By The Numbers

[ Photo: Franklin Peak, Nate Gillette / No Barriers ]

CVNM has published our Conservation Scorecard annually since 2005, and we have some interesting data to share over the span of 17 years. From 2005 to 2022, how are our legislators representing New Mexico’s strong conservation values? Find out below:

The Senate improved in overall performance on conservation issues in the 55th Legislature. The average conservation score earned in the Senate in 2021-2022 is 64%, which is a 5.8% decrease from the 54^thLegislature. At the same time, Senate Democrats increased their conservation score by 3% (from 90% to 93%), while Senate Republicans decreased their conservation score by 50% (from 32% to 16%).

The House of Representatives overall performance on conservation issues also improved in the 55^thLegislature. The average conservation score earned in the House in 2021-2022 is 64%. House Democrats increased their conservation score by 5% (from 87% to 91%), and House Republicans increased their conservation score by 50% (from 10% to 15%).

100%’ers and 0%’ers
By Chamber

Average Scores by Chamber

CVNM’s Cycle of Accountability

CVNM’s work to report to you about how your legislators voted on key conservation policy during each legislative session is part of our strategic approach to building power for the environment and ensuring New Mexicans’ air, land and water is protected. We call this approach the “Cycle of Accountability.”

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.

Topics:

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

Bill #	Title	Sponsors	CVNM Position	Year
HB 4	Hydrogen Hub Development Act more Summary: HB 4 allows public-private partnerships (PPP) to establish hydrogen hubs; outlines criteria for hydrogen hubs; outlines process for establishing PPP; creates a hydrogen hub development board and outlines duties; outlines approval process for hydrogen hub projects; tasks the New Mexico Finance Authority with administration and oversight; creates a hydrogen hub project fund; authorizes fund to award up to $250K grants; establishes revenue bonding authority; established refunding bond authority; creates an annual reporting requirement; creates (individual and corporate) hydrogen production and energy generation tax credits; allows for variable GRT deductions based on type of hydrogen produced; tasks the Dept. of the Environment with evaluation and analysis projects; calls for Environmental Improvement Board rules to be promulgated by July 1, 2024; enacts procurement code exemptions; amends the Rural Electric Cooperative and Renewable Energy Acts to include hydrogen projects; specifies methane as a responsibly sourced gas in hydrogen production. Outcome: HB 4 was tabled and died in House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee.	Harry Garcia Patricia A. Lundstrom Javier Martínez Nathan P. Small	Oppose	2022
HB 6	Clean Future Act more Summary: HB 6 establishes state greenhouse gas emissions limits; seeks net zero by 2050 (max 10% of 2005 levels) and reduction to 50% of 2005 levels by 2030; grants EMNRD authority to access resources and coordinate with other agencies to meet reduction targets; calls for promulgation of rules by June 30, 2025 by the environmental improvement board for reductions, subject to the Air Quality Control Act; outlines content of rules; creates a non-reverting state climate fund for administering and enforcing the rules. Outcome: HB 6 passed the House committees, but died on the House calendar.	Brian F. Egolf Kristina Ortez Nathan P. Small Siah Correa Hemphill Mimi Stewart	Support	2022
HB 37	Community Energy Efficiency Dev Block Grant more Summary: HB 37 creates new state grant program for low-income households, including requirements, selection criteria, administration; creates reporting requirement for public utilities related to energy efficiency efforts, due by end of 2023. Outcome: HB 37 passed the House 44-24, and the Senate 26-14 and was signed by the Governor on February 28, 2022.	Tara L. Lujan Kristina Ortez Patricia Roybal Caballero Debra M. Sariñana Mimi Stewart	Support	2022
HB 127	Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste more Summary: HB 127 amends the Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Act to expand membership on radioactive waste consultation task force; expands duties of task force to include private disposal facilities; adds annual meeting requirement; adds language to NM Stat § 74-4A-11.1 to prohibit storage and disposal of radioactive waste in the state & prohibit permitting for construction or operation of a disposal facility in the state. Outcome: HB 127 passed the House committees, but was tabled and died on the House Floor.	Tara L. Lujan Matthew McQueen Jeff Steinborn	Support	2022
HB 164	Uranium Mine Cleanup more Summary: HB 164 outlines Department of Environment duties for clean-up and reclamation of former uranium mine and mill sites; tasks other departments, offices, and agencies to collaborate (EMNRD, Indian affairs, office of natural resources trustee, state land office; depts. of fish and game, cultural affairs, health, workforce solutions, and economic development); duties include the development of a strategic plan and a mechanism for consultation and coordination with the federal government and directly impacted communities; requires annual reporting to the radioactive and hazardous materials committee and the creation of a Dept. of Environment uranium mine reclamation coordinator position; creates the uranium mining reclamation revolving fund; appropriates $350,000 general fund dollars to Dept. of Environment for FY23 for purposes outlined. Outcome: HB 164 passed the House 64-0, and the Senate 26-0 and was signed by the Governor on March 1, 2022	Anthony Allison D. Wonda Johnson Debra M. Sariñana Jeff Steinborn	Support	2022
HB 228	Hydrogen Hub Development Act more Summary: HB 228 created public/private partnership authority for hydrogen projects and created criteria for hydrogen hubs. Amended the Renewable Energy Act and Rural Electric Cooperative Act to include hydrogen. Outcome: HB 228 was tabled on the House Floor.	Patricia A. Lundstrom	Oppose	2022
HJR 2	Environmental Rights, CA more Summary: HJR 2 amends state constitution to add a declaration of environmental rights and establishes state “political subdivisions” as trustee of state natural resources; repeals Section 21 of Article 20, which delegates pollution control to the legislature. Outcome: HJR 2 was tabled and died in House Judiciary Committee	Gail Chasey Joanne J. Ferrary Tara L. Lujan Harold Pope Antoinette Sedillo Lopez	Support	2022
SB 8	Voters' Rights Provisions more Summary: SB 8 (1) Enacts digital voter registration; (2) aligns tribal polling place changes to Native American Voting Rights Act; (3) allows sixteen-year-olds to vote in local and municipal elections; (4) expands voter registration ability at DMV; (5) allows tribal government buildings to be used as tribal land residents’ voter registration mailing address; (6) allows driver’s license or state ID number to be used in addition to SSN for digital voter registration; (7)allows public sharing of eligible but unregistered voters by SOS upon request; (8-9) expands Election Day voter registration; (10) further outlines digital voter registration process; (11-12) grants voting rights to residents with past felony convictions; (13-15) repeals, replaces, and creates new programs relating to voter registration at DMV, on tribal land, at state agencies; (16-19) expands absentee voting; (20-21) makes minor changes to language on election funding and presidential electors; (22-31) enacts new Native American Voting Rights Act; (32) ensures minimum of $20M be maintained for state funding of elections; (33) makes Election Day a state holiday; (34) makes Election Day a school holiday; (35) allows residents with previous felony convictions to hold elected office; (36) repeals Sections 1-3-7.2, 1-4-5.8 and 1-6-5.8 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2021, Chapter 107, Section 1, Laws 2019, Chapter 67, Section 2 and Laws 2009, Chapter 251, Section 2, as amended); (37) sets effective date of July 1, 2022. Outcome: SB 8 passed the Senate committees, but died on the Senate calendar.	Katy M. Duhigg Carrie Hamblen Harold Pope Peter Wirth Javier Martínez	Support	2022
SB 14	Enacting the Clean Fuel Standard Act more Summary: SB 14 establishes a state clean fuel standard aimed at reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels used in NM; sets specific reduction targets for greenhouse gas emissions - 20% of 2018 levels by 2030, 40% by 2040; outlines related rules NMED must implement within two years of the bill's effective date; creates a credit system and a clean fuel standard fund in order to fund the administration of the clean fuel standard. Outcome: SB 14 passed the Senate 25-16, but failed and died on the House Floor.	Mimi Stewart	Support	2022
SB 21	Electric Vehicle Income Tax Credit more Summary: SB 21 amends the Income Tax Act by creating an Electric Vehicle Income Tax Credit of $2,500 or $5,000 for electric vehicle purchases or leases made before January 2027; creates an Electric Vehicle Charging Unit Income Tax Credit to cover consumer installation costs up to $3,000 for electric vehicle charging units; amends the Motor Vehicle Code to add additional registration fees for electric vehicles and directs those funds to a variety of government units and funds. Outcome: SB 21 passed the Senate committees, but died on the Senate calendar.	Bill Tallman	Support	2022
SB 54	Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste more Summary: SB 54 amends Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Act to expand membership on radioactive waste consultation task force; expands duties of task force to include private disposal facilities; adds annual meeting requirement; adds language to NM Stat § 74-4A-11.1 to prohibit storage and disposal of radioactive waste in the state & prohibit permitting for construction or operation of a disposal facility in the state. Outcome: SB 54 died waiting to be scheduled in Senate Judiciary Committee	Jeff Steinborn	Support	2022
SB 144	Intimidation of Election Workers more Summary: As amended, SB 144 would have made significant steps towards modernizing and securing New Mexico's electoral process. Outcome: SB 144 passed the Senate 38-0, and the House 39-30, but failed on concurrence.	Katy M. Duhigg Daymon Ely	Support	2022
SB 194	Additional Energy Acts Definitions more Summary: SB 194 amends the Rural Electric Cooperative and Renewable Energy Acts to include hydrogen projects; specifies methane as a responsibly sourced gas in hydrogen production. Outcome: SB 194 was tabled and died in Senate Conservation Committee.	George K. Munoz	Oppose	2022
SB 203	Study High-Speed Train more Summary: SB 203 appropriates $500K in FY23 general fund dollars to the dept. of transportation to study the feasibility of high-speed passenger rail service in NM. Outcome: SB 203 passed the Senate committes, but died on the Senate calendar.	William P. Soules	Support	2022
SJR 8	Salaries for Public Officials, CA more Summary: SJR 8 would make a Constitutional amendment to task the Senate Ethics Committee with developing salaries for all state elected officials. Outcome: SJR 8 died waiting to be scheduled in Senate Judiciary Committee.	Katy M. Duhigg Roberto J. Gonzales Daniel A. Ivey-Soto Brenda G. McKenna	Support	2022