New Mexico SB66: ABANDONED URANIUM MINE CLEANUP

What the bill says

An act making an appropriation to the department of environment to assess and clean up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including abandoned uranium mining sites, across the state that do not have viable responsible parties to pay for and conduct cleanup actions.

From the introduced text, January 22, 2026:

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT TO ASSESS AND CLEAN UP ABANDONED OR NEGLECTED CONTAMINATED SITES, INCLUDING ABANDONED URANIUM MINING SITES, ACROSS THE STATE THAT DO NOT HAVE VIABLE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES TO PAY FOR AND CONDUCT CLEANUP ACTIONS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--Fifty million dollars ($50,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the department of environment for expenditure in fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to assess and clean up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including abandoned uranium mining sites, across the state that do not have viable responsible parties to fund and conduct cleanup actions. Any unexpended balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2029 shall revert to the .232752.1 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ general fund. - 2 - .232752.1

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Jeff Steinborn (D, SD-036) · primary sponsor
• Shannon D. Pinto (D, SD-003)
• Angel M. Charley (D, SD-030)
• Benny Shendo, Jr. (D, SD-022)
• D. Wonda Johnson (D, HD-005)

Latest actions

1. January 29, 2026: SCONC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation
2. January 23, 2026: SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session
3. January 22, 2026: Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SCONC/SFC
4. : Action Postponed Indefinitely

Common questions

What is SB66?

SB66 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): ABANDONED URANIUM MINE CLEANUP.

What does SB66 do?

In its own words: An act making an appropriation to the department of environment to assess and clean up abandoned or neglected contaminated sites, including abandoned uranium mining sites, across the state that do not have viable responsible parties to pay for and conduct cleanup actions.

What is the status of SB66?

In committee as of January 29, 2026. Latest action: SCONC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation (January 29, 2026).

Who sponsored SB66?

Jeff Steinborn (D, SD-036), with 4 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB66?

On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=B&legNo=66&year=26