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SJM 2

Urging Congress to enact legislation alleviating the funding crisis in the Crime Victims Fund.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Dick Anderson and 31 co-sponsors

A state task force would study frontier-area needs and feasibility of community-operated infrastructure networks to improve services and local autonomy.

Filed With Secretary of State.
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Bill Summary · SJM 2

SJM 2 — Frontier Areas Task Force (Joint Memorial) — Summary

Status: Signed (3/21/2025)
Introduced: 2/6/2025 | Classification: Joint memorial

Purpose / Intent

SJM 2 requests that the Governor appoint an executive-level task force to study the needs of “frontier areas” (defined in the memorial as unincorporated, sparsely populated, and isolated areas, including rural communities) and to evaluate the potential of a community‑operated infrastructure network model to improve delivery of services and local autonomy.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Governor to appoint a task force comprised of state agencies, local representatives and service providers to study frontier-area needs.
  • Tasks the group to:
    • Inventory government services currently provided to frontier areas by locale.
    • Inventory available infrastructure and human/other resources by locale.
    • Review statutes and rules to identify changes (amend, repeal, enact) to assist frontier areas and enable community‑operated infrastructure networks.
    • Assess methodologies for strengthening frontier areas via financial investment and other resources.
    • Identify incentives and funding approaches (state, councils of governments, counties) to support community‑operated networks and to replace volunteer capacity with trained centralized paid staff where appropriate.
  • Requires periodic updates to legislative interim committees concerned with rural economic development and a final report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by November 1, 2025.
  • Transmits copies to specified organizations (e.g., Acequia Association, Rural Library Initiative, Rural Water Association).

Membership (to be appointed by Governor)

Includes: Department of Finance and Administration (Local Government Division and Infrastructure Planning & Development), Environment Department, Office of the State Engineer, Department of Health, Economic Development Department, Department of Information Technology, Indian Affairs Department, Department of Transportation, Acequia Commission, community representatives from frontier areas, representatives of councils of governments (or councils of state government as in final text), and other agencies/service providers the Governor deems necessary.

Fiscal impact

  • LFC fiscal note: up to $100,000 nonrecurring (FY26) estimated for a feasibility study; costs assumed to fall on DFA (General Fund). Feasibility studies typically cost less than $100,000.

Timeline & procedural notes

  • Final report due: November 1, 2025.
  • As a joint memorial, SJM 2 requests executive action (appointment and study) rather than creating binding law or new statutory authorities.
  • Effective date: memorials request action; the fiscal note states the bill contains no effective date and would go into effect 90 days after adjournment if enacted (noting June 20, 2025 in the fiscal note), but SJM 2 itself functions as a request to the Governor.

Who is affected / potential impact

  • Frontier/unincorporated rural communities across New Mexico (residents, local volunteer infrastructure providers).
  • State agencies that will participate and may incur administrative costs.
  • Councils of governments, acequias, rural water and library organizations.
  • Outcome could inform future legislation, regulatory changes, targeted funding, or pilot programs to support community‑operated infrastructure networks; this memorial does not itself create programs or funding beyond the study.

Significant issues / considerations

  • The Indian Affairs Department flagged ambiguity in the definition of “frontier areas” with respect to Indian nations, pueblos, and tribes — clarity will be needed to determine inclusion or jurisdictional boundaries.
  • Agencies named must have capacity to assign members and support the task force’s work.

Legislative history

  • Passed Senate and House in March 2025; committee DO PASS reports adopted in February–March 2025; signed (3/21/2025).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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