CVNM Urges Legislature To Pass Critical Climate, Democracy, and Water Priorities
30-day session represents narrow window to protect New Mexicans from harm of Trump regime
[Santa Fe] – Today, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) announced several priority policies for the 2026 legislative session to protect New Mexico’s democracy, lands and water, and address the climate crisis. This year’s session convenes at a time of nationwide civil unrest, with state democratic lawmakers committing to prioritize action that protects the state from the harms and impacts of the Trump regime. The 2026 30-day legislative session is focused on fiscal priorities and the state budget. Other priorities were announced today as part of the Governor’s call during the State of the State Address. Those priorities include funding universal childcare, education reforms, road infrastructure, public safety, and more.
The Clear Horizons Act was highlighted as a key environmental priority for Governor Lujan Grisham during her address. The legislation, sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, will codify the state’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon pollution by 2050. Over the past several years, New Mexicans have witnessed record temperatures, wildfires, and drought, directly harming our economy, communities, and quality of life. The Colorado College’s 2025 Conservation In The West poll shows that a vast majority of voters (77%) believe climate change is a serious problem and want state leaders to take action. Over the past year, the Trump regime has cut federal funding for programs directly benefitting New Mexico’s economy, including grants for renewable energy businesses and energy efficiency. As a result, New Mexico families have seen their electricity bills increase by 8%.
“The Trump Administration’s chaotic energy policies have forced higher costs on families and defunded programs that create jobs and revenue for our communities, including wind and solar manufacturing and installation,” stated Demis Foster, CVNM Chief Executive Officer. “This is destabilizing our economy at a time when New Mexicans desperately need economic relief and revenues from the oil and gas industry are declining. We applaud Governor Lujan Grisham for adding the Clear Horizons Act to the call. The time has come to put the state’s commitments into law. It solidifies the path the state is already on to diversify our economy, invest in renewable energy industries, and create long-term solutions that reduce the cost of our energy bills. We urge the legislature to stand with working families by supporting this important legislation.”
The House Democratic Caucus has also prioritized the Immigrant Safety Act, which closes loopholes that allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to hide behind local governments and bypass mandated federal safety oversight. This bill will also prohibit the state or local municipalities from issuing contracts with ICE (or for profit prison companies) for immigration detention centers. Detention centers are a significant water user in areas often suffering from declining aquifers. They have caused land and water pollution, from sewage backup to improper water treatment, causing harm to the environment, those detained, and the surrounding community.
“CVNM believes all people deserve dignity and we stand in strong solidarity with our partners in support of the Immigrant Safety Act,” stated Arturo Castillo, CVNM Director of Equity and Culture. “New Mexico’s detention facilities are a source of well-documented human rights violations and poor treatment of detainees. They leave lasting harm on the air we breathe and water we drink. With Trump’s push to unjustly detain more of our neighbors, the pressure for detention center expansion will only exacerbate these issues. We call for the Governor and state legislature to take a stand on this issue by passing the Immigrant Safety Act this Legislative Session.”
The state legislature is also poised to consider legislation to protect New Mexicans from the unnecessary collection, mismanagement, and misuse of consumer and other private data. The Trump regime and big corporations have increasingly leveraged social media, consumer data and databases to track and target individuals exercising their First Amendment rights – as well as those in mixed-immigration status families, LGBTQ individuals and those seeking reproductive health care. The New Mexico Community & Health Information Safety & Privacy Act (NM CHISPA) and the Driver Privacy and Safety Act ensure that the public has control over their data, protecting it from collection, sale and trade and mismanagement by corporations or hostile government actors.
“Free and safe political expression is a core tenant of a functioning and healthy democracy,” stated John Martinez, CVNM Political Director. “By protecting consumer and public information from falling into the hands of bad actors, NM CHISPA and the Driver Privacy and Safety Act will allow New Mexicans to express themselves freely, participate in peaceful civic action, and engage fully in the political process. Full engagement makes our country stronger. Suppressing free political speech will be our downfall. We must continue to uphold the values of a truly equitable democracy, and we urge the Governor and legislature to pass this legislation as quickly as possible.”
The state legislature has taken significant steps in recent years to modernize legislative governance through the hiring of year-around legislative assistants to help legislators carry out their work. However, New Mexico remains the only state with a “volunteer” legislature receiving minimal per diem for its service. This structure is a barrier for many New Mexicans who lack independent wealth or job flexibility to allow them to serve as a legislator, not just in the regular sessions, but during the long months of interim legislative sessions where prospective new legislation and new budgets are first worked out. Legislation to provide state lawmakers with a salary will be introduced again this year.
“It is well-past time for New Mexico to adopt a legislative structure that ensures that New Mexicans most impacted by policy are able to step into decision-making roles,” stated John Martinez, Political Director. “An unpaid legislature excludes most New Mexicans from running for office and representing their communities. It also means that many of those who can afford to run and serve have vested economic conflicts with legislation brought before them. This must change. We stand in strong support of legislative modernization.”
The legislature is also poised to shape and finalize the state’s budget to address federal budget cuts and critical state needs. Among those CVNM will advocate for robust funding for environmental regulators and funding for water protection and resilience. A recent study of New Mexico’s groundwater found that as much as 85% of the water withdrawn each year is not being replaced. Many small towns and villages are using water and sewer systems that are on the verge of total collapse. CVNM is calling for increased funding for the Strategic Water Reserve, the critical aquifer mapping program, abandoned uranium mine clean up, the River Stewardship Program, and changes through the Land Conservation Incentives Act.
“New Mexico is entering the fourth decade of drought,” stated Zoe Barker, CVNM Legislative Director. “This seems almost incomprehensible but there is no end in sight. CVNM has pushed for increases in funding to all of New Mexico’s water management agencies and programs for many years and this year we will be urging legislators to make the largest funding allocations possible to address the infrastructure crisis, support funding needs for the state surface water quality permitting program, and ensure that successful and necessary programs like the Water Data Initiative and aquifer mapping, river conservation, farm and ranch conservation easements, and river compact compliance are fully funded. Water can’t wait.”
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Conservation Voters New Mexico is a statewide, nonpartisan nonprofit committed to connecting the people of New Mexico to their political power to protect our air, land and water for a healthy Land of Enchantment. We do this by mobilizing voters, winning elections, holding elected officials accountable and advancing responsible public policies.