HOUSE BILL 85

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

INTRODUCED BY

Kathleen Cates and Joanne J. Ferrary

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO TURF; PROHIBITING THE INSTALLATION OF NONFUNCTIONAL TURF ON A STATE-OWNED OR STATE-FUNDED PROPERTY BEGINNING IN 2027; PROHIBITING THE USE OF WATER OTHER THAN RECYCLED OR RECLAIMED WATER TO IRRIGATE NONFUNCTIONAL TURF ON A STATE-OWNED OR STATE-FUNDED PROPERTY BEGINNING IN 2032; REQUIRING NONFUNCTIONAL TURF ON STATE-OWNED OR STATE-FUNDED PROPERTY THAT IS REMOVED TO BE REPLACED WITH DROUGHT- AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT LANDSCAPING BEGINNING IN 2032.

 

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

     SECTION 1. [NEW MATERIAL] NONFUNCTIONAL TURF--PROHIBITIONS ON INSTALLATION AND WATER FOR IRRIGATION--DEFINITIONS.--

          A. On or after January 1, 2027, nonfunctional turf shall not be installed on a state-owned or state-funded property.

          B. On or after January 1, 2032:

                (1) no water other than recycled or reclaimed water shall be used to irrigate nonfunctional turf on a state-owned or state-funded property; and

                (2) nonfunctional turf on a state-owned or state-funded property that is removed shall be replaced with drought- and climate-resilient landscaping.

          C. As used in this section:

                (1) "drought- and climate-resilient landscaping" includes efficient irrigation systems, such as drip, water harvesting and reuse systems, organic mulches, xeriscaping, trees and other plants that, once established, require little to no supplemental water, such as native and drought-tolerant plants;

                (2) "nonfunctional turf" means irrigated turf grass that has no recreational purpose or that is primarily decorative and includes turf in or around medians, roundabouts, parking lots, landscape strips between the sidewalk and the street, commercial properties and industrial properties; and

                (3) "state-funded property" means the property of a capital improvement project for which the state provided at least forty percent of the funding to purchase.

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