SJR 4 – Eddy County Land Sale

Sponsor: James Townsend

Summary: This joint resolution resolves that the New Mexico legislature ratifies and approves the interstate stream commission’s sale of a tract of undeveloped land in Eddy County to a private owner. 

Last Major Action: 2/20/20 – Passed in the Senate

 

HB 103 – El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro Funding

Sponsor: G. Andres Romero

Summary: Bill establishes a El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail Development Commission and creates the El Camino Real De Tierra Adentro development fund. 

Last Major Action: 1/30/20 – Passed out of House Local Government, Land Grants & Cultural Affairs Committee

Relevant Public Comment: KRQE, 01/15/20

 

HB 223 – Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Act

Sponsor: Nathan Small

Summary: This bill would direct a portion of the state’s oil and gas revenue surplus to a permanent fund for habitat restoration and sustainable agriculture projects in the state, and proposes that $150 million be appropriated from the general fund into an Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Fund in fiscal year 2021.

Last Major Action: 2/6/20 – Hearing in House Energy, Environment And Natural Resources Committee

 

HB 304 – Transfer Outdoor Equity Grant Program

Sponsor: Angelica Rubio

Summary: This bill transfers administration of the outdoor equity grant program and fund from the New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission to the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation division of the economic development department. 

Last Major Action: 3/06/20 – Signed by governor

 

SB 102 – Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Act

Sponsor: Steven Neville

Summary: This bill “would direct a portion of the state’s oil and gas revenue surplus to a permanent fund for habitat restoration and sustainable agriculture projects in the state.” It “”proposes that $150 million be appropriated from the general fund into an Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Fund in fiscal year 2021.”

Last Major Action: 01/22/20 – Referred to Senate Committees Committee

Relevant Public Comment: Albuquerque Journal, 01/21/20; Albuquerque Journal, 01/27/20

 

SB 104 – Prohibit New Hydraulic Fracturing Permits 

Sponsor: Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, Patricia Roybal Caballero

Summary: Bill bans the state of New Mexico from issuing “new permits allowing hydraulic fracturing for the purpose of extracting oil or natural gas.”

Last Major Action: 01/22/20 – Referred to Senate Committees Committee

Relevant Public Comment: Alamogordo Daily News, 01/20/20; Carlsbad Current-Argus, 01/24/20

 

SB 180 – Fees for Used Oil Businesses

Sponsor: Elizabeth Stefanics

Summary: Bill amends an existing law so that a schedule of fees will be provided “for businesses generating or managing hazardous waste or used oil.” It also increases the maximum daily fine for noncompliance with the Hazardous Waste Act from $10,000 to $75,000. 

Last Major Action: 2/10/20 – Referred to Judiciary/ Finance Committee

 

SB 273– Agricultural and Natural Resources Trustee Act

Sponsor: Steven Neville

Summary: Very similar to Neville’s other bill, SB 102, except that this bill only appropriates $50,000,000 to the Agricultural and Natural Resources Trust Fund, as opposed to $150,000,000. 

Last Major Action: 2/6/20 – Reported by Committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session

 

HM 29 – Energy Operation Bonding Amounts

Sponsor: Matthew McQueen

Summary: This House Memorial expresses support for “establishing bonding amounts that are sufficient to cover remediation and reclamation costs and lease obligations” because a recent GAO report found that “that oil and gas bond amounts set by the Bureau of Land Management of the United States Department of the Interior largely have not been updated in forty years or more and fail to serve their intended purpose.” 

Last Major Action: 2/11/20 – House Energy & Natural Resources Committee: Reported by committee with Do Not Pass but with a Do Pass recommendation on Committee Substitution

Relevant Public Comment: Albuquerque Journal, 02/03/20

 

HJM 6 – Camino Real Strategic Task Force

Sponsor: G. Andrés Romero and Gerald Ortiz y Pino

Summary: This joint memorial requests the New Mexico cultural affairs department to convene a task force to develop options and a strategic plan for the development of the camino real de tierra adentro national historic trail in collaboration with BLM and NPS. 

Last Major Action: 2/20/20 – Passed in the Senate, 37 voting yes; 2 voting no

 

HM 54 – Importance of Pecos Canyon & Watershed

Sponsor: Joseph Sanchez

Summary: This memorial recognizes “the cultural, recreational, and environmental importance of Pecos Canyon and the Upper Pecos Watershed” and opposes “the exploratory drilling project proposed for that area by the Australian Corporation New World Resources Ltd. and its subsidiary CoMexico LLC.” 

Last Major Action: 2/13/20 – House Energy & Natural Resources Committee: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation

 

HM 60 – NM Public Lands Conservation Leadership

Sponsor: Susan Herrera

Summary: This memorial asks that the New Mexico legislature affirm “the importance of all New Mexicans, including Hispanic New Mexicans, in decisions and processes concerning public lands and waters,” and it resolves that the New Mexico legislature “express support for HECHO [Hispanics enjoying camping, hiking and the outdoors]” by creating “a public lands conservation council of Hispanic leaders to build capacity and create a formalized network of Hispanic public lands leaders to increase participation and representation of Hispanics in such matters.” 

Last Major Action: 2/13/20 – House Local Government, Land Grants & Cultural Affairs- reported by committee with a do-pass recommendation

 

SM 56 – NM Public Lands Conservation Leadership

Sponsor: Richard Martinez

Summary: This memorial asks that the New Mexico legislature affirm “the importance of all New Mexicans, including Hispanic New Mexicans, in decisions and processes concerning public lands and waters,” and it resolves that the New Mexico legislature “express support for HECHO [Hispanics enjoying camping, hiking and the outdoors]” by creating “a public lands conservation council of Hispanic leaders to build capacity and create a formalized network of Hispanic public lands leaders to increase participation and representation of Hispanics in such matters.” 

Last Major Action: 2/18/20 – Conservation: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation

 

SM 60 – Importance of Pecos Canyon & Watershed

Sponsor: Elizabeth Stefanics and Pete Campos

Summary: This memorial recognizes “the cultural, recreational, and environmental importance of pecos canyon and the upper pecos watershed” and opposes “exploratory drilling projects proposed for that area” because “Pecos canyon and the upper Pecos watershed” is an “inappropriate place to conduct an exploratory drilling operation and for activities associated with an exploratory drilling operation.”

Last Major Action: 2/13/20 – Conservation: Reported by committee with Do Not Pass but with a Do Pass recommendation on Committee Substitution

 

HB 28 – Division of Land for Oil or Gas Operations

Sponsor: Greg Nibert, Cathrynn N. Brown

Summary: Bill amends the definition of a “subdivision” in the New Mexico Subdivision Act for Parcels Divided to exclude “the division of land for oil or gas operations; provided the land continues to be used for oil or gas operations.” 

Last Major Action: 03/16/20 — Draft of enrolled bill prepared

 

SB 55 – Creating New Positions on Land Grant Council

Sponsor: Sander Rue

Summary: This bill creates an “agricultural and natural resources trust fund” in the state treasury and an “office of the agricultural and natural resources trust” that is attached to the office of the governor. Money in the trust fund can be used for “water enhancement projects,” “preservation or conservation of open space, cultural land and resources and habitat for fish, wildlife or plants through purchase or acquisition of conservation easements,” and other habitat improvement projects.

Last Major Action: 1/30/20 – Reported by Senate Conservation Committee with Do Pass recommendation with an amendment

 

SB 243 – New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity Act

Sponsor: Gabriel Ramos, John Arthur Smith

Summary: Bill would designate the New Mexico Entity of the Central Arizona Project as a political subdivision of the state, which allows the Entity to do its own business, track its own finances and possibly to enter into different contracts. 

Last Major Action: 2/3/20 – Per news reports, the bill has died because it was declared not germane. 

Relevant Public Comment: Silver City Daily Press, 2/5/20