U.S. Sen. Mimi Stewart
SENATE News:
SANTA FE — Across New Mexico, families and communities are facing the growing threats of pollution, wildfire, flooding, drought and extreme weather. From devastating wildfires that forced residents of Ruidoso to flee their homes to record-breaking floods in Roswell that soaked entire neighborhoods, the evidence is clear: we must act now to protect our New Mexican way of life.
Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 4, the Clear Horizons Act, along with companion legislation—Senate Bill 48, the Community Benefit Fund, and Senate Bill 83, the New Mexico Innovation in Government Act—to provide a bold framework for reducing pollution, strengthening communities, and building a future where New Mexicans thrive.
“These bills are about creating solutions for today’s challenges while making smart investments for tomorrow,” Stewart said. “When we reduce pollution, we’re not just protecting the environment—we’re protecting families, creating good-paying jobs, and investing in the safety and resilience of our communities.”
New Mexico is already spending hundreds of millions annually on disaster recovery from climate-fueled wildfires, floods, and droughts. In 2024 alone, the state allocated nearly $150 million in emergency disaster relief through Governor Lujan Grisham’s executive orders. Senator Stewart emphasized that the Clear Horizons Act and companion bills will ensure the state uses its resources not just to respond to disasters but to proactively invest in and build resilient communities.
“New Mexico is already feeling the impacts of fire and flood,” Stewart said. “The Clear Horizons Act ensures that we take steps to change the impacts on our lives, with New Mexico’s long-term resilience and opportunity front and center.”
The Clear Horizons Act sets clear pollution reduction targets, ensuring New Mexico gets back on track to meet the Governor’s goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. These targets align with commitments already made by many businesses, including some of the state’s largest oil and gas producers.
The Community Benefit Fund will invest $340 million in direct funding for local projects that reduce pollution, create jobs, and support communities most affected by climate impacts, such as Ruidoso and Roswell. From upgrading infrastructure to transitioning to clean energy, the fund ensures that rural and underserved areas have the resources to thrive.
The New Mexico Innovation in Government Act strengthens the state’s ability to reduce carbon emissions and lead the clean energy transition by investing $10 million in state agencies and staff. These resources will ensure regulations are enforced effectively and that projects, from rural solar installations to urban energy retrofits, are implemented with precision and care.
Susan Smith, a resident of the East Mountains outside of Edgewood and Albuquerque, is facing the consequences of long term drought stating, “My well went dry several years ago, and I am completely dependent on water being delivered to my home. I don’t think our elected officials realize how many people in my area are seeing their wells run dry as we face another year of drought. We need bold action to help those, like me, who’re facing the unthinkable every single day.”
“New Mexico has a choice,” Stewart concluded. “We can sit back and let the challenges of a warming planet overwhelm our communities, or we can take bold action to reduce pollution, protect our families, and secure a resilient future. The Clear Horizons Act is our roadmap to a better tomorrow.”
The Clear Horizons Act will be heard at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, in the Senate Conservation Committee. To learn more about the bill, visit www.clearhorizonsnm.org.