Santa Fe, NM - Yesterday, the New Mexico Senate Conservation Committee voted unanimously 7-0 with a “do-pass” recommendation for Senate Bill 9: The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, that would create the state’s first dedicated and long-term funding stream for land and water conservation.
"This is a major first step for this important working lands conservation funding initiative we've championed for years. Unanimous endorsement by the Senate Conservation Committee reinforces the importance of this fund” said Lesli Allison, executive director of the Western Landowners Alliance. “The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will allow New Mexico to assist landowners and communities in restoring watershed health and agricultural productivity, so I'm very excited to see the bipartisan support for this bill.”
“We’re proud to be among the broad coalition advocating for this fund and pleased to see the strong bipartisan support it is receiving,” said Pam Roy, executive director of the Farm to Table and coordinator of the New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council. “How we manage our natural resources directly affects the health, safety, livelihoods and quality of life of every New Mexican, and we must seize the opportunity before us to make this historic investment.”
SB9, the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, would invest in existing state programs to leverage federal funds to protect New Mexico communities from wildfire, flood and drought, safeguard urban and rural water supplies, support rural and agricultural communities, and grow our outdoor recreation economy. The bill is sponsored by Senators Steven Neville (R), Peter Wirth (D) and Rep. Nathan Small (D), building on the vision laid out by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham in her executive budget recommendation.
The Fund is a bipartisan product of five years’ negotiations among a broad coalition of legislators, state agencies, community stakeholders and non-governmental organizations. More information can be found here and the text of the bill as introduced can be viewed here. LEARN MORE + TAKE ACTION