Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources

This House Memorial (HM 45) recognizes the importance of water for rural communities in Taos County and New Mexico, specifically requesting the Water Quality Control Commission to prioritize a petition from Taos County regarding the reuse of treated "produced water" (water from oil/gas operations). It asks the Commission to consider this petition within 90 days of receipt and hold related hearings in Questa, New Mexico. The memorial emphasizes using treated produced water for industrial needs like data centers to protect freshwater resources, rather than diverting them. As a non-binding memorial, it directly affects Taos County communities and the Commission's procedural timeline.

This bill increases the annual transfer of funds from the New Mexico Irrigation Works Construction Fund to the Acequia and Community Ditch Infrastructure Fund from $2.5 million to $5 million. It directly affects acequia (traditional community irrigation systems) and local ditch infrastructure projects by providing them with doubled annual funding. The key mechanism is an amendment to existing state statute governing fund allocations, while maintaining a separate $1 million annual transfer to the Forest Land Protection Revolving Fund. The change takes effect on July 1, 2026, and represents a concrete policy shift in water infrastructure funding priorities.

This memorial requests seven New Mexico state agencies - including the Department of Game and Fish, State Land Office, and Department of Agriculture - to attend a 2026 workshop on insect identification, ecology, and management. Sponsored by the Wild Friends program, UNM’s Museum of Southwestern Biology, and the Xerces Society, the workshop aims to improve agency knowledge of insects’ ecological roles. Agencies are encouraged to share educational materials developed by students and the sponsors, focusing on public outreach about insects’ importance to pollination, soil health, and ecosystem balance. The memorial does not create new laws but seeks to foster collaboration between agencies and educational partners to address public misconceptions about insects. It is a non-binding request, not a legislative mandate.

HJM 1 is a non-binding resolution urging New Mexico's legislature to recognize certified water and wastewater operators as essential workers and fund a study on adding them to state health insurance and retirement programs. It highlights their critical role in maintaining safe drinking water (removing contaminants like lead and PFAS) and treating wastewater to protect ecosystems and public health. The resolution does not create new laws but requests legislative action to elevate their status and explore benefits. It directly affects certified operators who manage water infrastructure but does not change current policies.

Signed