Commission on the Status of Women warns program cuts if budget reductions hold; seeks contractor funds for girls leadership pilot

Jennifer Gatz, director of the Commission on the Status of Women, told the House Appropriations & Finance subcommittee that the commission has rebuilt programming since reopening and that current budget constraints limit its events and program development.

Gatz recounted the commission’s re‑establishment and early funding, noting that when it closed in 2011 the budget was about $2.98 million and staff and contractors supported multiple programs. Since reopening with a small base, the commission used a modest FY25 allocation and subsequent specials to host regional events, a women's summit and create a research database with the University of New Mexico. In FY26 reduced resources forced a one‑day summit with 200 participants instead of the prior 2‑day, 300‑person event and curtailed other programming.

Gatz told the committee that a $19,300 reduction in the 'other' expense category in the LFC recommendation would further shrink program spending and prevent hiring a contractor to develop a girls leadership program the commission hopes to pilot. She said that if the DFA recommendation of $489,000 were approved, the commission could expand programming closer to its prior scale.

Committee members asked about event goals and the girls program, and Gatz described plans to focus on civic engagement, financial literacy and healthy relationships, with pilot events in rural and tribal communities to inform a statewide model. The committee accepted the LFC recommendation for the commission’s budget in a voice vote but noted additional materials provided by the director would be considered after the session.