Once-in-a-generation conservation funding bill passes Senate!
On February 14th, New Mexico took a big step toward establishing the state’s first dedicated, sustainable funding for land and water conservation when the New Mexico Senate passed SB 9 – Create Legacy Permanent Funds – on a vote of 33-7.
Please thank your Senator if they were one of the votes to ensure that we can access all available funds for conserving and protecting New Mexico’s unique and treasured lands, waters, wildlife, and natural heritage.
If adequately funded, the Legacy Funds could leverage more than $1 billion in federal matching funds, making it the most significant state conservation funding commitment in our state’s history. It would give legislators and agencies a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver resources to every tribe and county in the state. Predictable long-term funding would protect New Mexicans from wildfire, flood, and drought, safeguard urban and rural water supplies, support rural and agricultural communities, and grow our outdoor recreation economy.
SB 9 now moves to the House of Representatives, where we and our coalition partners will work to move it swiftly through the legislative process.
