LFC provides January status update on SNAP evaluation as HR 1 raises state financial exposure

LFC analysts told the Legislative Finance Committee on Tuesday that recent federal changes to SNAP under HR 1 will increase New Mexico’s financial exposure and that the Legislature has directed LFC staff to complete a full program evaluation by July 1, 2026.

Alma Kasim, an LFC evaluator, opened the briefing by saying the January presentation was a status update and background for the full evaluation, which will examine SNAP administration, performance, and program integrity. "We're here today to provide that status update," Kasim said, noting the evaluation will focus on program performance, staffing and operations, and integrity measures including fraud and payment accuracy.

Clayton Lobaugh, LFC program staff, said New Mexico’s SNAP payment accuracy requires improvement and described how the federal auditing process translates payment-error rates into state costs. "New…