Dear Acequia Community,

We are past the half-way mark in the 2025 Legislative session and this is where things stand:

• HB 330 (Rep. Garcia, Sen. Jaramillo, Rep. J Martinez) and SB 374 (Sen. Jaramillo, Sen. Campos, Sen. Gonzales) will create a Land Grant-Merced Fund and an Acequia Infrastructure fund by earmarking 2.2 percent of the severance tax bond capacity to fund qualifying Land Grant-Merced and Acequia infrastructure projects. 
• HB 330 passed its first committee and will be heard next in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee. Please view the  hearing information and action alert below.
• SB 374 was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Indian, Rural, and Cultural Affairs Committee earlier this week but was postponed. We will send an action alert when it is on the calendar again.

• SB 208 (Campos, Sanchez, Herrera). This bill would increase the recurring appropriation from the Irrigation Works Construction Fund to the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund (ACDIF) at ISC. This bill passed its first committee and is waiting for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee.

• HB 2 - The Budget Bill passed the House and will now be heard in the Senate. Based on our preliminary review, one of our budget priorities, funding for the Acequia and Community Ditch Fund (ACDF), $1.2 million, was included as a one-time special appropriation. The purpose of the ACDF is to provide resources to regional acequia associations for support in the adjudication process. We will be advocating in the Senate for funding for the NM Acequia Commission. 

• SB 21 and SB 22 (Wirth, Ortez, Gonzales). These bills were combined into one bill. The purpose of the combined bill SB 21 is to ensure that New Mexico has tools to protect clean water. The bills would enable the New Mexico Environment Department to administer surface water permitting by taking over those responsibilities now covered by the EPA through the Clean Water Act. SB 21 will be voted on in the full Senate this evening. 

HB 330 (García, Jaramillo, Martínez) is scheduled to be heard in the House Taxation and Revenue Committee (HTRC) on February 28, 2025, 8:30am in Room 317. You can also participate via zoom following instructions on the HTRC Agenda. 

HB 330 will create a Land Grant-Merced Fund and an Acequia Infrastructure fund by earmarking 2.2 percent of the severance tax bond capacity to fund qualifying Land Grant-Merced and Acequia infrastructure projects. 

If passed, this bill would be a historic step forward in addressing the needs of land grant and acequia communities. Land grants can invest in critically needed projects and acequias can repair and improve irrigation infrastructure. Currently, acequia infrastructure projects have an unmet need of over $75 million. The creation of this funding mechanism will help to maintain our traditional ways of life in New Mexico and strengthen our rural economies.

Committee: House Taxation & Revenue Committee

Date: Friday, February 28, 2025

Time: 8:30am

In Person: Room 317

Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84092015982

Phone:1 253 205 0468    Webinar ID: 840 9201 5982

Click Here to view the HRTC Agenda. 

HB 502 will be heard in the House Agriculture, Acequias, and Water Committee TOMORROW at 9am. This bill would define acequia obligations and rights, including acequia easements, to be defined as material facts in real estate transactions. This will improve the understanding between sellers and new buyers of lands served by acequias with regard to water rights, easements, and the responsibilities of being an acequia parciante. 

Committee: House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources - Kristina Ortez, Chair 

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

Time: 9:00am

In Person: Room 315

Online: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87536227091 

Zoom Call: 1 253 215 8782  Webinar ID: 875 3622 709  

Click Here to view the agenda and hearing information

To send an email in support of HB 502 to the HAAWC Committee members, click the button below

Contact your Senators by email or phone and ask them to support SB 21 TODAY. The full Senate will vote on this bill this evening some time after 6:30pm.  Here is a script:

“Dear Senator _______________:

My name is _________ and I am a parciante/commissioner on the (name your acequia). I am writing to share my support for SB 21. This bill is critical for protecting New Mexico's waters, farms, and families from pollution. Thank you.”

Find your legislator

In solidarity,

The New Mexico Acequia Association

www.lasacequias.org

(505) 995-9644