POLLINATOR RESEARCH

HB 459 allocates $1.5 million from the state general fund to the Higher Education Department for a pollinator research, education, and outreach program at the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe. The program must align with recommendations from a prior legislative report (House Memorial 33) and focuses on supporting healthy pollinator habitats and conservation through research and public education. Funding covers fiscal years 2026-2028, with no more than $150,000 allowed for administrative costs, and any unspent funds revert to the general fund by 2028. The bill directly affects IAIA’s operations and aims to benefit pollinators (like bees and butterflies) and New Mexico ecosystems through science-based conservation efforts.