Christopher Hudson House District 9 | Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter
The Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter has released a statement following the conclusion of New Mexico's 30-day legislative session. The session, which ended at noon on Thursday, saw lawmakers introduce significant climate and democracy legislation. However, the timeline was considered insufficient to meet the state's needs.
One notable outcome was the failure of the Clean Fuels Act, sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart and Rep. Nathan Small. The bill aimed to reduce carbon intensity in fuels and promote transportation electrification but was defeated in a tie vote in the House.
In contrast, voting-rights legislation (SB144) passed in the House after an all-night session but faced delays in the Senate due to Sen. William Sharer's actions.
House Speaker Brian Egolf announced he will not seek re-election. Known for his environmental advocacy, Egolf played a key role in passing various environmental laws and fostering a progressive caucus within the Legislature.
Among the session's successes were HB37 (CEED), led by Tammy Fiebelkorn and Rep. Kristina Ortez, which provides $10 million for energy-efficiency improvements for low-income households; HJR1, allowing voters to decide on constitutional changes related to utility needs; HB164 addressing uranium mine cleanup; and HB163 extending solar tax credits.
A community effort successfully halted hydrogen incentive bills and budget allocations for such projects.
However, some initiatives did not succeed this year. The Clean Future Act (HB6), aiming for substantial climate pollution reductions by 2050, failed due to timing issues. Efforts to prevent high-level nuclear waste storage (HB137) also fell short.
Despite these setbacks, grassroots activism played a crucial role during this legislative session, with remote hearings enabling widespread participation from New Mexicans statewide.
Contact: Camilla Feibelman, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter director at camilla.feibelman@sierraclub.org
