EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Starting Oct. 1, changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — better known as SNAP — will take effect under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Federal officials say the reforms are aimed at cutting costs. But food banks in New Mexico and across the state line in Texas are warning the impact could be immediate with more families lining up at their doors.
The new law expands work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents, limits certain state waivers that previously allowed exemptions, and places caps on how future benefit increases are calculated.
Seniors, people with disabilities, and most households with children will continue to qualify under current rules. Policy analysts note the adjustments could trim monthly benefits for some households while others could lose eligibility altogether.
In New Mexico, where more than 400,000 residents rely on SNAP, the ripple effect could be significant.
At Casa de Peregrinos in Las Cruces, Executive Director Lorenzo Alba says demand is already climbing. The pantry served nearly 40,000 people in Doña Ana County last year, and he estimates about 80% rely on SNAP.
“We’ve seen an uptick. Some people have already had their SNAP cut, or are getting a lot less money. And now October 1st is coming up,” Alba said.
Roadrunner Food Bank, which serves about 70,000 people each week across New Mexico, is preparing for more requests from its 300 partner pantries. Jason Riggs, the group’s director of advocacy and public policy, called the upcoming changes “historic and unprecedented.”
“A lot of New Mexicans will see a reduction in their SNAP allotment if not lose SNAP altogether and they will turn to their neighborhood food pantries for help,” Riggs said.
Roadrunner has also been hit by federal funding cuts this year. Leaders say they are now leaning more heavily on state and local partners to make up the difference.
Because SNAP is a federal program, the changes will also be felt in Texas. In El Paso County, more than 136,000 residents qualify for SNAP. Local groups such as El Pasoans Fighting Hunger have already dealt with funding challenges this year, forcing them to trim back some programming.
Read: Read More