FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2025
Statewide Coalition Applauds House for Sending Direct Investments to Strengthen Communities to the Governor’s Desk
Pro Tem Mimi Stewart’s Senate Bill 48 invests directly in local projects that create jobs, support families, and strengthen the communities most impacted by climate change
[Santa Fe, NM] – Today, Clear Horizons New Mexico, a statewide coalition of environmental, social justice, and conservation advocates from 35 organizations and businesses across New Mexico, applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Community Benefit Fund (Senate Bill 48) 39-26 and sending it to the Governor’s desk The Community Benefit Fund would invest $210 million in local economies across the state.
While the cost of inaction on climate change is skyrocketing – the state has already allocated nearly $150 million in 2024 alone for disaster relief from climate-driven wildfires, droughts, and floods – the Community Benefit Fund is a proactive investment that will build resilience to the same threats while creating jobs and new opportunities in villages, towns, and cities across New Mexico.
“The Community Benefit Fund is a forward-looking investment that puts communities in the driver’s seat. This fund will give communities the resources and tools that they need to reduce pollution, create high quality, family-supporting jobs, and modernize infrastructure for a resilient future. With $210 million in funding, this initiative prioritizes locally driven solutions and addresses real needs,” said House Majority Floor Leader Representative Reena Szczepanski during her introduction of SB48 for debate.
The Community Benefit Fund (Senate Bill 48) would invest $210 million in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change, providing resources for workforce development and retraining, renewable energy and infrastructure projects, energy efficiency upgrades, and other projects that reduce carbon pollution all while building a sustainable economy.
The 2025 Conservation in the West poll found that 77% of New Mexicans support the government taking action to reduce carbon and methane pollution that contribute to climate change. This is unsurprising given the various ways climate change impacts New Mexicans and the state as a whole, including more severe wildfires and floods, extended droughts that limit water supplies, and more extreme weather events and heat.
“Just last month we had a major oil and gas producer in the state announce that it’s going to reduce up to 20% of its workforce, and so these are all opportunities for workforce training for developing new skills, for ensuring that our communities are taking advantage of some of the incredible higher education institutions and workforce development programs that we have so that they’re landing on their feet and really getting ahead of it,” Representative Sarah Silva said Wednesday about SB48 in the debate. “I feel we’ve gone through a couple of dress rehearsals now and putting that learning into practice with this major investment is going to pay off for our communities.”
Among the Community Benefit Funds investments are:
- $7.8 million to the Economic Development Department to diversify the state’s economy
- $15 million to the Community Energy Efficiency Development (CEED) Block Grant Fund
- $70 million to Grid Modernization Grant Fund
- $8 million to the State Supplemental Land and Water Conservation Fund for the Outdoor Equity Fund
- $40 million to the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
- $10 million to the Department of Workforce Solutions
- $60 million to the Public Schools Facilities Authority
Background
The Community Benefit Fund, formally made up of Senate Bills 48 & 49, are two of a suite of four bills to address climate change that Senate President Pro Tempore of the Senate Senator Mimi Stewart introduced in the 2025 legislative session. The suite includes Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act, and Senate Bill 83, the Innovation in State Government Fund. Senate Bill 4 would have provided the critical framework, tools and resources New Mexico needs to hold polluters accountable and protect communities from the worst impacts of climate change.
- The Community Benefit Fund (Senate Bills 48 & 49), both passed the Senate Conservation Committee on 5-3. Senate Bill 48 passed the Senate Finance Committee on 7-4 do-pass vote, while its companion bill Senate Bill 49 that houses the funding remains in the committee, waiting to be absorbed into the state budget bill, House Bill 2. Senate Bill 48 passed the Senate 25-13, the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee 6-4 and and the House Appropriations and Finance Committee 9-6.
- The Innovation in State Government Fund (Senate Bill 83) passed the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee 5-4, the Senate Finance Committee 6-3, and the Senate 26-14. Senate Bill 83 passed the House Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee 5-2 and the House Appropriations and Finance Committee 9-6.
- The Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 4) passed the Senate Conservation Committee 5-4 and the Senate Finance Committee tabled the bill with a 6-5 vote.
The Clear Horizons New Mexico Coalition is a partnership of New Mexicans across the state from 35 climate, equity, social justice, and conservation organizations and businesses that are raising their voice in unison for climate action in the Land of Enchantment. At Clear Horizons, we celebrate our promise and commitment to keeping New Mexico beautiful and prosperous for everyone, now and in the future. Organizations and businesses include: 350 New Mexico, American Lung Association in New Mexico, Center for Civic Policy, Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy, Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico, Conservation Voters New Mexico, Creciendo Nuevo Mexico, Devil’s Spring Ranch, E2 – Environmental Entrepreneurs, Earthworks, Environmental Defense Fund, GreenLatinos, GRID Alternatives, Healthy Climate New Mexico, Moms Clean Air Force New Mexico chapter, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), New Mexico & El Paso Interfaith Power and Light, NM CAFe, NM Climate Investment Center, NM Native Vote, New Mexico Sustainable Business, New Mexico Voices for Children, NMVC Action Fund, Positive Energy Solar, ProgressNow New Mexico, Prosperity Works, Renewable Energy Industries Association of NM, San Juan Citizens Alliance, Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter, Sovereign Energy, SWEEP (Southwest Energy Efficiency Project), the Semilla Project, Western Environmental Law Center, Western Leaders Network, and Western Resource Advocates.
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