New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB54: PROTESTS ON WATER REPLACEMENT WELLS
Status: Failed, January 22, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to water; providing that replacement wells within one hundred feet of the original well are not subject to protest; allowing an aggrieval and request for hearing to be filed.
From the introduced text, January 9, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO WATER; PROVIDING THAT REPLACEMENT WELLS WITHIN ONE HUNDRED FEET OF THE ORIGINAL WELL ARE NOT SUBJECT TO PROTEST; ALLOWING AN AGGRIEVAL AND REQUEST FOR HEARING TO BE FILED. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. Section 72-12-22 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1959, Chapter 41, Section 1) is amended to read: "72-12-22. REPLACEMENT WELL WITHIN ONE HUNDRED FEET.-- A. The owner of a water right may drill and use a replacement well drilled within one hundred feet of the original well prior to application to the state engineer and the publication and hearing set out in Section [75-11-3 New Mexico Statutes Annotated, 1953 Compilation] 72-12-3 NMSA 1978 if: (1) the well is drilled into the same [and .233014.1 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ only the same] underground stream, channel, artesian basin, reservoir or lake as the original well; [and] (2) the appropriation is of the same amount of water allowed by [his] the owner's water right in the original well; [and] (3) an emergency situation exists in which the delay caused by application, publication and hearing would result in crop loss or other serious economic loss; and (4) [he] the owner files an application or notifies the office of the state engineer [office] of these facts and …
Sponsors
- Cathrynn N. Brown (R, HD-055) · primary sponsor
- Jimmy G. Mason (R, HD-066)
Latest actions
- : Not Printed
- : Action Postponed Indefinitely
- : Sent to HPREF - Referrals: HPREF
Subjects: WATER & WATER RIGHTS (acequias, irrigation, rivers)
Common questions
- What is HB54?
- HB54 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): PROTESTS ON WATER REPLACEMENT WELLS.
- What does HB54 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to water; providing that replacement wells within one hundred feet of the original well are not subject to protest; allowing an aggrieval and request for hearing to be filed.
- What is the status of HB54?
- Failed as of January 22, 2026. Latest action: Not Printed (January 22, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB54?
- Cathrynn N. Brown (R, HD-055), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB54?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=54&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.