NM Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham | governor.state.nm.us
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for a special session of the New Mexico Legislature on November 10 to address the ongoing need for state-funded food assistance. The move comes as the federal government shutdown continues, resulting in suspended Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for New Mexicans.
The special session is expected to last one day and follows the release of $30 million in emergency state funds by the governor on October 1. These funds were used to provide food benefits after SNAP was halted due to the shutdown and initial reluctance from the Trump administration to release contingency resources. The state’s emergency allocation is set to run out on Monday.
“We acted fast in October when the Trump administration abandoned New Mexican families, and now the legislature is coming back to finish the job,” said Lujan Grisham. “We are fortunate that several years of economic prosperity and sound fiscal management have enabled us to support New Mexicans in this time of need. However, we will not be able to fund these state supplements forever. Republicans in Congress need to come back to the table to end the longest government shut down in American history and get everyone back to work.”
Kari Armijo, Secretary at the New Mexico Health Care Authority, noted that SNAP serves 460,000 residents: “The Health Care Authority administers SNAP benefits for 460,000 New Mexicans, and our responsibility is to ensure that families don’t go hungry waiting for this essential nutrition program to resume,” she said. “This special session will allow us to continue serving New Mexicans while federal funding for the SNAP program remains uncertain.”
Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth expressed legislative support: “No New Mexican should go hungry because of inaction and uncertainty in Washington D.C. Senate Democrats fully support Governor Lujan Grisham’s decision to call this special session,” he said. “The legislature is ready to step up again to ensure our families have the food assistance they need.”
New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez added: “We are not letting New Mexican families go hungry because the Trump administration doesn’t want to fulfill their legal and moral obligation to fully fund the SNAP benefits that children, seniors and veterans across our state rely on,” he said. “While the federal government shutdown drags on, we are going to keep showing up to work, so we can protect our people from the chaos and cruelty coming out of Washington, D.C.”
Governor Lujan Grisham is currently attending COP30, a United Nations climate conference in Brazil with over 100 U.S. mayors and governors participating. Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales will act as governor during her absence for the special session.
“My priority as acting governor during this special session is ensuring that no New Mexican family goes hungry,” Morales stated. “I’m proud to work with our legislative leaders to make sure children and seniors have food on their tables while this federal crisis continues."
In an earlier special session on October 1, lawmakers approved initiatives including $16.6 million for continued food assistance; $8 million for local emergency food distribution; $2 million for student meals; $1.5 million supporting recipients meeting SNAP work requirements; and $1.2 million retaining SNAP staffing at UNM and NMSU.
The legislature will convene at noon Monday at Santa Fe’s State Capitol.
More information about Governor Lujan Grisham’s participation at COP30 can be found at https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/11/03/governor-joins-u-s-delegation-to-climate-conference-in-brazil/.
