Legislative News
Search this section • RSS Feed
| Environment New Mexico released its 2008 legislative scorecard today, ranking New Mexico’s legislators state-wide on key environmental votes cast during the 30 day legislative session. | |
| Governor Richardson today signed Senate Bill 471 (Several Tax Bond Projects), which included more than $21 million in environmental capital outlay funding. | |
| Environment New Mexico joined other environmentalists, advocates, department staff, utility representatives and others in the Cabinet Room at the New Mexico State Capitol as Governor Bill Richardson signed important energy efficiency and water legislation into law today. | |
| House Bill 276 (Rep. Silva, SunCal Tax Increment Project Bonds), which would have authorized a $629 million state bond to a 55,000 acre sprawling development on Albuquerque’s west side ran out of time Thursday, failing to receive a Senate floor vote before the session ended at noon. The bond would have diverted gross receipts tax revenues from the state for up to 25 years. | |
| Environment New Mexico and our allies in the legislature worked during the 30 day legislative session to pass bills to protect our air, water and land and to block bills that would have rolled back important environmental protections. These are some of the highlights. | |
| Today, in a 22-15 vote, the New Mexico Senate voted to adopt important energy efficiency legislation, supported by environmentalists, low income and senior advocates and utilities. The bill cleared the New Mexico House of Representatives on February 1, and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk. | |
| In a tie vote yesterday evening, the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee did not take action on a dangerous regulatory rollback bill, sponsored by Rep. Foley. | |
| Supported by industry, SJR 7 (Ingle, Legislative Review of Regulatory Rules) would weaken the separation of powers between the Executive and Legislative branches and threaten key environmental, health and safety protections by placing on the 2008 general election ballot an Amendment to the New Mexico State Constitution to allow the legislature to override rulemaking authority of the Executive Branch. | |
| The New Mexico legislature is considering three pieces of legislation dealing with “greenfield†Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs). Although originally used to promote urban infill development in areas where investment would not happen but for such subsidies, TIDDs have begun to be used to subsidize sprawling greenfield development, encouraging unsustainable development that is contributing to global warming. TIDDs also divert community resources: up to 75 percent of a TIDD’s gross receipts and property tax revenues can be diverted directly into the pockets of developers. | |
| Although originally used to promote urban infill development, Tax Increment Development Districts (TIDDs) have been being used to subsidize sprawling greenfield development, encouraging unsustainable development that is contributing to global warming. TIDDs also divert community resources: up to 75% of a TIDD’s gross receipts and property tax revenues can be diverted directly into the pockets of developers. | |
| Statement by Environment New Mexico Advocate, Lauren Ketcham | |
| The Senate Finance committee has adopted amendments to House Bill 2 (HB2) that would gut New Mexico’s environmental agencies. The amendments would cut $300,000 in funding and two full-time staff attorneys from the New Mexico Environment Department and four full-time staff attorneys from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD). | |
| Today, in a unanimous vote, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted to adopt important energy efficiency legislation, supported by environmentalists, low income and senior advocates and utilities. The bill will now go to the Senate. | |
| Today, the Senate Corporation and Transportation committee voted to table Senate Bill 57, a measure sponsored by Senator Bernadette Sanchez (Albuquerque). | |
| A Statement from Lauren N. Ketcham, Environmental Advocate | |
| During the “Year of Water†2007 legislative session, advocates won passage of an important Environment New Mexico-backed memorial (HJM42), and came just short of passage on an identical joint memorial, both sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart (Albuquerque). | |
| Yesterday, Environment New Mexico’s vision of 50,000 solar roofs got one step closer to becoming a reality. House Bill 610, the Solar Collector Construction Standards bill, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart (Albuquerque), has unanimously passed both houses of the Legislature (Senate 34-0, House 68-0) and now awaits only a signature from Governor Bill Richardson. | |
| Legislation to double New Mexico's renewable energy standard was signed by Governor Richardson today. The Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard, SB418, was sponsored by Senator Michael Sanchez (D-Belen). | |