‘Not here. Not in New Mexico’ – Legislative Session To Define the Future of Our Democratic State
CVNM and Legislators Outline Urgency of State Action At Time Of Unprecedented Federal Upheaval
[SANTA FE] – On Thursday January 29th 2026, Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) joined community leaders, advocates, legislators, and state decision-makers at CVNM’s 2026 Legislative Reception. Each year, the event showcases CVNM’s legislative priorities and honors an elected leader for their service in office. This year, the event sparked a deepened sense of urgency, highlighting the necessity of statewide action in the wake of dangerous, deadly, and unlawful actions by the Department of Homeland Security in Minnesota and across the country.
“The unjust deaths of Alex, Renee, and so many others, are a part of an assault on democracy,” stated Demis Foster, CVNM Chief Executive Officer. “The Trump Administration is using every tool it can conjure to obstruct our constitutional rights, brutalize our people, and avoid accountability. In response, we say – ‘Not here. Not in New Mexico.’ This legislative session will define the future of our democratic state. Our history will be defined by what we do in this moment. We must do all we can to hold bad actors accountable, and protect our communities, our people, and all that we love about the Land of Enchantment from these heinous attacks.”
Key policies CVNM believes will protect New Mexico are outlined in its legislative agenda, published on January 29th. It outlines a series of democracy, climate, justice, lands, and water policies introduced thus far by the legislature, including HB 9 Immigrant Safety Act which would stop the use of public land for immigration detention. Detention centers and the private prison companies that run them have a history of environmental and human rights abuse.They create unsafe, unsanitary conditions through air and water pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency has also documented dozens of contaminants in soil and groundwater from detention facilities, including asbestos, benzene, lead, mercury, and volatile organic compounds (VOC). In some cases, these pollutants have also contaminated watersheds and rivers. HB 9 passed the House Floor and Senate Judiciary Committee, and now awaits the Senate Floor.
CVNM has also prioritized SB 18 The Clear Horizons Act, sponsored by Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart. The legislation was added to the Governor’s call during the 2026 State of the State Address, marking it an Administrative priority for Lujan Grisham’s final legislative session. The bill codifies the state’s ambitious climate goals, achieving net-zero carbon pollution by 2050 or sooner, at a time when the Trump Administration has dismantled the bedrock of federal environmental protection, funding, and programs.
“New Mexicans have said loud and clear that we can no longer wait on climate action,” stated Senate President Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart. “As climate-driven disasters increase, families are already paying the price through higher insurance premiums, utility bills, and everyday costs. This is our chance to stand firm in our commitment to creating new, good paying jobs, holding polluters accountable, and investing in our state’s future. New Mexico has shown time and time again that we know to lead, and the moment we find ourselves is no different. We have what it takes – we just need to seize the moment and pass the Clear Horizons Act.”
Other priorities on CVNM’s 2026 legislative agenda include:
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- HJR 5 – Legislative Compensation, CA, which would modernize the state legislature by providing legislators with a salary. By paying legislators, New Mexico will benefit from more ordinary, working New Mexicans being able to step up and represent their communities in the Roundhouse, which strengthens our democracy and greatly benefits civil society.
- SB 53 – Community & Health Info Safety & Privacy Act (CHISPA), which would not allow private user data to be shared or used without consent. This protects the public from being targeted or discriminated against for activities like exercising their first amendment rights.
- SB 66 – Abandoned Uranium Mine Cleanup, which appropriates $50 million for cleanup of abandoned mining sites. New Mexico is home to hundreds of abandoned mines that continue to harm community health and the environment to this day. These funds would help continue essential work to address this.
- SB 104 – Removal of Wildlife Commission Members, which would create a more unbiased and equitable removal process for members of the Wildlife Commission. In 2025, the legislature passed SB 5, though not the specific part of that legislation updating the removal process for the Wildlife Commission.
During the reception, CVNM honored Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, Speaker of the House Javier Martínez, and the environmental and democracy champions in each chamber of the legislature. Champions are defined as having a lifetime score of 90% or above on CVNM’s annual Conservation Scorecard. Current-serving legislators with this honor include:
State Senate:
- Senator Heather Berghmans (SD-15), 100% lifetime score
- Senator Angel Charley, (SD-30), 100% lifetime score
- Senator Katy Duhigg, (SD-10), 95% lifetime score
- Senator Natalie Figueroa, (SD-18), 100% lifetime score
- Senator Carrie Hamblen, (SD-38), 100% lifetime score
- Senator Martin Hickey, (SD-20), 98% lifetime score
- Senator Leo Jaramillo, (SD-5), 96% lifetime score
- Senator Cindy Nava, (SD-9), 100% lifetime score
- Senator Debbie Micaelita O’Malley, (SD-13), 91% lifetime score
- Senator Michael Padilla, (SD-14), 91% lifetime score
- Senator Shannon Pinto, (SD-3), 95% lifetime score
- Senator Harold Pope, (SD-23), 98% lifetime score
- Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, (SD-16), 99% lifetime score
- Senator William Soules, (SD-37), 95% lifetime score
- Senator Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, (SD-39), 98% lifetime score
- Senator Jeff Steinborn, (SD-36), 98% lifetime score
- Senate Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, (SD-17), 98% lifetime score
- Senator Linda Trujillo, (SD-24), 100% lifetime score
- Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, (SD-25), 99% lifetime score
State House:
- Rep. Michelle Abeyta, (HD-69), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Marianna Anaya, (HD-18), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Janelle Anyanonu, (HD-19), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, (HD-33), 94% lifetime score
- Rep. Kathleen Cates, (HD-44), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Christine Chandler, (HD-43), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Eleanor Chávez, (HD-26), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Art De La Cruz, (HD-12), 94% lifetime score
- Rep. Joanne Ferrary, (HD-37), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, (HD-14), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Joy Garratt, (HD-29), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Anita Gonzales, (HD-70), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Yanira Gurrola, (HD-16), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Joseph F. Hernandez, (HD-4), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Pamelya Herndon, (HD-28), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Susan K. Herrera, (HD-41), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Dayan Hochman-Vigil, (HD-15), 96% lifetime score
- Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, (HD-5), 92% lifetime score
- Rep. Charlotte Little, (HD-68), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Tara Lujan, (HD-48), 100% lifetime score
- Speaker of the House Javier Martínez, (HD-11), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Marian Matthews, (HD-27), 90% lifetime score
- Rep. Matthew McQueen, (HD-50), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Kristina Ortez, (HD-42), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Cristina Parajón , (HD-25), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Andrea Romero, (HD-46), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. G. Andés Romero, (HD-10), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero, (HD-13), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Angelica Rubio, (HD-35), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Debra Sariñana, (HD-21), 99% lifetime score
- Rep. Linda Serrato, (HD-45), 98% lifetime score
- Rep. Sarah Silva, (HD-53), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Nathan P. Small, (HD-36), 97% lifetime score
- Rep. Reena Szczepanski, (HD-47), 100% lifetime score
- Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, (HD-24), 99% lifetime score
- Rep. E. Diane Torres-Velasquez, (HD-30), 100% lifetime score
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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.