New Mexico legislators are considering a bill to ensure long-term funds for conservation.
Senate Bill 9 would create funds from the State Treasury that would be sent to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; the New Mexico Department of Agriculture; the Environment Department; and several other departments; a recent KRQE report said.
Sens. Steven P. Neville (R-San Juan) and Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), sponsors of the bill, noted that it would address issues such as drought.
“New Mexico has a strong agricultural economy, but it needs more resources from the state to protect our land and water from the effects of historic drought,” Debbie Hughes, executive director of the New Mexico Association of Conservation Districts (NMACD), said in a press release, quoted by KRQE.
The bill was discussed during a recent session of the Senate Finance Committee and ultimately passed despite some opposition.
Bronson Corn, speaking on behalf of the New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association, suggested the bill include a requirement that the agencies receiving funds report on how the money is spent; the KRQE report said. He additionally requested that the money not be used to purchase land.
