HOUSE DEMOCRATS NEWS RELEASE

The House of Representatives on Thursday passed two bills to protect New Mexico’s environment and facilitate our transition to clean energy.  

House Bill 140, which passed unanimously, would close a loophole to improve New Mexico’s regulatory authority over hazardous wastes that impact communities throughout the state. The bill would update New Mexico’s Hazardous Waste Act to clarify that the state can take corrective action with the U.S. Department of Defense to address this toxic waste. 

HB 140 specifically targets PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a group of synthetic compounds known as “forever chemicals,” which can cause serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, and fertility issues, as well as having damaging effects on animal and plant health. 

These chemicals are often found at high rates near current or former military sites, due to the widespread use of a firefighting foam containing PFAS, which has seeped into local groundwater. Parts of Eastern New Mexico have the highest levels of animal and plant contamination from these toxins in the world. 

“These highly toxic PFAS chemicals have led to serious health consequences for New Mexicans, as well as devastating economic repercussions for farms and ranches across our state,” said lead sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos). “We owe it to the communities affected by this hazardous waste to do all we can to remedy these harms.” 

Twenty-one other states have adopted similar laws to help them better regulate PFAS and address its impacts. HB 140 would not impact existing waste regulations on industries like energy and agriculture. The bill is also sponsored by Senator Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces). 

House Bill 289, which passed by a vote of 35-23, would expand access to funding and resources to help institutions across the state transition to geothermal energy. The bill updates the Geothermal Projects Development Fund, created last legislative session, to expand eligibility for grants and loans of up to $250,000 through the fund for developing geothermal projects. 

The program currently provides grants and low-interest loans to private, public, non-profit, or tribal entities. HB 289 is sponsored by Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero (D-Albuquerque) and Senator Liz Stefanics (D-Cerrillos). 

“New Mexico has already made great progress in expanding the use of reliable, renewable geothermal energy through the Geothermal Projects Development Fund,” said Rep. Roybal Caballero. “Now, we are extending these benefits to even more New Mexicans to better support our state’s ambitious climate goals and facilitate our transition to clean, sustainable energy.” 

Both of these bills now move to the Senate.