As the 2025 Legislative Session continues, we're celebrating major victories for many of our priority bills – S.B. 48 (The Community Benefit Fund), H.B. 32 (Electric or Alt Fuel School Busses), and H.B. 91 (Public Rate Utility Structures) – as they advance out of committee and onto the Senate and House floor for votes!
Right now, we also have several urgent updates and calls to action regarding key climate and environmental justice bills moving through the State Legislature – and we need your voice in the fight to pass meaningful legislation that would advance a just transition to renewable energy and protect our communities from the impacts of pollution.
Read on to learn how you can get involved with our movement and take action to help us pass our priority bills! If you're enjoying our policy updates, don't forget to sign up for our Legislative Action Alerts, where you will receive daily emails with time-sensitive updates and information about how you can help to pass our priority bills during the Legislative Session!
TAKE ACTION TOMORROW: AMEND THE STRATEGIC WATER SUPPLY ACT
We have an important update and call to action to share regarding the Strategic Water Supply Act (H.B. 137)!
When H.B. 137 was introduced, this dangerous proposal sought to expand the use of produced water (which is actually toxic fracking waste) off the oilfield by allowing state agencies to enter into public-private partnerships to research and develop ways to "treat" produced water for potential reuse outside of the oil and gas industry.
YUCCA has fought to oppose this bill since its introduction, and thanks to the advocacy of our collective movement, a new committee substitute for the bill, which is set to be introduced tomorrow morning, will no longer include any funding for produced water reuse.
While this change represents a big victory in our fight to stop dangerous false solutions, we remain concerned about this bill due to its inclusion of brackish water desalination.
Without aquifer mapping, which has yet to be completed, brackish water desalination projects could result in land subsidence, the contamination of potable water aquifers, and reductions in surface water. In addition, desalination plants require large amounts of energy, producing tons of residual waste that includes naturally-occurring radioactive materials present in brackish water.
We need you to show up to the bill's hearing in the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee tomorrow morning at 8:00 am to make your voice heard! During the committee hearing, you can give public comment to:
Request that H.B. 137 be amended to fund complete aquifer mapping before the authorization of brackish water for desalination.
Emphasize that any desalination plants funded through the Strategic Water Supply Act should be required to use 100% newly added renewable energy and include a plan for the safe disposal of residual waste.
If you're unable to join us in person tomorrow morning, you can still make your voice heard by emailing committee members at the email addresses below:
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
PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES FROM POLLUTION: HELP US PASS H.B. 33 & H.B. 35
We need your help to get 2 key bills through their next committees to protect our communities, children, and environment from the dangerous impacts of oil and gas pollution!
YUCCA is proud to support H.B. 33 (Prohibit New Emissions in High Ozone Counties), which would help to prevent further harm from unchecked, hazardous ozone pollution by pausing the construction of new oil and gas pollution sources in counties where unhealthy ozone levels persist.
We're also still fighting to pass H.B. 35 (Children's Health Protection Zones), which would protect our children from the dangerous health consequences of oil and gas pollution through the implementation of 1-mile health protection zones surrounding our schools that prohibit the construction of new oil and gas wells within these zones.
You can help us pass H.B. 33 and H.B. 35 by urging committee members to vote YES on these priority bills when they come up for their hearings in committee!
You can find comprehensive resources (including contact information for committee members, talking points, and sample email language) to help you contact legislators about H.B. 33 here, and you can find resources for H.B. 35 here!
HUGE WIN: THE PRODUCED WATER & ABANDONED WELLS FUND PASSES ITS FIRST COMMITTEE!
We also want to draw your attention to some huge victories – beginning with The Produced Water & Abandoned Wells Fund (S.B. 178), which passed the Senate Conservation Committee last weekend!
S.B. 178, a critical bill introduced by Senator Harold Pope, would restrict the use of "produced water" (toxic liquid fracking waste) off the oilfield with the exception of research conducted in accredited laboratories, and impose a five-cent-per-barrel fee on fracking waste that would be used to fund the plugging and remediation of abandoned wells.
While this bill hasn't been scheduled for its next hearing in the Senate Finance Committee yet, you can still take action today by utilizing the contact information below to email committee members urging them to support The Produced Water and Abandoned Wells Fund when it comes up for its hearing!
Chair George K. Muñoz, george.munoz@nmlegis.gov
Vice Chair Benny Shendo Jr, benny.shendo@nmlegis.gov
Ranking Member Craig Brandt, craig.brandt@nmlegis.gov
Senator Pete Campos, pete.campos@nmlegis.gov
Senator Roberto Gonzales, roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov
Senator Steve Lanier, steve.lanier@nmlegis.gov
Senator Michael Padilla, michael.padilla@nmlegis.gov
Senator Jeff Steinborn, jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov
Senator Nicole Tobiassen, nicole.tobiassen@nmlegis.gov
Senator Linda Trujillo, linda.trujillo@nmlegis.gov
Senator Pat Woods, pat.woods@nmlegis.gov
CRITICAL CLIMATE JUSTICE BILLS HEAD TO THE HOUSE & SENATE FLOOR!
Senator Mimi Stewart's Community Benefit Fund (S.B. 48) is headed to the Senate Floor after passing the Senate Finance Committee earlier this week!
This bill, which would help to diversify our economy and make key investments in critical climate initiatives, is a reflection of YUCCA's longstanding call for a just transition fund that supports planning and investments in alternatives to extractive industry.
You can take action to support this critical legislation today by identifying your State Senator and sending them an email today to urge them to support The Community Benefit Fund when it comes up for a vote on the Senate Floor!
Electric school busses could save our school districts between $8,000-15,000 per school bus every year.
While traditional diesel busses are expensive to maintain and can worsen conditions like asthma and other respiratory problems that adversely affect children's health, a transition to electric school busses would help to reduce the impact of harmful emissions on the health of our young people and environment – all while cutting costs for our schools.
That's why we're excited to report that H.B. 32 (Electric or Alt Fuel School Busses) passed the House Education Committee on Monday!
This bill will now head to the House Floor for a vote – you can take action to support electric school busses today by contacting your State Representative to encourage them to vote YES on H.B. 32!
There's also an important energy justice bill making its way to the House Floor!
H.B. 91 (Public Rate Utility Structures) was passed by the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee this week and is headed to the House Floor for a vote!
This critical bill would allow for the creation of additional utility rate structures that would help to reduce the burden of high energy costs on low-income customers, prevent utility debt from becoming a permanent crisis, and promote affordability and continuity of service.
Contact your State Representative today to urge them to vote YES on H.B. 91 to ensure that no family is forced to make the impossible choice between paying their utility bill and putting food on the table.
NEXT WEEK: JOIN YUCCA FOR OUR VIRTUAL RECRUITMENT SESSIONS!
Are you between the ages of 14-25, or is there a young person in your life who's eager to get involved to fight for climate and environmental justice? We need your voice in our movement!
As we fight back against the impacts of a hostile Federal administration and gear up for the launch of new, innovative organizing strategies in 2025, we know that there's no time to wait on climate action. Sign up to attend one of YUCCA's virtual recruitment sessions next week to organize, take action and build power with us!
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