By Sen. Pete Campos
District 8
Colfax, Guadalupe, Harding, Mora, Quay, San Miguel & Taos
New Mexico stands at a pivotal moment. As we work toward a healthier future for every resident, we must recognize the essential role that our energy sector—particularly oil and gas—plays in making that vision possible.
Oil and gas revenues are not just numbers on a ledger; they are the backbone of our state budget. In Fiscal Year 2024, these revenues contributed nearly half of the General Fund and supported over $1.2 billion in health programs, including Medicaid, which is matched three-to-one by federal dollars to provide care for hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans.
This funding is critical as we face new challenges. Recent federal cuts to SNAP benefits and reductions in Affordable Care Act subsidies have put pressure on families struggling to afford healthy food and basic care. Good nutrition is the foundation of good health, and when families lose access to fresh, healthy food, chronic disease rates rise, emergency room visits increase, and long-term health costs soar.
To protect New Mexicans, the state has stepped up with emergency legislation—$162 million this month alone—to keep health care and food assistance accessible. These dollars come from the same oil and gas revenues that sustain our economy. Without this industry, we would not have the resources to backfill federal cuts and ensure that vulnerable families can still put healthy meals on the table.
House Bill 1 (HB 1), passed in a special session, authorized $162.5 million in state funds to maintain food assistance for nearly 460,000 New Mexicans during the federal SNAP disruption. This stopgap measure, funded by oil and gas revenues, ensured that vulnerable families could continue receiving benefits despite federal uncertainty. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support—30-6 in the Senate and 52-9 in the House—underscoring the critical role of energy revenues in protecting public health and food security when federal programs falter.
Our Health Care Affordability Fund, created in 2021, is helping lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs for families and small businesses, but it relies on stable state revenues to continue offering programs like Turquoise Plans and premium assistance. Behavioral health reform is also underway through the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act (SB3), which will invest hundreds of millions in regional mental health services and workforce development.
Looking ahead, we must align energy revenues with long-term health strategies. One practical step is to expand scholarship programs for health care careers. The Opportunity Scholarship, funded largely by oil and gas revenues through the Higher Education Trust Fund, already provides tuition-free college for tens of thousands of New Mexicans. By prioritizing nursing, behavioral health, and medical technology tracks, we can build the workforce needed to meet rising demand.
At the same time, every dollar from oil and gas should be leveraged to improve health outcomes—modernizing rural clinics, expanding telehealth, and supporting preventive care programs. These investments will pay dividends in healthier communities and reduced long-term costs.
This is not about choosing between energy and health. It’s about recognizing that one enables the other. By responsibly managing our energy resources, we can fund the programs that keep families healthy, students educated, and communities strong—even when federal support falls short.
The decisions we make now—about energy policy, health care funding, and education—will define our future. Let’s ensure that future is one where every New Mexican has access to quality care, healthy food, and opportunity, supported by the industry that powers our economy.