New Mexico legislation · 2026 Regular Session
New Mexico SB161: WILDFIRE MITIGATION & LIABILITY ACT
Status: In committee, February 5, 2026
What the bill says
An act relating to electric utilities; enacting the wildfire utility mitigation and liability act; providing for wildfire mitigation plans, approvals and annual compliance reports; allowing for cost recovery; establishing limitations on liability; providing access to grants for cooperatives to implement mitigation plans; creating a statute of limitation…
From the introduced text, January 27, 2026:
AN ACT RELATING TO ELECTRIC UTILITIES; ENACTING THE WILDFIRE UTILITY MITIGATION AND LIABILITY ACT; PROVIDING FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLANS, APPROVALS AND ANNUAL COMPLIANCE REPORTS; ALLOWING FOR COST RECOVERY; ESTABLISHING LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY; PROVIDING ACCESS TO GRANTS FOR COOPERATIVES TO IMPLEMENT MITIGATION PLANS; CREATING A STATUTE OF LIMITATION; AMENDING SECTION 30-32-4 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 1882, CHAPTER 61, SECTION 7, AS AMENDED) AND SECTION 37-1-4 NMSA 1978 (BEING LAWS 1880, CHAPTER, 5, SECTION 4, AS AMENDED) TO CREATE EXCEPTIONS FOR DAMAGES AWARDED FOR STARTING A FIRE AND ACTIONS FOR PERSONAL INJURY; MAKING APPROPRIATIONS. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO: SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 62 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: .232934.2 wen = lairetam derocsrednu eteled = ]lairetam detekcarb[ "[NEW MATERIAL] SHORT TITLE.--Sections 1 through 12 of this act may be cited as the "Wildfire Utility Mitigation and Liability Act"." SECTION 2. A new section of Chapter 62 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read: "[NEW MATERIAL] DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Wildfire Utility Mitigation and Liability Act: A. "commercially sensitive information" means nonpublic business data that, if disclosed, could give competitors an advantage or cause significant financial harm, and includes pricing, customer lists, financial models and strategic plans; B. "commission" means the public regulation commission; C. "confidential information" includes: (1) information that identifies …
Sponsors
- Pat Woods (R, SD-007) · primary sponsor
- Meredith A. Dixon (D, HD-020)
Latest actions
- : SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session
- : Sent to SCC - Referrals: SCC/SJC/SFC
- : Action Postponed Indefinitely
Subjects: ENVIRONMENT, UTILITIES (sewer, electric, gas, water, telephone)
Common questions
- What is SB161?
- SB161 is a bill in the New Mexico Legislature (2026 Regular Session): WILDFIRE MITIGATION & LIABILITY ACT.
- What does SB161 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to electric utilities; enacting the wildfire utility mitigation and liability act; providing for wildfire mitigation plans, approvals and annual compliance reports; allowing for cost recovery; establishing limitations on liability; providing access to grants for cooperatives to implement mitigation plans; creating a statute of limitation…
- What is the status of SB161?
- In committee as of February 5, 2026. Latest action: SCC: Reported by committee to fall within the purview of a 30 day session (February 5, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB161?
- Pat Woods (R, SD-007), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB161?
- On the New Mexico Legislature website: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=S&legType=B&legNo=161&year=26
Source: official New Mexico record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.