New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico HB109: WATER PROJECT FUND CHANGES
Status: Signed into law, March 4, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to finance; providing criteria for prioritizing water projects pursuant to the water project finance act; allowing the new mexico finance authority to fund water projects from the water project fund without receiving the approval of the legislature until december 31, 2029.
From the enrolled text, March 5, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO FINANCE; PROVIDING CRITERIA FOR PRIORITIZING WATER PROJECTS PURSUANT TO THE WATER PROJECT FINANCE ACT; ALLOWING THE NEW MEXICO FINANCE AUTHORITY TO FUND WATER PROJECTS FROM THE WATER PROJECT FUND WITHOUT RECEIVING THE APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATURE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2029. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. A new section of the Water Project Finance Act is enacted to read: "PROJECT PRIORITIZATION.-- A. The board shall prioritize projects based on the following criteria: (1) urgency of need, as identified in a regional water planning area with a completed regional water plan accepted by the interstate stream commission; (2) availability of federal or local matching contributions; (3) project readiness, including the acquisition of required state and federal permits and authorizations; (4) regional impacts; (5) efforts to mitigate or alleviate a project's potential human health and safety concerns; (6) level of planning and design; HB 109/a Page (7) improvement of water quality or quantity; and (8) other goals established for each project type pursuant to the Water Project Finance Act and rules adopted under that act. B. Pursuant to Subsection A of this section, the board shall give higher priority to projects (2) provide regional impacts; (3) mitigate or alleviate human health and safety concerns; and (4) improve water quality or …
Sponsors
- Joy Garratt (D, HD-029) · primary sponsor
- Susan Herrera (D, 41)
- Micaelita Debbie O'Malley (D, SD-013)
Latest actions
- : Signed by Governor - Chapter 27 - Mar. 4
- : Passed in the Senate - Y:42 N:0
- : SCONC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : Sent to SCONC - Referrals: SCONC
- : Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:61 N:0
- : HGEIC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
- : HAAWC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s)
- : Sent to HAAWC - Referrals: HAAWC/HGEIC
- : Withdrawn from committee or daily calendar, ordered printed and referred to
- : Not Printed
Votes
- Senate Floor Vote (February 15, 2026): 42 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Floor Vote (February 10, 2026): 61 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: STATE AGENCIES & DEPARTMENTS (including reorganization), WATER & WATER RIGHTS (acequias, irrigation, rivers)
Common questions
- What is HB109?
- HB109 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): WATER PROJECT FUND CHANGES.
- What does HB109 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to finance; providing criteria for prioritizing water projects pursuant to the water project finance act; allowing the new mexico finance authority to fund water projects from the water project fund without receiving the approval of the legislature until december 31, 2029.
- What is the status of HB109?
- Signed into law as of March 4, 2026. Latest action: Signed by Governor - Chapter 27 - Mar. 4 (March 4, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB109?
- Joy Garratt (D, HD-029), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB109?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legType=B&legNo=109&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.