History and Outcomes
The New Mexico Food and Agriculture Policy Council was formally initiated through 2003 House Joint Memorial 45. The Policy Council has achieved a number of important legislative successes since its inception. Below are the achievements from the 2008 and 2007 NM state legislative sessions.
Contents:
2008 Legislative Results
New Mexico Grown Produce for School Lunches
Funding requested: $1.44 million
Sponsors: Senator Pete Campos, SB 207 and Representative Rhonda King, HB 164
Funding: $150,000, recurring in HB2, page 200 - vetoed
Passed all House and Senate Committees and Floors
Agency: NM Department of Agriculture
State agency affiliate: NM Department pf Agriculture and NM School Nutrition BureauThis request for $1.44 million would provide more than 217,000 school children statewide with an addition of two servings of fresh fruits and vegetables in school meals weekly throughout the school year using New Mexico grown produce when available. This is economic development for New Mexico’s farming families and provides healthy options for children.
The 2007 legislature appropriated an initial $85,000 to begin the program. It serves close to 6,000 children in the Valley Cluster schools of Albuquerque. New funding would likely focus on more rural communities.
Manny Herrera Access to Healthy Foods Act
Sponsors: Representative Brian Moore, HB 180 and Senator Howie Morales
Funding: $52,000 in House of Representatives additions to Senate Finance Committee, Substitute for Senate Bill 165, page 4
Governor Richardson vetoed due to additional amendments the Senate added to the bill which made it too cumbersome to enact.
Passed all House and Senator Committees - goes to Senate Floor next
State agency: Department of Finance AdministrationSupporting agencies include Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Human Services, Aging and Long-Term Services.
The legislation would have supported the development of a Healthy Food Initiative Board that will develop recommendations and a plan to initiate or enhance food outlets and transportation systems in underserved areas - both rural and urban to increase access for New Mexicans to healthy and affordable food. Additionally, the Board will develop a Trust Fund of public and private sector funds to invest in initiatives.
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Enhancement Program
Funding Request: $250,000
Sponsors: Representative Don Tripp, HB 154 and Senator Cisneros, SB 49
Funding to date:
$25,000 in base HB 2, recurring, page 200
$32,000 Senate Bill 165, page 58
$52,000 signed by Governor Richardson
(full appropriation will be sanded by 20%)
Passed all House and Senate Committees and House and Senate Floors
State Agencies: NM Departments of Agriculture and HealthThe request for $250,000 will provide 8,100 low-income residents and seniors with food coupons to purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables at more than 25 New Mexico farmers’ markets. This program will help low-income seniors and residents who receive commodities as well as hundreds of farmers who sell at these markets. The NM Farmers’ Marketing Association is working with a broad coalition of partners.
The 2007 Legislature appropriated $110,000 to begin this program in six farmers’ markets serving about 3,000 low-income residents and seniors. It was extremely successful and was a win-win for New Mexican’s who are nutritionally at-risk and for farmers.
Funding Request: $500,000
Sponsors: Senator Lovejoy 363 and Representative Ray Begaye, HB25
Passed all House and Senate Committees and House and Senate Floors
Funding: $247,000 signed by Governor Richardson from HB2, page 202
Agency: NM State UniversityTo expand the development of five Tribal Centers focusing on agriculture, health, natural resources and intercultural youth education (2007 legislature provided funding for two positions for Crownpoint ands Shiprock). Funds would provide for five Cooperative Extension agents and services focuses specifically on Tribal community needs. Five communities include: Shiprock, Crownpoint, Laguna/Acoma area, Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, and Eight Northern Pueblos to serve these and surrounds Tribal communities.
Small Farm Institute: Sustainable Agriculture Research Education Center
Funding Request: $100,000
Sponsors: Senator Beffort, SB 42 and Representative Steinborn, 403
Funding report: $13,500, SB 165 Senate Finance, page 58 – vetoed
Passed all House and Senate Committees and House and Senate Floors
Agency: NM State UniversityTo expand the Small Farm Institute Program initiated with 2007 legislative funding New Mexico State University School of Agriculture
Food Banks buying NM Agriculture Products
Funding Request: $500,000
Sponsors: Senator Smith, SB 165
Agency: NM Department of AgricultureSupport for the specific purchase of New Mexico produced fresh and processed foods to be provided to all New Mexico food bank programs including the Food for Kids backpack program.
Received $600,000 appropriations for base program not specific to the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables or New Mexico products.
Support Land, Wildlife and Clean Energy Act
Sponsored by Representative Michael Sanchez and Energy & Minerals Department in 2007 session. Initially funded through Governor’s budget. 2008 legislative session funded $1,500,000 through Capitol Outlay, SB 471, page 19.
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2007 Legislative Results
Bill Number: HB 264 / SB 90
Bill Name: NM Grown Fresh Fruits and Vegetables for School Lunches, $1.44 million
Food & Ag Policy Council Name: Healthy Kids/Healthy Economy
Sponsors: Rep. Gonzales, Senator Feldman
Status: Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, passed
Senate Public Affairs, passed
House Appropriations, “tabled” for further consideration in House Bill 2 Junior.
Senate Finance, “tabled” the following bill for further consideration after review of House Bill 2.
$85,000 is included in SB 611 “to provide NM grown fresh fruits and vegetables to the Valley high school cluster in Albuquerque public school district.”
Bill Number: HB 86
Bill Name: Farmers’ Market Nutrition Enhancement Program, $250,000
Food & Ag Policy Council Name: NM Farmers’ Market Nutrition Enhancement Program
Sponsor: Representative Tripp
Committees: Agriculture and House Appropriations
Status: Agriculture Committee, passed
House Appropriations, “tabled” for further consideration.
Included in House Bill 2 (HB2), $110,000 in the NM Department of Agriculture.
Bill Number: HB 22, SB 264
Bill Name: Promote and Develop Farmers Markets, $150,000
Food & Ag Policy Council Name: NM Farmers’ Market Promotion & Development
Sponsor: Representative Wallace, Senator Altamirano
Committees: Agriculture and House Appropriations
Status: House Agriculture Committee, passed
Senate Public Affairs, passed
House Appropriations “tabled” for further consideration.
Included in House Bill 2, $100,000 in the NM Department of Agriculture
Bill Number: HB 723
Bill Name: New Mexico Food Bank System
$1,1000,000 for the New Mexico food bank system
Governor’s Budget Recommendation: $758,600 and $399,600
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Lucky Varela
Status: Passed House Consumer and Public Affairs
In House Bill 2, $399,600 included in the Department of Finance budget and an additional $200,000 in the Human Service budget.
Bill Number: HB 76
Bill Name: Senior Food Stamp Supplement Program: $1.2 million
Request $20 to be added to the minimum food stamp monthly allocation for seniors which is currently $10. More than 9,000 senior citizens would benefit.
Governor’s Budget Recommendation: $600,000 (at $10 increase per month per senior = approximately assisting 5,000 seniors).
Legislative Sponsor: Representative Antonia Lujan, House Bill 76
Status: Passed Consumer and Public Affairs
Tabled in House Appropriations
$600,000 in House Bill 2 in Human Service budget.
Bill Number: HB 96, SB 692, SB 1103
Bill Name: NM Tribal Extension Task Force: $1.2 million
$1.2 million to establish five Tribal Extension Centers for Pueblo and Tribal communities to provide health, agriculture, natural resource, and inter-cultural youth programs.
Legislative Sponsors:
Representative Ray Begaye, House Bill 96
Passed Agriculture committee
Goes to House Appropriations
Senator Pinto, SB 692
Passed Indian Affairs
Goes to House Appropriations
Senator Lynda Lovejoy, SB 1103
Goes to Senate Indian Affairs, Tuesday, February 20, 8am
Then to House Appropriations
$150,000 was included in House Bill 2, recurring, to NMSU
$97,000 included in Senate Bill 611 to NMSU
Bill Number: HB 285, SB235
Bill Name: NMSU Small Farm Institute: $200,000 appropriation and $500,000 Capitol Outlay
To initiative a small farm education program at NM State University.
Legislative Sponsor:
Representative Andy Nunez, House Bill 285
Passed Agriculture and Water Resources
Will go to House Appropriations
Senator Papen, Senate Bill 235
Passed Senate Conservation
Will go to Senate Finance
$64,000 included in Senate Bill 611 to NMSU
Bill Name: Elementary School Breakfast
In House Bill 3 that was rolled into House Bill 2
The Public Education Department’s request is to Elementary School Breakfast at $2.9 million to serve 78,200, approximately 45% of school children statewide. The Legislative Education Committee recommendation is to fund it at a total of $1.5 million.
$450,000 in HB2 to Public Education Department
$2 million in SB611 to the Public Education Department
$450,000 recurring from previous year.
Food for School – transportation and storage funds for school meal foods and food bank foods. $500,000 in House Bill 2 to Public Education Department
Bill Number: HJM 10
Bill Name: Create Food Gap Task Force
Food & Ag Policy Council Name: Closing New Mexico’s Food Gap
Sponsor: Rep. Herrera / Senator Ortiz y Pino
Committees: House Health and Government Affairs, House Floor
Status:
Health & Government Affairs, passed
House Floor, passed 66-0
Passed both the House and Senate!
ENDORSEMENTS
Bill Number: SM 7
Bill Name: Summer Food Service Program (Summer School Lunch Program)
Sponsor: Senator Komadina
Committees: Senate Health and Government Affairs, passed
Senate Education, passed
Status: Passed the Senate floor, February 19th.