HOUSE BILL 423

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Debra M. Sariñana and Joy Garratt and Yanira Gurrola

AN ACT

MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER FOR WATER SECURITY PLANNING ACT, WATER DATA ACT AND RIO GRANDE COMPACT COMPLIANCE MEASURES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION--WATER PLANNING.--Thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the state engineer for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2028 for the interstate stream commission pursuant to the Water Security Planning Act to provide grants to political subdivisions of the state as fiscal agents for regional water planning entities. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION--WATER DATA ACT COMPLIANCE.-- Thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the state engineer for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2028 for the office of the state engineer and the interstate stream commission to improve business processes and information technology systems for internal and public access to water data and to fully comply with the agencies' Water Data Act responsibilities as directing agencies and the agencies' Water Security Planning Act responsibilities as water data providers. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION--WATER RIGHTS.--Two million dollars ($2,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the state engineer for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to promulgate rules pursuant to Section 72-2-9.1 NMSA 1978 and take actions required to enforce Rio Grande water rights along the Rio Grande from the Los Alamos highway bridge to Elephant Butte reservoir to ensure compliance with New Mexico's water delivery obligations to Elephant Butte reservoir pursuant to the Rio Grande Compact. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2027 shall revert to the general fund.

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