SENATE BILL 342

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

INTRODUCED BY

George K. Muñoz and Elizabeth "Liz" Stefanics

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO WATER; REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO PROMULGATE RULES FOR THE USE OF BRACKISH WATER; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER FOR BRACKISH WATER USE EXPLORATION, TREATMENT AND AQUIFER CHARACTERIZATION FOR WATER PROJECTS; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE NEW MEXICO INSTITUTE OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY AND THE BOARD OF REGENTS OF NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PROJECTS RELATED TO BRACKISH WATER USE.

 

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

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--PROJECT RULES.--The department of environment shall by December 31, 2026 promulgate rules for the use of naturally occurring brackish water for the water projects specified in Section 2 of this act. As used in this section, "brackish water" means water that is sourced from an aquifer, the top of which is at a depth of two thousand five hundred feet or more below the surface of the ground, contains not less than one thousand parts per million of dissolved solids and is not produced water.

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the state engineer for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for planning, design, administration and matching federal, private and public water utility funds for brackish water use exploration, treatment and aquifer characterization water projects to benefit the lower Rio Grande, middle Rio Grande, Permian basin and northwest quadrant of the state. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2030 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 3. APPROPRIATION.--Sixteen million dollars ($16,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of the New Mexico institute of mining and technology for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for innovation, research, monitoring, support and development of technology associated with water projects pursuant to Section 2 of this act and for aquifer monitoring and improved ground water characterization. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2030 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 4. APPROPRIATION.--Four million dollars ($4,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the board of regents of New Mexico state university for expenditure in fiscal years 2026 through 2030 for the innovation, research, monitoring, support and development of technology associated with water projects pursuant to Section 2 of this act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2030 shall revert to the general fund.

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