New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced plans to sign a set of emergency bills passed by the state legislature, which provide $162 million in funding aimed at protecting residents from federal budget cuts that threaten health care and food assistance programs.
“We refuse to let New Mexico families fall through the cracks because Republicans in Washington have abandoned their responsibility to the American people,” said Lujan Grisham, who convened lawmakers for a special legislative session this week. “The legislation passed during the special session protects families from being priced out of health care when their premiums double or triple, and we’re supporting providers who are keeping the doors open in our smallest communities.”
The governor criticized House Republicans for voting along party lines to delay access to COVID-19 vaccines for children in New Mexico by 90 days.
During the special session, which ended Thursday, five bills were approved by both chambers. Among them is House Bill 1, which allocates $162 million in emergency funding to address recent federal reductions in food assistance and other urgent needs. The Health Care Authority will receive $66 million from this bill, including funds for SNAP benefits, food banks, school-based programs, staffing support at universities and clinics, IT upgrades, and measures to lower health insurance costs on the state exchange.
House Bill 1 also transfers money into various state funds: $30 million into an emergency contingency fund and $50 million into a rural healthcare fund. Additionally, it provides resources to close budget gaps at regulatory agencies and protect public broadcasting. To help cover these expenses while maintaining financial reserves at 32% of annual spending, New Mexico will recover $120 million in unspent funds from a previous Health Care Authority budget.
House Bill 2 removes income limits for those seeking state-subsidized health insurance through New Mexico’s Health Care Affordability Fund if they meet other eligibility criteria. This measure aims to help about 6,300 residents who may face higher insurance costs due to expiring federal premium tax credits at the end of 2025. The law also gives state officials more authority to respond if future federal actions reduce access to Medicaid or marketplace coverage. Funding for this initiative is included within House Bill 1.
Senate Bill 1 moves $50 million from the general fund into the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund. This will help stabilize existing services threatened with reduction or closure in rural areas and expand eligibility for grants beyond counties with fewer than 100,000 residents.
Senate Bill 2 allows metropolitan court judges to oversee criminal competency proceedings—a reversal of an earlier policy requiring such cases be heard only in district courts—aiming to ease administrative burdens on district courts and improve behavioral health service access.
Senate Bill 3 updates vaccine purchasing policies by allowing the Department of Health (DOH) flexibility in buying vaccines recommended by medical organizations after internal review. It enables DOH consideration of guidance from professional groups when setting school vaccination schedules and authorizes recommendations on adult immunizations as well. Insurance plans must cover DOH-recommended vaccines without cost-sharing under this bill; however, current vaccine exemptions remain unchanged. These provisions expire July 1, 2026.
Due to opposition from Republican legislators preventing immediate enactment of Senate Bill 3 as an emergency measure, there will be a mandatory waiting period before DOH can purchase COVID-19 vaccines for children through its Vaccine Purchasing Program—a program serving over 320 providers statewide.
“There is no good reason for Republicans to make New Mexicans wait 90 days for vaccines they need to protect their health,” Lujan Grisham said. “I’m deeply disappointed in Republicans for voting to restrict vaccines, but our Department of Health remains committed to vaccine access.”
“The legislature heeded Governor Lujan Grisham’s call and acted decisively in this special session to protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. “New Mexico families will keep food on their tables, rural hospitals will have resources to continue serving their communities, and more people will be able to keep their health insurance as costs rise and federal subsidies disappear.”
“This special session was about protecting New Mexico families from real and immediate harms that endanger their ability to access healthcare and put food on their tables,” said House Speaker Javier Martínez. “Here in New Mexico, we step up to take care of one another, and I’m proud to say that’s what we did for families across our state in this special session.”
