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HB 78 |
Game Commission Habitat Management and Fees more
Summary: The Department of Game and Fish currently lacks the resources to actively fulfill its mandate to restore and maintain natural habitat for the benefit of wildlife and New Mexicans alike. House Bill 78 imposes a small fee on hunters and anglers that will be used by the Game Commission to restore, protect and maintain fish and wildlife habitat throughout the state.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2005 |
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HB 195 |
Create Strategic Water Reserve more
Summary: Our limited water supply is one of the greatest challenges facing the state. Intense competition for scarce water resources means that we are struggling to meet the requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act, as well as our obligations to deliver water to Texas. House Bill 195 creates the Strategic Water Reserve, which dedicates nearly $3 million this year to fund the acquisition of water rights for public benefit, specifically to help threatened and endangered species and to comply with New Mexico’s interstate stream compact obligations to Texas.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2005 |
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HB 805 |
Local Government Use of Impact Fees more
Summary: Impact fees are tools that local governments use to ensure that developers pay their way and don’t shift the majority of costs of new developments onto existing residents and taxpayers. These fees help pay for the infrastructure to support new development; without them, local governments wouldn’t have the resources to pay for adequate roads, drainage, parks or emergency facilities. House Bill 805 would have severely compromised the ability of local governments to use impact fees to provide infrastructure or ensure equity in sharing the cost burden of new development.
Outcome: Passed House, but defeated in the Senate.
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Oppose |
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2005 |
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HJM 24 |
Precautionary Principles in State Government more
Summary: The Precautionary Principle proposes that when an activity raises threats of harm, precautionary measures should be taken to protect human health and the environment, even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. House Joint Memorial 24 requested the Department of Health to establish a task force to develop a long-term plan to implement selected precautionary principles in departments of state government.
Outcome: Passed House, but defeated in the Senate.
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Support |
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2005 |
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SB 468 |
Acquire Land Near State Parks more
Summary: In the past, the need to get legislative approval for any additions or donations of land to state parks has prevented the Parks Division from acting swiftly and economically to expand New Mexico’s parks system. Senate Bill 468 allows the State Parks Division to acquire land adjacent to state parks without legislative approval, if the land will be incorporated into the park.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2005 |
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SB 644 |
Efficient Use of Energy Act more
Summary: The best way for New Mexico to control energy prices, increase energy security, reduce pollution and protect natural resources is to invest heavily in energy efficiency. Senate Bill 644 directs the Public Regulation Commission to require utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency programs. It also sets standards and policies for recouping expenditures by utilities and co-operatives for energy efficiency programs and investments.
Outcome: SB 644 passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2005 |
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HB 23 |
Compliance Order Non-Compliance Penalties more
Summary: Any law is only as strong as the ability to enforce it. Previously, the Environment Department had little recourse against polluters who violated the Air Quality Act and failed to abide by compliance orders issued by the Department. HB 23 authorized the Environment Department to assess civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day for non-compliance, and pursue suspension or revocation of the permit for failure to pay the penalties or comply with the order.
Outcome: Unfortunately, HB 23 was weakened by an amendment on the Senate Floor, but it passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2006 |
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HB 314 |
Uniform Environmental Covenants Act more
Summary: HB314 allows the application of ‘environmental’ covenants that restrict future land uses instead of requiring the landowner to clean up contaminated sites. Although there are some positive uses for environmental covenants, they have generally been applied as a means for the polluter to avoid the costs and liability of site remediation.
Outcome: Passed in the House, but defeated in the Senate.
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Oppose |
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2006 |
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HB 462 |
Tax Increment for Development Act more
Summary: HB462 and its companion SB495 authorize the establishment of tax-increment financing (TIF) districts to promote revitalization and redevelopment. This innovative mechanism allows local governments to bond for up-front cash to invest in redevelopment efforts, and then service the bonds using the increased property tax revenue that results from the project.
Outcome: HB 462 died in the Senate; SB 495 passed both chambers and was signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2006 |
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HJM 44 |
Commitment To Healthy Communities more
Summary: Too often, polluting industries are concentrated in poorer communities and communities of color. HJM44 calls on the Health and Environment Departments to study the impacts of their agencies on environmental health and recommend changes that will more fully involve minority and low-income communities in decision-making processes.
Outcome: Passed in the House, but defeated in the Senate.
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Support |
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2006 |
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SB 269 |
Solar Market Development Income Tax Credit more
Summary: SB 269 leverages other incentives like the federal solar tax credit and PNM’s new solar credit program to provide up to a 30% tax incentive for residential solar electricity and heat projects, to a maximum of $9,000 per project.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2006 |
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SB 395 |
Unlawful Trophy Animal Disposition Penalties more
Summary: SB 395 begins to address the issue of trophy poaching by authorizing the Game Commission to designate trophy animals and impose civil penalties for illegally taking a trophy animal.
Outcome: Passed both chambers; SB 395 was pocket-vetoed, but its companion, HB 536, was signed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2006 |
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HB 318 |
Power Plant Mercury Emission Controls more
Summary: HB318 authorizes the Environmental Improvement Board to require use of the best available technologies to control mercury emissions from power plants.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed into law.
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Support |
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2007 |
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HB 386 |
Oil and Gas Operation Emissions Standards more
Summary: HB386 would have allowed the state to set regulations for emissions from oil and gas operations that are at least as stringent as, or more stringent than, federal standards.
Outcome: HB386 passed the House (31-16), but died in the Senate.
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Support |
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2007 |
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HB 431 |
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting & Fee more
Summary: HB431 would have established a registry to report and track greenhouse gas emissions and reductions, and authorized user fees to fund the system.
Outcome: HB431 passed the House (37-27), but died in the Senate.
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Support |
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2007 |
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HB 433 |
Land, Wildlife & Clean Energy Act more
Summary: HB433 and its companion SB309 would have established a specialized board to administer funding for clean energy and land and wildlife conservation projects and the protection of working farms and ranches.
Outcome: HB433 passed the House (41-27), but died in the Senate. SB309 also died in the Senate.
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Support |
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2007 |
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HB 827 |
Surface Owners Protection Act more
Summary: HB827 provides property owners with some basic rights when oil and gas companies own the mineral rights below the surface of their land and helps protect landowners from irresponsible oil and gas operators.
Outcome: Passed both chambers signed into law.
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Support |
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2007 |
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HB 859 |
Cesspool Elimination Assistance Act more
Summary: HB859 would have helped address the water contamination threats posed by cesspools by establishing a program that provides assistance in cleaning up cesspools and replacing them with onsite liquid waste disposal.
Outcome: HB859 died in the House.
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Support |
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2007 |
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SB 220 |
Eliminate Coal Surtax more
Summary: SB220 would eliminate the surtax on coal, which would provide a de facto $6.9 million subsidy to a thriving resource extraction industry. CVNM opposes this legislation.
Outcome: Passed both chambers, but pocket-vetoed by the Governor.
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Oppose |
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2007 |
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SB 418 |
Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards more
Summary: SB418 increases the existing renewable energy standard so that utilities must include 15% renewables in their portfolio by 2015, and 20% by 2020.
Outcome: SB418 passed the Senate (32-0), passed the House (43-18), and was signed into law .
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Support |
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2007 |
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SB 489 |
Require Biodiesel in Motor Vehicle Fuel more
Summary: SB489 promote alternative vehicle fuels by requiring at least a 5% biodiesel component in diesel fuel by 2012.
Outcome: Passed both chambers and signed into law.
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Support |
A |
2007 |
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SB 693 |
State Engineer Permits for Subdivisions more
Summary: SB693 would have strengthened state engineer evaluation of water availability for new subdivisions by reducing the assessment threshold from subdivisions of 20 parcels or more to subdivisions of 5 parcels or more, while also making the state engineer recommendations binding on county commissions.
Outcome: SB693 passed the Senate (33-1), but failed on the House floor (21-35).
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Support |
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2007 |
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SB 800 |
Campaign Reporting Requirements more
Summary: SB800 limits campaign contributions and requires reporting for independent expenditures.
Outcome: Defeated in the Senate on a vote to concur with House amendments. House members' votes are scored on the bill itself; Senators' votes are scored on the motion to concur with the House amendments.
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Support |
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2007 |
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SB 845 |
Above Ground Storage Tank Definition more
Summary: SB845 would exempt tanks used by crop-dusting and crop-spraying services from regulations under the Hazardous Waste Act that apply to above ground storage tanks.
Outcome: Passed both chambers, but pocket-vetoed by the Governor.
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Oppose |
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2007 |
