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HB 91 |
Public Utility Rate Structures more
Summary: HB 91: Public Utility Rate Structure - allows investor-owned utilities (like PNM) to provide New Mexico’s most vulnerable residents with lower electric and gas bills.
Outcome: HB 91 passed the House 42-25, then passed the Senate 26-16, and was signed into law by the Governor
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2025 |
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SB 4 |
Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions more
Summary: SB 4: Clear Horizons & Greenhouse Gas Emissions - would have codified the Governor's 2019 executive order and put the state on a path to reduce economy-wide fossil fuel emissions. SB 4 died in Senate Financial Committee.
Outcome: SB 4 passed the Senate Conservation Committee, but died in the Senate Finance Committee.
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2025 |
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SB 5 |
Game Commission Reform more
Summary: SB 5: Department of Game & Fish Modernization - updates and modernizes the Department of Game and Fish, as well as the Game & Fish Commission, it reforms it into the Department of Wildlife with an updated mission and scope of work. SB 5 received a partial veto from the Governor striking the Game Commissioner removal process. All other aspects were signed into law.
Outcome: SB 5 passed the Senate 37-5, then passed the House 44-23, and was partially vetoed and signed into law by the Governor
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2025 |
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SB 21 |
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act more
Summary: SB 21: Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act - protects the state’s waters by authorizing key components of a state permitting program for waters no longer protected by the federal Clean Water Act. This bill also transfers water pollution prevention permitting to New Mexico that is currently done by the EPA for waters still federally protected. SB 21 passed and has been signed by the Governor.
Outcome: SB 21 passed the Senate 25-16, and passed the House 43-25. It was signed into law by the Governor.
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2025 |
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SB 23 |
Oil & Gas Royalty Rate Changes more
Summary: SB 23: Oil & Gas Royalty Rate Changes - updates the royalty rate with a range of 20% to 25% for productive state trust land leases in southeastern New Mexico, potentially generating $50 to $84 million annually. SB 23 passed and has been signed by the Governor.
Outcome: SB 23 passed the Senate 21-15, and passed the House 37-31. It was signed into law by the Governor.
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2025 |
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SB 36 |
Sensitive Personal Information Nondisclosure more
Summary: SB 36: Sensitive Personal Information Nondisclosure - protects all New Mexicans’ personal and sensitive information from misuse by government employees.
Outcome: SB 36 passed the Senate 26-14, then passed the House 42-23, and was signed into law by the Governor
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2025 |
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SB 37 |
Strategic Water Reserve more
Summary: SB 37: Strategic Water Reserve - helps keep water in streams for two new specific purposes to support instream flows and recreational, cultural and habitat uses. SB 37 passed and has been signed by the Governor.
Outcome: SB 37 passed the Senate 25-15, and passed the House 42-20. It was signed into law by the Governor.
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2025 |
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SB 48 |
Community Benefit Act more
Summary: SB 48: Community Benefit Fund - establishes the Community Benefit Fund to invest $340 million in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and provides renewable energy resources. SB 48 passed and has been signed by the Governor.
Outcome: SB 48 passed the Senate 23-15, and passed the House 39-26. It was signed into law by the Governor.
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2025 |
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HB 41 |
Clean Transportation Fuel Standards more
Summary: Establishes a market for alternative fuels to reduce carbon pollution from the transportation sector
Outcome: HB 41 passed through the House by a vote of 36-33 and through the Senate 26-15. It was signed into law by the Governor on March 5, 2024.
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2024 |
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SB 5 |
Firearms Near Polling Places more
Summary: Improves safety at the polls by making it a petty misdemeanor for New Mexicans without a concealed carry permit to bring a firearm within 100 feet of a polling location and within 50 feet of a ballot drop box
Outcome: SB 5 passed the Senate by a vote of 26-16 and the House by 35-34, and was signed into law by the Governor on March 4.
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2024 |
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HB 4 |
Voting Rights Protections more
Summary: Sweeping reforms to increase access to the ballot for New Mexicans
Outcome: HB 4 passed through the House 41-26 and the Senate 27-14; signed by the Governor on March 30, 2023.
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2023 |
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HB 184 |
State Game Commission Changes more
Summary: Updates the Game Commission to make it more stable and less politically volatile
Outcome: HB 184 passed through the House 45-21 and the Senate 34-2; not signed by the Governor and therefore pocket vetoed.
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Support |
E |
2023 |
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SB 9 |
Create Legacy Permanent Funds more
Summary: Created permanent funding for key state conservation programs
Outcome: SB 9 passed through the Senate 33-7 and the House 54-11; signed by the Governor on March 23, 2023.
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2023 |
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SB 53 |
Storage of Certain Radioactive Waste more
Summary: Prohibits establishments of nuclear waste storage in NM without state consent
Outcome: SB 53 passed through the Senate 21-13 and House 35-28; signed by the Governor on March 17, 2023.
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2023 |
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SB 56 |
Distributed Generation Facility Supply Cap more
Summary: Would have raised the cap on solar energy generation for households to account for increasing use of EVs and electric appliances
Outcome: SB 56 passed the Senate 25-10, but was tabled in House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
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2023 |
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SB 439 |
Leg. Approval for Certain Land Purchases more
Summary: Would have limited the state's ability to purchase land where necessary.
Outcome: SB 439 passed out of all Senate committees, but died waiting to be heard on the Senate floor.
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2023 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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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.
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2019 |
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HB 98 |
Local Election Act more
Summary: HB 98 proposes scheduling changes to elections so that local elections occur at the same time as general elections. It also makes provisions for certain elections to be conducted by mail ballot and prohibits advisory-only questions on ballots. Having all elections scheduled together would most likely result in higher turnout for local elections, resulting in more accurate representation of voters’ support for conservation issues.
Outcome: HB 98 passed the House 51-10 and passed the Senate 25-15. The bill was signed by the Governor on March 7, 2018.
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2018 |
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SB 79 |
Solar Market Development Tax Credit more
Summary: SB 79 would have allowed taxpayers to take up to a 10% tax credit for installing thermal or photovoltaic solar systems, for both residential and business installations. It established a $5 million aggregate cap for the amount of tax credits taken in a year, but did not separate out residential and business installations. It was simpler than HB 36, and would have accomplished the same goal of promoting the use of renewable energy.
Outcome: SB 79 passed the Senate 35-6 and passed the House 40-26. The bill was pocket vetoed by the Governor.
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2018 |
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SB 189 |
Assurance for Plugging Oil & Gas Wells more
Summary: SB 189 increases the cap of the amount of the surety bond a company must post for the plugging of an inactive oil or gas well from $50,000 to $250,000. This increased amount is more in line with the cost of plugging a well and remediating a plugged well that leaks, blows out or otherwise fails.
Outcome: SB 189 passed the Senate 40-0 and passed the House 54-11. The bill was signed by the Governor on February 28, 2018.
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2018 |
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HB 144, HB 154, HB 280 |
Industrial Hemp Research Rules more
Summary: These bills would have allowed the NM Department of Agriculture to issue licenses to permit growing industrial hemp for research and development purposes. Industrial hemp is a versatile, fast growing and drought resistant crop that requires little pesticides or herbicides and would serve to diversify New Mexico farmers' cash crops.
Outcome: HB 144, which was combined with HB 154 and HB 280, passed the House (42-26) and Senate (30-12) and was vetoed by the Governor.
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2017 |
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HJR 8 |
State Ethics Commission, CA more
Summary: HJR 8 will create an independent ethics commission authorized to investigate, issue opinions and adjudicate violations of laws governing standards of conduct of members of the legislative and executive branch, employees, contractors and lobbyists. A strong ethical oversight body will help to ensure that legislators are transparently representing the conservation values of their constituents.
Outcome: HJR 8 passed the House (66-0) and the Senate (30-9). The measure will now be decided by the voters in the next general election.
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2017 |
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SB 6 |
Industrial Hemp Research Rules more
Summary: This bill would have allowed the NM Department of Agriculture to issue licenses to permit growing industrial hemp for research and development purposes. Industrial hemp is a versatile, fast growing and drought resistant crop that requires little pesticides or herbicides and would serve to diversify New Mexico farmers' cash crops.
Outcome: SB 6 passed the Senate (37-2) and House (58-8) and was vetoed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 81 |
Wildlife Trafficking Act more
Summary: SB 81 makes trafficking of animal species threatened with extinction a crime and establishes penalties. This will help preserve endangered species and also keep money out of the hands of international criminals.
Outcome: SB 81 passed the Senate (27-12) and the House (42-24). The bill was pocket vetoed (not signed by April 7, 2017) by the Governor.
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2017 |
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SB 107 |
State Agency Post-Contract Audits more
Summary: SB 107 would have required post-contract audits of state agency contracts of $10 million or more. This would have encouraged more transparency in government and helped assure New Mexico is getting a good value for the dollar on contracted projects, including conservation projects.
Outcome: SB 107 failed on the Senate Floor.
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2017 |
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SB 157 |
Interstate Stream Commission Membership more
Summary: This bill would have changed the composition of the Interstate Stream Commission in order to more fairly represent communities impacted by the commission’s actions and help remove political bias.
Outcome: SB 157 died in the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee.
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2017 |
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SB 215 |
Energy & Water Project Financing more
Summary: SB 215 would have allowed a property owner to enter into an assessment contract (financing in their mortgage) with a renewable energy district for purposes of financing energy improvements (including distributed renewable energy systems, energy storage systems or energy efficiency improvements) or water conservation improvements to the owner's property. These types of programs are also called PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) programs.
Outcome: SB 215 died in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.
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2017 |
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SB 226 |
Efficient Utility Water Use more
Summary: SB 226 would have required public utilities to include water use efficiency in their integrated resource plans (IRP) in addition to other efficiencies and resources currently required to be included in the plans. It specified the analysis should include impacts to water quality.
Outcome: SB 226 died in the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
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2017 |
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SB 227 |
State Facility Renewable Energy Use more
Summary: SB 227 requires the General Services Department to adopt rules for and issue requests for proposals (RFP) to analyze and implement renewable energy improvements for state facilities.
Outcome: SB 227 passed the Senate (36-4) and the House (44-19). The bill was vetoed by the Governor.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 268 |
Prohibit Coyote Killing Contests more
Summary: SB 268 would have prohibited coyote killing contests, which are defined as an organized or sponsored competition with the objective of killing coyotes for prizes or entertainment. It would not have prevented the hunting of coyotes or depredation control of coyotes.
Outcome: SB 268 died on the House calendar.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 312 |
Renewable Energy Requirements for Utilities more
Summary: SB 312 would have increased the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to require that renewable energy comprise 70% of total retail sales to NM customers of rural electric cooperatives by 2040 and requires that renewable energy comprise 80% of total retail sales to NM customers of public utilities by 2040. It also prescribes the formula by which these goals are to be achieved. This would have the effect of reducing the demand for fossil fuel energy, which negatively impacts the environment, climate and public health.
Outcome: SB 312 died in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 350 |
Agricultural Land Valuations more
Summary: This bill would have allowed land owners to take land valued as agricultural land out of agricultural production and leave it as open space. The open space land then would be valued at more than the agricultural value, but not valued at the much higher developed land rate, and would not be subject to the five year tax claw back. This would have allowed land owners to preserve the land for future agricultural use should they or their successors wish to return it to production, rather than being economically forced to sell off or develop the land, thus contributing to rural sprawl.
Outcome: SB 350 died in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 375 |
Royalty Rates on State Trust Lands more
Summary: This bill would have granted, but would not have mandated, the commissioner of public lands the authority to raise the royalty rate and its point of application (for all oil and gas extracted, not just that saved) for oil and gas extracted from public lands to enhance revenue for beneficiaries. It also gave the authority to require reporting of gas venting and flaring.
Outcome: SB 375 died in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 394 |
Industrial Revenue Bond Changes more
Summary: SB 394 would have provided for county industrial revenue bonds within the Industrial Revenue Bond Act, and made changes to the list of projects that may be funded by these bonds. Significantly, it added mining projects and refineries, treatment plants or processing plants of energy products, subsidizing private for-profit and extractive industries with revenue bonds paid for by taxpayers.
Outcome: SB 394 died in the Senate Finance Committee.
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2017 |
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SB 413 |
Uses of Oil & Gas Reclamation Fund more
Summary: SB 413 would have limited the use of the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund for agency employee salaries. The bill provided that beginning in fiscal year 2023, 85% of the expenditures from the fund would be used to pay for contract services for plugging, remediation and restoration work.
Outcome: SB 413 died on the Senate calendar.
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Support |
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2017 |
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SB 452 |
Public Use & "Eminent Domain" more
Summary: SB 452 would have prevented the use of eminent domain for projects that would create an economic opportunity for the party receiving the condemned land. This bill was in response to the Kelo v. City of New London case, but was drafted too broadly and may have prevented use of eminent domain by Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) to facilitate construction of renewable energy transmission lines.
Outcome: SB 452 died in the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee.
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Oppose |
E |
2017 |
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HB 285 |
Tax RateDifferential For Certain Oil more
Summary: HB 285 (and its companion SB 34) would have extended a reduction in the severance tax to oil and other liquid hydrocarbons removed from natural gas at or near the wellhead produced from a qualified enhanced recovery project that involved the application of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is carbon dioxide that is produced by human activities such as oil refining. This bill would have subsidized an extremely expensive oil and gas method at the expense of other taxpayer priorities.
Outcome: HB 285 passed the House (59-7) but died in the Senate Finance Committee. SB 34 died in the Senate Finance Committee.
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Oppose |
E |
2016 |
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SB 34 |
Tax Rate Differential For Certain Oil more
Summary: SB 34 (and its companion HB 285) would have extended a reduction in the severance tax to oil and other liquid hydrocarbons removed from natural gas at or near the wellhead produced from a qualified enhanced recovery project that involved the application of anthropogenic carbon dioxide. Anthropogenic carbon dioxide is carbon dioxide that is produced by human activities such as oil refining. This bill would have subsidized an extremely expensive oil and gas method at the expense of other taxpayer priorities.
Outcome: SB 34 died in the Senate Finance Committee. HB 285 passed the House (59-7) but died in the Senate Finance Committee.
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Oppose |
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2016 |
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SB 76 |
Lead in Sale of Recycled Metals Act more
Summary: SB 76 adds lead and lead-based products (such as lead-acid batteries) to the products regulated by the Recycled Metals Act. It helps to ensure that lead is disposed of in a way that minimizes its environmental impact.
Outcome: SB 76 passed the Senate (41-0) and the House (59-0). The bill was signed by the Governor on March 4, 2016.
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Support |
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2016 |
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SM 34 |
Eddy-Lea energy Alliance Storage Facility more
Summary: SM 34 (and its companion HM 40) authorizes the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance to construct a consolidated interim storage facility at its site in southeastern New Mexico for the storage of spent nuclear fuel rods from commercial (for-profit) nuclear power generation plants. This facility will pose significant risks to public health and safety both at the site of the facility and during transport of the spent fuel to the facility.
Outcome: SM 34 passed the Senate (27-10). HM 40 passed the House (50-17). Memorials and resolutions do not require action by the Governor.
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Oppose |
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2016 |