Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund

The recently approved state budget sent to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham increases funds for environmental conservation efforts, but some say it’s not enough.

With the legislature opening next week, and record revenues coming to state coffers, lawmakers are setting priorities for the 30-day budget session. KUNM spoke with two of them about their biggest issues.

Experts and advocates are voicing their concerns about the future of a newly passed conservation fund. They met in Las Vegas, New Mexico Wednesday to tell a powerful legislative budget committee the fund could run out of money by 2029 if lawmakers fail to step up.

New Mexico has a new first: a permanent fund dedicated to water and land conservation across the state. Lawmakers in the House passed SB 9 late on Sunday night. It now heads to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk for a signature.

During her State of the State address, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham proposed a huge land and water conservation initiative that, if approved by lawmakers, would be the first in New Mexico’s history.