire system is put at risk—especially in rural areas where food access is already fragile.”
Brantley emphasized that the bill is not intended to cut benefits for eligible recipients.
“This bill is not about cutting benefits,” she said. “It’s about protecting SNAP’s future, restoring public trust, and ensuring that scarce resources are reserved for the families and seniors who truly need help putting food on the table.”
