A critical bill aimed at protecting New Mexico’s waters has cleared its final committee hurdle and is now headed for a decisive vote on the House floor. The House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee voted 5-4 in favor of SB 21, legislation designed to restore essential clean water safeguards and establish state-level oversight of water permitting.
In recent years, federal rollbacks to Clean Water Act protections have left up to 95% of New Mexico’s streams vulnerable to pollution and degradation. Without a state-level permitting system in place, the state’s waterways were ranked as the most endangered in the nation by American Rivers in its 2024 Most Endangered Rivers report.
SB 21 aims to fill the gap by reinstating long-standing clean water protections at the state level. Additionally, it grants New Mexico the authority to take over permitting responsibilities from the federal government for waters still under federal jurisdiction. This shift would streamline regulatory processes and ensure that oversight remains in the hands of local officials who understand the state’s unique water challenges.
Originally introduced as two separate bills—SB 22 and SB 21—by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Senator Bobby Gonzales, and Representative Kristina Ortez, the legislation has since been consolidated under SB 21. This combined effort creates a framework for a comprehensive state water permitting program, ensuring stronger, locally driven protection for New Mexico’s rivers and streams.
With the bill now set for a vote on the House floor, its passage would mark a major step forward in safeguarding New Mexico’s water resources for generations to come.
“Valuing water and valuing life are one and the same. In the absence of federal protections, our state leaders have an urgent and sacred responsibility to protect our precious waterways of New Mexico for the thriving of all our communities of life, human and beyond, for all generations to come.” – Rev. Clara Sims, Assistant Executive Director, New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light
NM IPL Spring Immersion Retreat Update
/in Actions, Earth & Faith, Faithful Citizenship, Featured Articles, Permian Basin /by adminThe New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light Spring Immersion Retreat over this past weekend brought together people of faith from Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Chaparral, El Paso, San Antonio and Laredo to Southeast New Mexico to learn about oil and gas production and concerns for health and the environment. The group met with frontline community members, viewed illegal methane emissions through a flr camera, prayed, shared concerns and committed to ongoing actions to protect air, water, climate and communities. The next pilgrimage will be in the fall.
New Mexico’s 2025 Legislative Session: Climate Legislation Tracker
/in Actions, Featured Articles, NM Legislature /by adminPriority bills that passed
These bills now go to the Governor for signature before they can become law. Any legislation not acted on by the Governor by April 11 will be pocket vetoed.
Priority bills that did not pass
It often takes many sessions to pass a bill, so take heart that many of bills that did not pass will come back in the future and hopefully come back stronger with greater awareness among legislators and advocates. In particular, we hope that comprehensive climate legislation (SB 4), common sense set-backs of oil and gas operations from schools (HB 35), and funding for public health preparedness and resilience to climate change and extreme weather (HB 109 and 108) will get farther along in the coming years.
Bills we did not want to pass
Key Bill to Restore Clean Water Protections Advances to House Floor
/in NM Legislature, Sacred Land and Water, Water /by adminIn recent years, federal rollbacks to Clean Water Act protections have left up to 95% of New Mexico’s streams vulnerable to pollution and degradation. Without a state-level permitting system in place, the state’s waterways were ranked as the most endangered in the nation by American Rivers in its 2024 Most Endangered Rivers report.
SB 21 aims to fill the gap by reinstating long-standing clean water protections at the state level. Additionally, it grants New Mexico the authority to take over permitting responsibilities from the federal government for waters still under federal jurisdiction. This shift would streamline regulatory processes and ensure that oversight remains in the hands of local officials who understand the state’s unique water challenges.
Originally introduced as two separate bills—SB 22 and SB 21—by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, Senator Bobby Gonzales, and Representative Kristina Ortez, the legislation has since been consolidated under SB 21. This combined effort creates a framework for a comprehensive state water permitting program, ensuring stronger, locally driven protection for New Mexico’s rivers and streams.
With the bill now set for a vote on the House floor, its passage would mark a major step forward in safeguarding New Mexico’s water resources for generations to come.