Scored Bills

Bills

Click on the name or number of any specific piece of legislation, and you’ll be directed to an individual page that features a description of the piece of legislation or amendment, the outcome of the measure, each legislator’s voting record, and more. Click on an issue name to learn more about that topic, and to see the full list of related Scorecard votes.

Photo: Organ Mountains, southern New Mexico east of Las Cruces. Flickr: BLM

Topics:

Air Quality
Effective Government
Energy & Climate
Environmental Justice
Land
Water
Wildlife & Habitat

Bill #	Title	Sponsors	CVNM Position	Year
HB 28	Resource Sustainability and Security Act more Summary: HB 28 would have created a sustainability and resilience council that would have developed a government wide plan to (a) ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of New Mexico and its infrastructure and resources; (b) prepare the state for climate change; (c) reduce the vulnerability of natural and built systems, economic sectors, natural resources and communities to risk; (d) promote long-term water and energy resource security; and (e) support state economic development and diversification. The council would have provided guidance to state agencies and worked with stakeholders in creating agency plans and accomplishing the goals of the plan. Outcome: HB 28 passed the House 40-23 and passed the Senate Conservation Committee, but died in the Senate Finance Committee.	Melanie A. Stansbury	Support	2019
HB 206	Environmental Review Act more Summary: HB 206 would have required non-federal government agencies to consider the impacts of a state-funded project that may affect public health, ecosystems and the environment. The bill specified that environmental assessments must be done and provided for input from indigenous communities and the general public. Outcome: HB 206 died on the calendar of the House State Government, Elections, and Indian Affairs Committee as sponsors were making technical changes to the bill.	Gail Chasey, Mimi Stewart	Support	2019
HB 210	Community Solar Act more Summary: HB 210 (and its companion SB 281) established rules for community solar facilities and specifically reserved a portion of shares for low-income customers. The bills would have allowed renters, low-income utility customers and persons without suitable locations for solar generation on their premises to participate in local solar generation facilities by allowing subscription in community solar generation. This would have stimulated the growth of the solar industry and expanded the number of New Mexicans who have access to solar energy. Outcome: HB 210 passed the House 42-25 and passed the Senate Conservation Committee, but died on the calendar of the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 281 died in the Senate Conservation Committee (never heard).	Patricia Roybal Caballero, Elizabeth Stefanics, Andrea A. Romero	Support	2019
HB 220	Determination of Discharge Effect on Water more Summary: HB 220 would have made technical changes to the law to clarify that discharges’ effect on ground water shall be determined at the place where the discharge enters groundwater, and state and federal groundwater standards shall apply throughout the aquifer affected by the discharge. This was a legislative fix for the "Copper Rule" which currently allows copper mines to exceed groundwater discharge limits. Outcome: HB 220 died on the calendar of the House Judiciary Committee.	Matthew McQueen	Support	2019
HB 255	Mining Permit Corporate Guarantees more Summary: HB 255 required that financial assurance for mining operations must be filed by the original applicant and could not be a guaranteed by an affiliated corporation or person. The bill would have prevented the shifting of costs to affiliated entities who may have contested requirements for reclamation. Outcome: HB 255 was pulled from the House Calendar and re-referred to the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee where it died on the calendar.	Matthew McQueen	Support	2019
HB 263	State Game Commission Changes more Summary: HB 263 established requirements and qualifications for the members of the State Game Commission to lessen the politicization of the commission and established professional qualifications for four of the seven members. Outcome: HB 263 passed the House 45-20 but was tabled and died in the Senate Rules Committee.	Matthew McQueen	Support	2019
HB 287	No Use of State Resources for Border Wall more Summary: HB 287 would have prohibited the use of state trust lands or state financial resources to build a border barrier, exempting barriers that would prevent the movement of livestock. A border barrier would have extreme impact on the movement of wildlife and would be prohibitively expensive to the state to fund any aspect of its construction. Outcome: HB 287 passed the House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee and the House Judiciary Committee and died on the House Calendar.	Angelica Rubio	Support	2019
HB 289	Fund Investment in Renewable Energy more Summary: HB 289 provided that no less than one percent of the market value of the severance tax permanent fund be invested in New Mexico renewable energy. Outcome: HB 289 passed the House 43-19 and passed the Senate Conservation Committee, but died on the Senate Finance Committee calendar.	Sheryl Williams Stapleton	Support	2019
HB 291	Efficient Use of Energy Act Changes more Summary: HB 291 establishes thresholds for energy efficiency programs which, at minimum, save 5% of energy costs to customers. The bill also provides for the removal of regulatory disincentives to energy efficiency programs. Outcome: HB 291 passed the House 58-7 and passed the Senate 27-13. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 3, 2019.	Andrea A. Romero	Support	2019
HB 353	Reduce Certain Oil & Gas Tax Rates more Summary: HB 353 reduced the tax rate for oil produced from a low production “stripper” well by specifying the baseline cost of a barrel of oil used to calculate the rate at which it is taxed and reduced the tax on what is valued below that baseline. The oil and gas industry does not need additional tax payer funded tax breaks to be profitable. Outcome: HB 353 was tabled and died in the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.	Paul C. Bandy, Cathrynn N. Brown, Greg Nibert, Larry R. Scott, James R.J. Strickler	Oppose	2019
HB 366	Wildlife Protection and Public Safety Act more Summary: HB 366 prohibited the use of traps and poisons designed to kill animals on public land and established penalties for violations. Outcome: HB 366 was tabled by the House for technical reasons and died there.	Roberto J. Gonzales, Matthew McQueen, Christine Chandler	Support	2019
HB 373	New Mexico Central Arizona Project Entity more Summary: HB 373 would have created the New Mexico Central Arizona Project entity, along the same boundaries of Catron, Hidalgo, Luna and Grant counties. It would have given the entity authority to plan, design, build, operate and maintain the New Mexico unit of the Central Arizona Project water projects and would have given it bonding authority. This would have helped reinforce the authority of the NM Cap Entity, thereby creating a more robust (and potentially un-needed) agency to carry out an underfunded, unnecessary and unpopular diversion project on the Gila River, even though it would not have had the authority to plan it independently. Outcome: HB 373 was tabled and died in the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.	Gail Armstrong, Rebecca Dow, Candie G. Sweetser, Gabriel Ramos	Oppose	2019
HB 398	Oil, Gas and Vented Gas Royalties more Summary: HB 398 (and its companion SB 500) established a threshold over which oil and gas production is taxed at one fourth percent. The bill also established that vented and flared gas was subject to royalties. Outcome: HB 398 was tabled and died in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee. SB 500 received a do pass in the Senate Conservation Committee, but the committee report was not filed and the bill was not referred to the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.	Derrick J. Lente	Support	2019
HB 440	Solar Energy Improvement Assessments more Summary: HB 440 provides that a customer may voluntarily request a solar energy improvement special assessment be applied to their property in order to access the benefits of solar technology. The bill provides that these assessments may be applied on residential or commercial property within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality in a county if the municipality adopts a resolution approving the application of the county’s ordinance. Outcome: HB 440 passed the House 35-28 and passed the Senate 31-8. The bill was signed by the Governor on March 28, 2019.	Debra M. Sariñana, Abbas Akhil, Joseph L. Sanchez	Support	2019
HB 521	PRC Application for Vehicle Electricity more Summary: HB 521 requires public utilities to file applications to expand transportation electrification, i.e., charging facilities for electric vehicles. HB 521 makes rules for the approval of these applications, including the facilities' ability to meet clean air standards and inclusion of low-income people and communities. Outcome: HB 521 passed the House 45-17 and passed the Senate 22-12. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 3, 2019.	Georgene Louis, Angelica Rubio, Pat Woods, Phelps Anderson, Joy Garratt	Support	2019
HB 547	Workforce Clean Energy Economy Study more Summary: HB 547 would have required the Workforce Solutions Department to study the opportunities for and barriers to transitioning to a clean energy economy and produce a report on findings. The bill would have required that the department study this in low-income and rural communities and work with stakeholders in undertaking the study. The study and report would have addressed (1) solar, wind, solar thermal energy generation and other renewable energy resource generation; (2) expanding contracting for local small businesses in disadvantaged communities; (3) low-income individuals and communities accessing energy efficiency and weatherization programs, with special consideration given to disadvantaged communities; (4) low-income individuals and communities accessing zero emission transportation options, with special consideration given to disadvantaged communities; and (5) participation in outdoor recreation and public lands preservation. Outcome: HB 547 was tabled and died in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.	Javier Martínez, Angelica Rubio	Support	2019
SB 51	Renewable Energy Services - State Facilities more Summary: SB 51 would have required the General Services Department to use rules, issue requests for proposals and acquire, where appropriate, renewable energy sources for state facilities. This would have increased renewable energy use in the state which would have reduced pollution and saved on operating expenses. Outcome: SB 51 died in the Senate Conservation Committee; a motion to do pass failed.	Jeff Steinborn	Support	2019
SB 76	Prohibit Coyote Killing Contests more Summary: SB 76 prohibits organized or sponsored competitions with the objective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment. Outcome: SB 76 passed the Senate 22-17 and passed the House 37-30. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 2, 2019.	Mark Moores, Jeff Steinborn	Support	2019
SB 186	Oil Conservation Division Powers & Duties more Summary: SB 186 would have allowed the Oil Conservation Division to, when responding to a violation of the Oil & Gas Act, issue a compliance order requiring compliance immediately or within a specified time period or assessing a civil penalty, or both. A compliance order may have also included a suspension or termination of the permit allegedly violated. It specified higher civil penalties for violation of the Act and specified penalties for the violation of a compliance order. It specified that a person knowingly violating the Act has committed a third degree felony. It further required the Oil Conservation Division to report on the number of violations annually. Outcome: SB 186 died on the Senate Finance Committee calendar. However, its language and the policies it created were inserted into a House bill, which CVNM did not take a position on, and that bill passed both the House and Senate.	Matthew McQueen, Richard C. Martinez	Support	2019
SB 456	Electric Utility Resource Procurement more Summary: SB 456 specified rules for procurement of sources of electricity generation. It specified that sources may be independently owned. It also required an independent evaluator to monitor the procurement process in the case of a new source of electricity. Outcome: SB 456 died in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee on a do pass motion that failed.	Joseph Cervantes, Abbas Akhil, Andrea A. Romero	Support	2019
SB 462	Create Outdoor Recreation Division more Summary: SB 462 creates a division of outdoor recreation in the Economic Development Department. It establishes that the Outdoor Recreation Division will (1) increase outdoor recreation-based economic development, tourism and ecotourism; (2) work to expand outdoor recreation infrastructure; (3) assist in the promotion and marketing of outdoor recreation opportunities and events; (4) assist New Mexico residents in establishing outdoor recreation-based businesses and connecting them with economic development resources and opportunities; (5) recruit out-of-state based outdoor recreation businesses to locate in New Mexico; (6) promote stewardship and preservation of New Mexico's unique environment and cultural assets; (7) promote education and use of outdoor recreation assets to enhance public health; and (8) support outdoor recreation programs at New Mexico educational institutions. The bill also establishes the Outdoor Recreation Advisory Committee, the Special Projects and Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Fund and the Outdoor Equity Grant Program and Fund. Outcome: SB 462 passed the Senate 38-0 and passed the House 52-14. The bill was signed by the Governor on April 2, 2019.	D. Wonda Johnson, Angelica Rubio, Nathan P. Small, Steven P. Neville, Jeff Steinborn	Support	2019
SB 489	Energy Transition Act more Summary: SB 489 sets a statewide renewable energy standard of 50% by 2030 for New Mexico investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives and a goal of 80% by 2040 that investor-owned utilities must meet, subject to cost and reliability considerations. In addition, the bill sets zero-carbon resources standards for investor-owned utilities by 2045 and rural electric cooperatives by 2050. The bill establishes a pathway for an energy transition in the Four Corners area while providing relief to workers in San Juan County affected by the closure of coal units. The bill provides for training for these workers and uses low-interest bonds to finance economic relief for communities dealing with closures and directs that replacement power, including renewables, be developed in San Juan County as a means of restoring the community’s tax base. Outcome: SB 489 passed the Senate 32-9 and passed the House 43-22. The bill was signed by the Governor on March 22, 2019.	Brian F. Egolf, Patricia Roybal Caballero, Nathan P. Small, Jacob R. Candelaria, Mimi Stewart	Support	2019
SB 499	Climate Change Compliance Tax Credits more Summary: SB 499 would have allowed a taxpayer who is subject to the Severance Tax Act, Oil and Gas Severance Tax Act, Oil and Gas Conservation Tax Act, Oil and Gas Emergency School Tax Act, Natural Gas Processors Tax Act or Oil and Gas Ad Valorem Production Tax to take a tax credit for costs incurred to comply with executive order 2019-003, which addressed climate change and ordered that the state will take measures to support the 2015 Paris Agreement Goals. Outcome: SB 499 died on the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee calendar.	William E. Sharer	Oppose	2019
SB 500	Oil, Gas, and Vented Gas Royalties more Summary: SB 500 (and its companion HB 398) established a threshold over which oil and gas production is taxed at one fourth percent. The bill also established that vented and flared gas was subject to royalties. Outcome: SB 500 received a do pass in the Senate Conservation Committee, but the committee report was not filed and the bill was not referred to the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee. HB 398 was tabled and died in the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee.	Bill B. O'Neill	Support	2019
SB 518	New Solar Market Development Tax Credit more Summary: SB 518 allowed a taxpayer a tax credit for installing a solar photovoltaic or thermal system. This bill allowed a 10% credit up to $6,000 with a five year carry forward and established an aggregate cap of $10 million per year and was sunset in 2029. Outcome: SB 518 passed the Senate 29-12 and passed the House Taxation and Revenue Committee, but died on the House Calendar.	Mimi Stewart	Support	2019

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