SENATE BILL 79

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

INTRODUCED BY

William P. Soules

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO AVIATION; CREATING THE UNLEADED AVIATION FUEL GRANT PROGRAM; CREATING A FUND; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

 

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] UNLEADED AVIATION FUEL GRANT PROGRAM.--

          A. The "unleaded aviation fuel grant program" is created in the department of transportation to be administered by the aviation division of the department.

          B. Subject to the availability of funds, competitive grants not to exceed two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) may be awarded to eligible applicants for the sole purpose of installing an unleaded aviation fuel dispensing system or otherwise providing unleaded aviation fuel at a publicly owned airport in New Mexico that does not already have an unleaded aviation fuel dispensing system or otherwise provide unleaded aviation fuel.

          C. Only publicly owned airports, political subdivisions of the state and Indian nations, tribes and pueblos may apply for and be awarded an unleaded aviation fuel grant.

          D. The aviation division shall award grants to eligible applicants through a competitive process and based upon eligibility requirements as determined by the division. The division shall establish grant reporting requirements that ensure that grantees use money awarded pursuant to this section within a reasonably prompt time frame to install an unleaded aviation fuel dispensing system or otherwise provide unleaded aviation fuel at a publicly owned airport in New Mexico.

          E. As used in this section, "unleaded aviation fuel" means alcohol-free gasoline used in aircraft that has no more than one thousandth of one gram of lead per gallon.

     SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] UNLEADED AVIATION FUEL GRANT PROGRAM FUND.--The "unleaded aviation fuel grant program fund" is created as a nonreverting fund in the state treasury. The fund consists of distributions, appropriations, gifts, grants, donations and income from investment of the fund. The department of transportation shall administer the fund. Money in the fund is appropriated to the department of transportation to administer and carry out the provisions of the unleaded aviation fuel grant program pursuant to Section 1 of this 2025 act. Disbursements from the fund shall be by warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the secretary of transportation or the secretary's authorized representative.

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars ($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the unleaded aviation fuel grant program fund for expenditure in fiscal year 2026 and subsequent fiscal years for the purposes of the fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund.

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