Mariana Padilla

The meeting commenced with a virtual roll call. Key action items included the approval of the agenda, which passed unanimously. Discussions focused on the Chairman's report, noting the deadline change for the 704/PPR Report and upcoming corrections to the SPIL due December 30, 2020. The Board unanimously approved a motion authorizing the Chairman to submit the corrected SPIL to ACL by the deadline without convening a special meeting. Further discussions covered increasing SILC membership and addressing the delay in member reappointments with the Governor's Office, including the potential for a joint letter to emphasize the urgency. Reports were heard from various State Agencies and CILS organizations.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's "State of the State Address" highlights New Mexico's significant progress and outlines key priorities for the future. The address focuses on achievements in universal child care and education reform, robust economic growth driven by job creation and strategic investments, and enhanced state financial stability and affordability for families. Further strategic initiatives include advancing clean energy and codifying climate action, strengthening public safety measures, and expanding healthcare access and affordability. The Governor emphasizes a vision of New Mexico as a leading state and a national blueprint for success, achieved through collaborative and bipartisan efforts.

This document outlines key legislative initiatives and strategic priorities for the State of New Mexico. These include the 'Healthy Universal School Meals for Children Act' and the 'New Mexico Match Fund'. The school meals initiative aims to provide free and nutritious meals to all students, reduce food insecurity, improve academic and health outcomes, and stimulate investment in New Mexico agriculture. The Match Fund initiative seeks to maximize federal funding opportunities for infrastructure, economic development, and community projects by providing state matching funds and administrative support to state, tribal, and local entities. Ultimately, these efforts aim to invest in New Mexico children, enhance community well-being, and leverage significant federal resources for long-term state development.

The State of New Mexico is embarking on two primary strategic initiatives. The Strategic Water Supply initiative, backed by a $500 million commitment for FY25-FY26, aims to bolster drought resilience and clean energy production by utilizing brackish and produced water for green hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, thereby protecting freshwater resources and fostering economic growth. Concurrently, through the Healthy Universal School Meals for Children Act (Senate Bill 4) and a $32 million investment, the state plans to provide free, high-quality meals to all students. This initiative seeks to improve academic and health outcomes, alleviate financial burdens on families, stimulate New Mexico agriculture, and ensure adequate meal times for students.

This strategic plan outlines the Governor's Housing and Homelessness Initiative to address New Mexico's housing crisis. The plan focuses on establishing an Office of Housing to lead strategic statewide planning, data tracking, technical assistance, and housing workforce development. It proposes significant investments, including $250 million for the NM Workforce Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing and $250 million for the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving Fund to stimulate housing development and reduce regulatory barriers. An additional $40 million is allocated for a Statewide Model for Housing Stability Services to enhance support for individuals experiencing homelessness. The initiative aims to solve the current housing crisis, increase housing production, and create a healthy, affordable housing market statewide.