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SM 2

WILDFIRE STUDY GROUP

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Pat Woods

Directs Legislative Council to form a Wildfire Study Group to craft a statewide plan with recommendations on policy, funding, coordination, and vegetation management.

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Bill Summary · SM 2

Summary — SM 2: Wildfire Study Group (Senate Memorial 2)

Status: Signed (March 13, 2025)
Introduced: February 5, 2025
Classification: Memorial (request to Legislative Council)

Purpose

SM 2 requests the New Mexico Legislative Council to direct creation of a multi‑stakeholder Wildfire Study Group to develop a comprehensive statewide approach to address, avoid, and mitigate wildfires. The group is to produce recommendations for legislation, funding, interagency coordination, vegetation management, utility practices, community supports, and outreach.

Key provisions

  • Directs the Legislative Council to create a study group coordinated by the Forestry Division (State Forestry) of EMNRD to:
    • Identify areas at highest risk for catastrophic wildfire.
    • Ensure emergency response plans are developed with stakeholders (including utilities) for high‑risk areas.
    • Recommend policies, practices, and investments (with emphasis on vegetation management).
    • Improve outreach on mitigation and causes (including weather‑related causation).
    • Facilitate collaboration among utilities, first responders, emergency management, government agencies, and Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos.
    • Identify support mechanisms for affected communities, individuals, businesses, and utilities after wildfires.
    • Propose policies for safe, sustainable, affordable utility service before, during, and after wildfires.
  • Study group composition (minimum 14 members, one each from):
    • Forestry Division, EMNRD (coordinator)
    • State Land Office
    • Energy Conservation & Management Division, EMNRD
    • Department of Justice
    • Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management
    • Department of Indian Affairs
    • Office of Superintendent of Insurance
    • Public Regulation Commission
    • New Mexico Association of Counties
    • New Mexico Municipal League
    • Investor‑owned electric utilities in NM
    • New Mexico rural electric cooperatives
    • A public member expert in wildfire science/technology (appointed by the EMNRD secretary)
    • A representative of a state‑based property insurance carrier trade association (appointed by the state forester after consulting the Superintendent of Insurance)
  • Report: final findings and recommendations due to the appropriate interim legislative committee by November 1, 2025.
  • Transmittal: copies to Legislative Council co‑chairs, governor, AG, EMNRD secretary, Commissioner of Public Lands, PRC chair, secretaries of Indian Affairs and Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Superintendent of Insurance, utility leaders, and relevant association directors.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) fiscal note: estimated additional nonrecurring operating cost of $65.9 thousand (FY26), General Fund, to EMNRD for administration/coordination — likely funding a temporary position or contractor (up to one FTE).
  • EMNRD notes many study topics overlap existing plans and efforts (e.g., Fire Planning Task Force, 10‑Year Forest Action Plan, quadrennial energy review, Southwest Wildfire Coordinating Group).

Who is affected

  • State agencies and offices listed above (participants and report recipients)
  • Utilities (investor‑owned and rural cooperatives)
  • Property insurance trade association and insured communities
  • Counties, municipalities, tribal nations, and communities at risk from wildfires
  • Potentially the State general fund (one‑time cost)

Legal/ procedural notes

  • SM 2 is a memorial (a formal request) rather than a statute; it asks the Legislative Council to direct formation of the study group.
  • Report deadline: November 1, 2025.
  • Legislative actions: passed Senate (March 11, 2025), signed March 13, 2025.

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

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