[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6281866,"mediaKeyId","2601397-1a8d3ff4e110833413c42da1904dafed","parentId",2601397,"title","Committee backs $10 million fund to boost state agencies’ climate and clean-energy capacity","audioSeconds",2775,"startMs",1382000,"endMs",4157000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2601397-1a8d3ff4e110833413c42da1904dafed&start=1382&end=4157","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2601397-1a8d3ff4e110833413c42da1904dafed/thumbnail_1382000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6281866/New-Mexico/Committee-backs-10-million-fund-to-boost-state-agencies-climate-and-clean-energy-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281866-b75d1d4cf9f05729f68b7ef60b5f8688/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448666&Signature=Vt-Vxe~39Op0oQ5jih2wXTmErvZYl1VL3DdackhblmWlwryEsxPSi0cOOdDr5WwzJ9uflVMQJPBamSmp8NWEDrGiZa~doEOll1nuCLic-qrDTh4kYcXWlUOxhPu71DNuTrH4D1qUza5~DxpSDPwi4QJGZQN73c7YzlV90jcKyVIlH49Y-9VK~c8wvwZ7mNY60tCVP8Nyl3GlMEZxSeM~lvg0gjFQNl518USE3xAaCzdPQU4j-1KCGFxQ3okJpJA4akDpPi52CUbceGPURxIweo28Nl0QztBw7vdK1EF1GY1b-gjiBpvgnuIrWnszIfluw8aYFcTWz3lbSnxx36GMqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-13T00:00:00Z","article","The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 13 recommended passage of Senate Bill 83, which would create a $10 million Innovation in State Government Fund to help seven state agencies plan and implement climate, resilience and clean-energy programs. The committee voted 5-2 to advance the bill.

Sponsor Sen. Stewart said the bill “invests in the expertise, workforce and resources needed” for agencies to address climate change and support clean-energy development. In his presentation he described a grant and reporting structure to enable agencies to produce master plans and support communities seeking federal and private funding.

The bill as described in the hearing would direct $10 million over two years, with two agencies receiving $2.5 million each (Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the New Mexico Environment Department) and five agencies receiving $1 million each (Department of Transportation; Workforce Solutions; Economic Development Department; the Public Regulation Commission; and the State Land Office). The sponsor said the line-item allocations are part of the budget process.

Supporters included Travis Kellerman, senior climate adviser in the governor’s office, who said SB83 “unlocks new federal and private investment” and builds the capacity to execute climate policies. Anna Linden Weller of Western Resource Advocates said the bill provides “dedicated and flexible funding for state agencies” that have otherwise had to cobble resources together.

Public commenters and several committee members discussed workforce and job impacts. Committee members asked how the bill’s language on “addition of new jobs statewide and replacement of jobs that rely on the extraction or development of natural resources” should be read. Sen. Stewart and supporters said the bill is not intended to eliminate extractive-sector employment but to expand training and opportunities in clean-energy and resilience jobs; the sponsor pointed to community requests such as a San Juan technical training proposal seeking $7 million.

Some members questioned duplication of existing funding and agency capacity following six years under the governor’s executive order on climate. Representative Montoya and others expressed concern that the state has already prioritized these issues and that the bill might duplicate existing grant programs. The sponsor and supporters said the measure emphasizes technical assistance to help rural and under-resourced communities apply for grants and to accelerate implementation of programs already authorized by the legislature and executive orders.

Accountability provisions in the bill require annual reporting to the Department of Finance and Administration and compliance with the state Governmental Accountability Act and a referenced GROW (Government Results and Opportunity) program; agencies would also report to interim legislative committees. Supporters said that reporting requirement is designed to ensure transparency about fund allocations and outcomes.

Representative Garcia moved a blue pass recommendation; the committee voted 5-2 to advance SB83. Committee debate and testimony are in the hearing record; the committee chair announced the motion carried 5-2. The bill’s allocations and reporting obligations were discussed at length; supporters emphasized technical assistance and workforce development, while critics cautioned against redundancy and urged precise eligibility language for grant recipients.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Mar 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recommended passage of Senate Bill 83, a $10 million, two-year fund to build state agency capacity for climate resilience, clean energy planning and grant technical assistance; the bill drew support from the governor's office and conservation groups and passed the committee 5-2.","taxTitle","House of Representatives, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",78418,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6281871,"Committee advances bill to double maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations",1217,159000,1376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2601397-1a8d3ff4e110833413c42da1904dafed&start=159&end=1376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2601397-1a8d3ff4e110833413c42da1904dafed/thumbnail_159000.jpg","/articles/6281871/New-Mexico/Committee-advances-bill-to-double-maximum-civil-penalties-for-pipeline-safety-violations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6281871-5103b635a6d00b863460e89f3bd02274/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448666&Signature=NhnBKYOGytOeaBP~YI1C-48SnfEriH5TG37EdO~Xg8ccVlJyPrPSXHp4VhJj-go86E5mrm~0D~erYdvLOgpilo-dmdDozChTK8DAS8hhOMuh3SWzXmwYvJufKA0Rxj~HgDqZSZJoAB5C5XtzvUXHO4wDHY-zs7Bz0ERKbhKG9pGPWzqg9Wt0-jGohkX81HMOeIrkGIqDX2IXWUqXtu-1HtPjuaFrWpAJHQwegpV4VCZ5YT40ZNCdHv6rG12lrMX~m0RvctgCyfQmrWsS7dtJSDR7se8d0CF9ysDazVdG87ZJp923VZbqvtcZgBaFhNUNpKHesw5jt~-e78sG~G78sQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 13 recommended passage of Senate Bill 9, a measure to raise New Mexico’s maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations to the federal maximums of $200,000 per day and $2,000,000 total. The committee voted 5-2 on a do-pass recommendation.

Sponsor Sen. Schulz told the committee the bill would move state law to the federal maximums so New Mexico “doesn't have to constantly keep changing the New Mexico [statute] as things go up and down” and to remain aligned with federal certification processes. The sponsor introduced her expert, Miranda Mescarenas, to answer technical questions.

The bill drew support from environmental advocates in public comment. Melissa Bernardin of the Sierra Club Rio Grande chapter said SB9 “updates New Mexico pipeline standards to federal rules and regulations.” Charles Goodmacher, representing Healthy Climate New Mexico, said an industry that “prides itself as the cleanest in the world would embrace this bill” because it only increases penalties when safety violations occur.

A PRC pipeline safety division staff member told the committee fines assessed in recent years have been volatile but small relative to the caps: about $24,000 in fiscal 2024, $214,000 in fiscal 2023 and roughly $50,000 in fiscal 2022, depending on reported violations. The staff member said aligning the state fine ceiling with federal levels helps avoid the risk of reduced federal funding during PHMSA certification reviews if state maximums are deemed not substantially similar to federal penalties.

Several committee members questioned the need to set state law equal to federal maximums when actual assessed fines have been far lower. Representative Montoya and Representative Murphy expressed concern about transferring what they described as a legislative determination of penalty levels to a federal standard. Montoya asked whether the state had received any formal notice that federal funding was at risk; the PRC staff replied no formal notice had been received but noted the PHMSA letter attached to the committee packet described possible repercussions.

Sen. Schulz and the expert emphasized that the bill only raises statutory maximums; it does not change the standards for violations or require the state to issue maximum fines. \"This really isn't about the pipeline standards. This is about what the maximum penalty would be for violations of that, and it just puts it at the federal level,\" the sponsor said.

After discussion the committee moved a do-pass recommendation. The record shows a committee roll call of five yes votes and two no votes; the chair announced the motion carried 5-2. The committee did not adopt substantive amendments on the floor of the committee. The bill will proceed in the legislative process per the House rules.

Why it matters: supporters say aligning state penalties with federal levels preserves New Mexico’s eligibility for federal pipeline-safety grants and certification; opponents argued the state should retain discretion over statutory penalty ceilings and noted the assessed fines to date have been far below the proposed maxima.","The House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee recommended passage of Senate Bill 9, which would align New Mexico’s maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations with current federal caps — doubling the daily cap to $200,000 and the total cap to $2 million; the committee voted 5-2 for a do-pass recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee backs $10 million fund to boost state agencies’ climate and clean-energy capacity

Committee advances bill to double maximum civil penalties for pipeline safety violations