[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6131927,"mediaKeyId","5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd","parentId",5727721,"title","State review finds higher participation in New Mexico's universal school meals but meal-quality goals behind schedule","audioSeconds",1603,"startMs",1936000,"endMs",3539000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd&start=1936&end=3539","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd/thumbnail_1936000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6131927/New-Mexico/State-review-finds-higher-participation-in-New-Mexicos-universal-school-meals-but-meal-quality-goals-behind-schedule","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131927-8cb387904c94148e1bb4ac257aa381fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530163&Signature=SqRzYNOp142ulnp5j852JIEKx0fEa7rX~JInP4otoyVWPgS0mI09un0U1T6WvFCVqTZcCgZvgeKVlOfX3ZQXcXiMlB3ptdrR4gTtLVVMKd-PHlNs9xfIx7qyfN~Jgim8zuJUtDSDXJDnbyPPBVISk4CnEdk4XL2zPB6hO04guGo8puCU6--3IepzDj9oiZS4lseUUQapF-njr1aQ3Xm0QaimZBnAocmZklG6QqWVYkmL35eUHRdSm4MOa574mJRpTHffpk31OmsJzXQMCPjkbKL5R5u8Vh6UY~JdTWTRVgNmHobzr9tyQoEgBN4MEVTy3~wIFvvTFcfzEMUDQ8wHOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-08-21T00:00:00Z","article","A Legislative Finance Committee evaluation presented at a southern New Mexico hearing found that New Mexico's Healthy Universal School Meals law increased student participation but that many districts have not yet met the new meal-quality requirements. The report also warns that program costs rose faster than participation and that smaller districts and charters face infrastructure and staffing challenges.

The LFC evaluators said the state began free meals for all public school students in fall 2023 after the Legislature unanimously passed the Healthy Universal School Meals law. \"Participation in school meals has increased,\" said Dr. Ryan Tolman, a program evaluator with the LFC, citing an 8.5 percentage-point rise in lunch participation and an 8.3-point rise in breakfast between school years 2022''23 and 2023''24. Those gains, Tolman said, were largest among students who previously did not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

The LFC report also documented rising program costs: total school food service spending increased about 20.3% between school year 2022''23 and 2023''24, and per-student per-day food-service spending is roughly $4.61, the presentation said. The state's direct investment in the program rose from about $206 million in SY23 to about $247 million in SY24, according to LFC figures included in the evaluation.

Why it matters: New Mexico's law includes strict quality provisions 'requirements for scratch cooking, use of New Mexico-grown products and reduced food waste 'that make the state's program among the most ambitious in the country. The LFC said implementation gaps in tracking, kitchen capacity and staffing could frustrate those goals unless addressed.

Key findings and evidence

- Monitoring gaps: LFC found that the Public Education Department (PED) had not yet been tracking compliance with the law's meal-quality provisions in a standardized way. Tolman said PED will begin monitoring in the coming full certification year.

- Scratch cooking and infrastructure: Under PED rules, at least 50% of weekly meal components (excluding milk) must be prepared from scratch. LFC's informal survey found many school food authorities are not yet meeting that threshold; PED officials said schools are increasing efforts and that the state allocated roughly $20 million for kitchen infrastructure grants but that less than a third of that money had been spent at the time of the report.

- Local sourcing: The law directs PED to encourage greater use of New Mexico-grown foods. LFC reported that tracked purchases via the New Mexico Grown program were only about 2% of total food budgets last school year, roughly half the national average, and that NM Grown is funded at about $1.7 million in the current year. PED said it has set aside $2 million from the Healthy Universal School Meals appropriation to continue New Mexico Grown activities this year and to increase the number of participating schools.

- Food waste and student voice: PED rules now require schools to track food waste; LFC noted only about 25% of schools reported tracking food waste at all and that there was not yet a statewide system for student and family feedback on meal quality. PED told the committee it will distribute a student-and-family survey statewide and is launching a chef symposium and technical assistance to support scratch cooking.

- Staffing: LFC and PED said staffing shortages and limited skill sets for scratch cooking are major barriers, particularly in rural districts and for many charter schools that contract with food-service management companies.

PED response and next steps

Greg Frostad, assistant secretary at PED, said the agency accepts many of the LFC recommendations and described the program as \"one of the most important accomplishments of the last several years of the administration and the legislature.\" He said PED will push to maximize federal dollars, work with schools on community eligibility certification and implement monitoring in the program's first full certification year.

Laura Henry Hand, Deputy Director of PED's Student Success and Wellness Bureau, told the committee the agency has built a transitional timeline and is already providing trainings, menu reviews and a $20 million kitchen-infrastructure grant pool to support freshly prepared meals. \"Most SFAs are eager and well on their way to meeting the freshly prepared requirements of the rule,\" she said, and PED plans to host a chef symposium and monthly technical-assistance sessions for food-service staff.

Questions from lawmakers

Committee members pressed the department on how long it takes to convert or build scratch kitchens, how to increase contracted vendors' compliance with quality standards, and whether the program's higher costs are driven mainly by adding breakfast or by rising food and staffing expenses. LFC noted that schools exceeded early budget estimates and needed supplemental appropriations in the program's first year.

What the LFC recommends

The LFC report lists recommendations including: a statewide performance-monitoring system that tracks compliance with quality provisions and aligns with the Accountability in Government Act; a standardized student-satisfaction survey; guidance and monitoring of SEG (state equalization guarantee) funds used by school food authorities (with attention to small districts and charters); expanded technical assistance and training for kitchen staff; and contract requirements for food-service management companies to meet the new quality expectations.

Ending note

PED acknowledged the report and said many of the recommendations are already scheduled for action in the coming year. LFC and PED officials said the 2025'26 certification window should give the state better data on which districts meet the law's quality standards and where additional investment is needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Legislative Finance Aug 21, 2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","A Legislative Finance Committee evaluation presented in Las Cruces found participation rose after New Mexico implemented universal free school meals, but monitoring and resources to meet the law's meal-quality standards'including scratch cooking, local sourcing and food-waste tracking'are not yet fully in place.","taxTitle","Legislative Finance, Interim, Committees, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",65385,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6131917,"LFC: $7 billion in active capital outlay balances, committee directs staff to draft overhaul steps",6894,6217000,13111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd&start=6217&end=13111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd/thumbnail_6217000.jpg","/articles/6131917/New-Mexico/LFC-7-billion-in-active-capital-outlay-balances-committee-directs-staff-to-draft-overhaul-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131917-3ce99ea38ab78591625a51f55e622303/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530163&Signature=QvyrMkfUOhpXXRNMRhWy4ST88X-apgt9S1I2latKBY6A-hFh0xY3GGM1Qco0NouQZDPwkGe1ucOlka8LkqP1W7ThQE1vK0RymgV6Zw5QaoL9Cib7w0cdH32MS9wVhc1tz-XJx78Aux3cc~QDswcbKQzdQ2NKijoUWu0UbQhem0iQYNf3thluJv1OQ8G5hriULbglSeXdO2wC1Z6JFqGZNU-dcP3bKyaPBn48qAcWQjIpgOhImReFMqxD9x-MonnqIhPNjRQJZNh2lD4OH2kNR3YGes9JAJixk9RUHFP8Ew~57CWR-M1q9UNkbC96yjyha~6KEKEYLL5owC2BjZ2Zug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Legislative Finance Committee was told that outstanding legislative capital outlay balances have topped $7 billion across roughly 6,500 active projects, and members directed staff to draft proposals aimed at speeding project completion and prioritizing larger, ready-to-build projects.

Kelly Carswell, LFC capital outlay analyst, told the committee the balance reflects several factors: historically large appropriations in recent years, a backlog of small local projects, and funds flowing into earmarked programs such as the Water Project Fund. \"At the end of '25, our outstanding capital outlay balances have crossed $7,000,000,000 across about 6,500 active projects in the state,\" Carswell said.

Why it matters: Committee members said the large unspent balances limit the Legislature's ability to fund larger, higher-priority infrastructure projects and create perceptions of inefficient spending.

Key report points and figures

- Composition of balances: About $4.2 billion of the outstanding balance is projects authorized by the Legislature (local capital outlay, state agencies and higher education). The Public School Capital Outlay Fund balance approaches $2 billion, and severance tax bond programs account for roughly $850 million of active balances, Carswell said.

- Earmarked programs: The Water Trust Board has received significant revenue increases in recent years. The LFC said the Water Trust Board awarded roughly $150 million of a $200 million supplemental appropriation and expected to award an additional roughly $51 million in a subsequent meeting. The Water Trust Board had notices of intent requesting roughly $575 million in the next cycle, the LFC said.

- Colonial (colonias) and Tribal funds: The Colonias Infrastructure Fund had awarded about $52 million of approximately $81 million available for the cycle at the time of the report; the Tribal Infrastructure Fund received 56 applications requesting about $243 million and awarded its full FY25 capacity to 28 projects.

Committee direction and next steps

Members discussed reforms that LFC staff had outlined earlier and asked staff to draft legislation for committee review. Key elements the committee directed staff to develop included:

- A pilot for the capital development program funds (HB 253 distribution) to support planning/design grants and criteria-based construction awards for local and tribal governments; committee members specifically asked staff to develop application criteria and caps for planning funds and to ensure rural and frontier communities receive prioritization options.

- Limits on reauthorizations: Draft language to allow only one reauthorization per appropriation (standard reauthorization period to remain two years), permit narrowly defined reauthorizations for drafting errors, and develop an encumbrance/expenditure threshold that shows activity before reauthorization is allowed.

- Reversions: Direction to draft options that would route future reversions from general-fund capital appropriations into the capital development and reserve fund to bolster future capital capacity and reduce ad-hoc reversions.

Motions and committee action

Senator Munoz moved and Representative Vincent seconded a motion directing staff to develop the capital development program criteria; the motion carried without opposition. Later, members moved and approved direction to staff to draft legislation limiting reauthorizations and addressing reversions; leadership said the proposed bills would return to the committee for endorsement before being introduced.

Questions from members

Lawmakers pressed staff on rural capacity, local procurement preferences, how to prevent scope inflation (\"Taj Mahal\" designs) after planning grants, and whether earmark boards such as the Water Trust Board should have their approval timelines shortened to reduce delays caused by mandatory legislative authorization. Carswell and NMFA staff said they will follow up with additional analysis and recommended technical assistance measures for small communities.

Ending note

LFC staff will draft bill language and provide additional data on underfunded projects and potential reversions for committee review before the 2026 session. Committee leaders said the reforms are intended to move state dollars from a large collection of small, slow-moving projects toward better-vetted, fundable projects that can be completed in a reasonable timeline.","Legislative Finance Committee staff reported more than $7 billion in outstanding capital outlay balances across roughly 6,500 projects and the committee directed staff to draft legislation to limit reauthorizations, strengthen vetting and route reversions into a capital development reserve fund.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6131922,"Southern New Mexico nonprofit leaders urge state support as federal grants face cuts",1309,71000,1380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd&start=71&end=1380","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5727721-aad393c488b4ecdc3082274f95bd3dcd/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6131922/New-Mexico/Southern-New-Mexico-nonprofit-leaders-urge-state-support-as-federal-grants-face-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6131922-cd1204684241e508c4a45836eb9395cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770530163&Signature=PZRzgnHHuJ7MI5IUmaTxKNg8IbGdE8CMws13Rblibcuv~383NWhvARygCirKjPbPcGWhF9OZMDrz00t6riVa91rNTNx46pnFMvRN-iYMeVX2BBif57eu3jaMKazDkkVvsg9NBwqJUMziQjje2cHP3BM2S78laFoJfSHURW9GwdOL0wA0wJIOczF3FAhZfjInGUSyaKkWCDvfqsGiS37zabgtse43l5BjNMWHKuKZKFD493vdi7CdtP2Oqlz4OdheCwKUTGtUcGnsgvQddqRMsAhfEDE0RaIG1PWqTfx2HBraXMIVPtbyu82MtHjm7VQL~ruWd5smdsdj8PL7LKt5NA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Three nonprofit leaders told the legislative committee that cuts to federal grant funding are already straining nonprofits and local services in southern New Mexico and asked lawmakers for state-level supports and statutory changes.

At a committee meeting in Las Cruces, Dr. Tara Winter, chief executive officer of the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, said her foundation and a recently reactivated regional nonprofit coalition are working to build capacity and prepare for reduced federal support. \"As federal dollars are being cut throughout the nation, while also affecting New Mexicans here each and every day, we respectfully ask for your support to secure sustainable funding to address these growing shortfalls,\" Winter said.

Dawn Hamer, CEO of Community Action Agency and the state association's representative, told the committee her organization and the six designated Community Action Agencies (CAAs) statewide serve all 33 counties and asked that the committee include $4,500,000 for CAAs in the HCA budget to sustain and expand CSBG-funded services. Hamer described CSBG (the Community Services Block Grant) as a flexible federal funding source used for basic needs, employment training, early childhood services, housing and emergency response. \"The CSBG funding is critical to support these families, but also for creating new programs and responding to emergencies when they arise,\" she said.

Why it matters: The speakers said nonprofit and CAA services support employment, food distribution and emergency response across rural and urban communities in southern New Mexico. The groups asked for state funding and legislative clarity to ease partnership barriers, including discussion of changes to the state's anti-donation clause that speakers said can limit public-charitable partnerships.

Evidence and details

- Economic role: Winter said nonprofits account for 8% of New Mexico's private-sector workforce and described multiplier effects of out-of-state philanthropic dollars on the local economy.

- Scale of federal funding: Winter cited April 2025 analysis projecting substantial federal grant reductions nationwide over 18 months and warned those cuts could lead to job losses and service reductions statewide.

- CAA staffing and impact: Hamer said the six CAAs employ about 650 people across New Mexico and that for every dollar of CSBG funding her agencies generate about $11 in additional resources. She requested $4.5 million in state HCA (Human Services-related) funding to sustain CAA operations.

Local delivery examples

Lorenzo Alba, executive director of a southern food bank operation, and other local leaders described the region's collaboration in rapidly distributing food and emergency supplies. Alba told the committee the facility has distributed more than 7.4 million pounds of food in a single year and credited partnerships among community foundations, CAAs and local food banks for regional disaster response.

Requests to the committee

Speakers asked lawmakers to:

- Consider state investments that provide flexible funding to nonprofits and CAAs to offset lost federal grant support;
- Review statutory constraints, including the state's anti-donation clause, that speakers said complicate partnerships between government and charitable organizations;
- Support capacity building for regional nonprofits, including training and disaster-response readiness.

Speakers and attendees offered to meet individually with committee members and staff to provide additional information.

Ending note

Committee members thanked the nonprofit leaders and encouraged continued engagement. The meeting did not include any formal committee votes on funding; the nonprofit request for $4.5 million was presented as an ask for consideration in the HCA budget process.","Community foundation and community action agency leaders told the Legislative Finance Committee that federal grant cuts threaten nonprofit services across Southern New Mexico and asked the Legislature to consider state investments and changes to the anti-donation clause to enable stronger public-private partnerships.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State review finds higher participation in New Mexico's universal school meals but meal-quality goals behind schedule

LFC: $7 billion in active capital outlay balances, committee directs staff to draft overhaul steps

Southern New Mexico nonprofit leaders urge state support as federal grants face cuts