More than 4 million people nationwide have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits since enactment of the 2025 reconciliation law, according to new data. Advocates and policy experts warn the losses are increasing food insecurity for children and families while shifting significant costs to states.
There have been growing calls to legalize online sports betting in New Mexico. Today, sports wagering is limited to tribal casinos, but some lawmakers and industry advocates argue that expanding it online would generate new tax revenue and help diversify the state’s economy. New Mexico should reject online sports betting. Expanding and increasing access to online betting would prioritize short-term revenue over the long-term well-being of New Mexico families and communities.
States across the country are confronting growing budget risks—from volatile economies and demographic change to climate impacts and rapid technological shifts. A new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts offers encouraging news: New Mexico is one of only six states recognized for taking comprehensive steps to prepare its budget for long-term fiscal risks.Â
Many New Mexico school districts may not realize that $54 million is currently available to help purchase electric school buses, install charging infrastructure, and access technical assistance through the state's Community Benefit Fund.
New Mexico has an opportunity right now to make the school day healthier, safer, and quieter for thousands of children, but only if we take advantage of it. The Community Benefit Fund, known as SB 48, passed during the 2025 legislative session, was created to help communities invest in projects that strengthen local economies, create jobs, and prepare for climate challenges.
Previously, New Mexico Voices detailed how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) threatens access to affordable health care. Now, a new interim final rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), released on June 1, makes those threats even more severe.Â
Written by Emily Wildau, MPP, and Jonathan Salazar, M.Ed. Produced by New Mexico Voices for Children on behalf of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Download the full report (June 2026; 44 pgs; pdf) Executive Summary [...]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is expected to release fiscal year 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate data by June 30. As reporters prepare to cover the release, New Mexico Voices for Children is urging caution against a common misconception:Â SNAP payment error rates do not measure fraud.
New Mexico improved slightly in child well-being, moving from the 50th to 49th ranking nationally in the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation that examines how children and families are faring nationwide. While the improvement reflects progress in some areas, the data show New Mexico continues to face significant challenges in education and family stability, underscoring the need for continued investments in children and families.
A new study from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University shows that the number of uninsured children in New Mexico has increased in recent years. As families across the state continue to grapple with rising costs and coverage disruptions, advocates warn that the trend could only get worse under proposed federal policy changes.