We're excited to share some major victories this week!
Thanks to the momentum we've built through years of organizing and advocacy, key bills to advance environmental and energy justice, invest in a just transition away from the fossil fuel industry, and expand democracy and justice across our state are making progress at the Roundhouse.
But with just two weeks left in the 2025 Legislative Session, we need to keep up the pressure. Critical bills still have committee hearings ahead, and bills that would advance harmful false solutions continue to threaten our communities and environment, & your voice and advocacy can make all the difference.
Keep reading to learn more about where these bills stand and how you can take action to push for bold, meaningful policies that center the needs of our communities.
HUGE WIN: THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUND PASSES THE SENATE!
We have another huge win to share this week: S.B. 48, the Community Benefit Fund, has passed the Senate by a 23-15 vote! 🎉
For years, YUCCA and young people across New Mexico have been calling for the establishment of a just transition fund, urging our lawmakers to prioritize our futures over polluting industries. S.B. 48, introduced by Senator Mimi Stewart, is a reflection of this long-standing demand that would make critical investments in real solutions that would help to advance a just transition away from our state's dependence on the oil and gas industry.
We want to encourage you to reach out to Senator Stewart (mimi.stewart@nmlegis.gov) to thank her for hearing our voices, recognizing the need for urgent action, and introducing this critical legislation.
Next, the Community Benefit Fund is now headed to the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee. You can help us get S.B. 48 across the finish line by emailing the committee members today to urge them to vote YES on this bill once it is scheduled for a hearing:
Chair Matthew McQueen, matthew.mcqueen@nmlegis.gov
Vice Chair Debra Sariñana, debbie.sarinana@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Rod Montoya, rod.montoya@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta, michelle.abeyta@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Meredith Dixon, meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Miguel P. García, miguel.garcia@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Yanira Gurrola, yanira.gurrola@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Jonathan A. Henry, jonathan.henry@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Mark B. Murphy, mark.murphy@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Elaine Sena Cortez, elaine.senacortez@nmlegis.gov
Rep. Nathan P. Small, nathan.small@nmlegis.gov
S.B. 23 PASSES THE ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE!
S.B. 23, Oil and Gas Royalty Rate Changes, is also continuing to advance through the legislative process – this week, it was passed by the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee during its first hearing in the House! ✅
S.B. 23 takes a crucial step toward ensuring that the resources taken from our lands are reinvested in our people, our communities, and a just transition away from extractive industries.
By increasing our state's top oil and gas royalty rate from 20% to 25%, this change would mark a huge investment in the resources our communities need to thrive, bringing in billions of additional dollars to support our public schools, hospitals, and universities.
As we enter the last two weeks of the 2025 Legislative Session, we need to push hard to get this bill past its last committee hearing and onto the House Floor! You can help us pass S.B. 23 by emailing members of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee at the contact information below to ask them to vote YES on this bill and make a critical investment in the long-term sustainability of our communities:
Chair Nathan P. Small, nathan.small@nmlegis.gov
Vice Chair Meredith A. Dixon, meredith.dixon@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Jack Chatfield, jack.chatfield@nmlegis.gov
Representative Brian Baca, brian.baca@nmlegis.gov
Representative Cathrynn Brown, c.brown.nm55@gmail.com
Representative Rebecca Dow, rebecca.dow@nmlegis.gov
Representative Mark Duncan, Mark.Duncan@nmlegis.gov
Representative Joy Garratt, joy.garratt@nmlegis.gov
Representative Joseph Franklin Hernandez, joseph.hernandez@nmlegis.gov
Representative Pamelya Herndon, pamelya.herndon@nmlegis.gov
Representative Susan Herrera, susan.herrera@nmlegis.gov
Representative Charlotte Little, Charlotte.Little@nmlegis.gov
Representative Tara Lujan, tara.lujan@nmlegis.gov
Representative Randall Pettigrew, randall.pettigrew@nmlegis.gov
Representative Joseph Sanchez, Joseph.Sanchez@nmlegis.gov
Representative Debra Sariñana, debbie.sarinana@nmlegis.gov
Representative Sarah Silva, sarah.silva@nmlegis.gov
Representative Harlan Vincent, Harlan.Vincent@nmlegis.gov
VICTORY FOR ENERGY JUSTICE: LOCAL SOLAR ACCESS FUND PASSES THE SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE!
We're also excited to report that The NMFA Local Solar Access Fund (H.B. 128) passed the Senate Conservation Committee on Thursday! ☀️
We've been supporting this bill alongside our friends at Public Power NM since its introduction, and now, the bill has just 2 steps left in the legislative process – passage through the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Floor – before it heads to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for her signature!
While this bill hasn't been scheduled for its next hearing yet, going to need your help to urge the Senate Finance Committee to pass this bill and advance energy justice across New Mexico in the coming days.
Help us push The NMFA Local Solar Access Fund through the final stages of the legislative process by clicking here to contact your legislators and ask them to vote YES on H.B. 128 to expand energy democracy for our communities.
HELP US END NEW MEXICO'S PROHIBITION ON RENT CONTROL!
🚨 Rent in New Mexico has skyrocketed by more than 70% in 2017, while wages have increased by just 15%. 🚨
That's why we're excited to share that S.B. 216, Rent Control & Certain Entities, passed its first committee by a 6-3 vote last weekend!
As we stand in solidarity with community members across our state who have been impacted by the housing crisis, YUCCA is proud to support this critical bill, which would end New Mexico's prohibition on rent control and help to ensure that our families can keep a roof over their heads.
Right now, S.B. 216 is waiting to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee, and you can help to support this critical legislation today by urging Committee Chair Joseph Cervantes to schedule a hearing for the bill. You can find contact information for Chair Cervantes and additional resources to help you call or email the Senator by clicking the button below.
JOIN US TODAY FOR NO FALSE SOLUTIONS DAY AT THE ROUNDHOUSE!
As harmful bills like The Trade Ports Development Act (H.B. 19), The Reclaimed Water Act (H.B. 311), The Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Act (H.B. 457), Industrial Decarbonization Production Credits (H.B. 538), & Certain Natural Gas as Renewable Energy (H.B. 273), move through the legislative process, YUCCA is proud of our work alongside the No False Solutions Coalition to oppose legislation that would advance dangerous false solutions that do nothing but put our communities and lands at risk while delaying the implementation of real emissions reductions efforts.
This morning, we'll join our movement partners at the Roundhouse for No False Solutions Day, where we'll continue to make it clear to our legislators that New Mexico is not for sale as we come together in a powerful celebration of environmental justice!
We'd be honored to have you join us at the State Capitol today from 9:00 am-12:00 pm to hear from environmental justice leaders across the state, listen to powerful music and poetry, and visit our legislators to share more about why we must push back against false solutions and fight for the passage of meaningful climate and environmental justice legislation.
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