HB 175 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

FOREST & WATERSHED BUFFER PROJECTS

HB 175 amends New Mexico's Forest and Watershed Restoration Act to make projects creating or maintaining "buffers" (treated areas reducing wildfire fuel) in wildland-urban interfaces eligible for funding. These buffers act as barriers between homes and forests to limit wildfire spread and create safer zones for firefighters. The bill specifically adds this type of project to the list of eligible uses for the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund, which previously supported broader restoration efforts. It directly affects communities in fire-prone areas where homes meet undeveloped land, providing a new funding pathway for wildfire prevention infrastructure.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Jan 28, 2025 Signed Mar 20, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the Forest and Watershed Restoration Act to better prioritize projects that create buffers around wildland-urban interfaces, which are areas where human development meets forested land. The changes clarify definitions and expand eligibility criteria to ensure funding goes to projects that reduce wildfire risk and protect water sources in high-risk areas.

Scope change

The bill's scope now more explicitly targets projects that create or maintain buffers in wildland-urban interfaces, making these projects specifically eligible for funding from the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'buffer' (an area treated to reduce wildfire fuel), 'high-risk area' (areas with high wildfire probability), and 'wildland-urban interface' (where structures meet undeveloped wildland).

ELIGIBILITY

Projects that create or maintain buffers in or around wildland-urban interfaces are now explicitly listed as eligible for funding.

Updated eligibility criteria to require projects to target high-risk areas and create or maintain buffers in wildland-urban interfaces.

FISCAL

Added priority funding considerations for projects that leverage multiple funding sources and are located in areas with wood supply for biomass energy or traditional forest products.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that projects must obtain all necessary state and federal permits before receiving funding, unless they are planning projects.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2025 · House Mar 7, 2025

How they voted

35–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 40

Mar 16, 2025

D Democratic24

22 Yea 2

91% Yea

R Republican16

13 Yea 3

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 20, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 8, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Conservation Committee

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 10, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors