{"id":2611,"date":"2025-01-30T11:24:48","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T18:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/?page_id=2611"},"modified":"2025-10-01T17:56:55","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T23:56:55","slug":"legislation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/legislation\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislation"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2611\" class=\"elementor elementor-2611\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-711787d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"711787d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4dde76a\" data-id=\"4dde76a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75fa77b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75fa77b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Here is some information on current legislation being proposed in the 2025 legislative session that may be of interest to stormwater professionals in New Mexico.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-402391a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"402391a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-20140c2\" data-id=\"20140c2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f20c3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0f20c3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style>\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities {\r\n\t\tmax-width: 450px;\r\n\t\tmargin-left: auto;\r\n    \tmargin-right: auto;\r\n    \tbackground: #d7d7d1;\r\n\t}\t\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container {\r\n\t    border: 10px solid #d7d7d1;\t\t\r\n\t    padding-bottom: 25px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header {\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 10px;\r\n\t}\t    \r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header .box-content {\r\n\t\tbackground: #e2e2dd;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 6px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 6px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header .content {\r\n\t\tbackground: #eaeae6;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 6px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 6px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header .heading {\r\n\t\tbackground: #f0f0ec;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 7px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 7px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n    \tpadding-left: 15px;\r\n    \tpadding-right: 15px;\r\n    \tfont-family: \"Arial\", Sans-serif;\r\n\t\tcolor: #000;\t\t\r\n    \tfont-size: 20px;\r\n    \tfont-weight: 600;\r\n    \tline-height: 22px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header .heading span {\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170 !important;\r\n\t    display: block;\r\n\t    font-weight: 600;\r\n\t    font-size: 14px !important;\r\n\t    margin-top: 8px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .header .heading span i {\r\n\t\tbackground: #d7d7d1;\r\n\t    padding-left: 10px;\r\n\t    padding-right: 10px;\r\n\t    border-radius: 5px;\r\n\t    margin-right: 2px;\r\n\t    color: #292c51;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content {\r\n\t\t\tbackground: #d7d7d1;\r\n\t\t\tborder-radius: 5px;\t\t\r\n\t    \tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t    \tflex-wrap: wrap;\r\n\t    \talign-items: center;\r\n\t    \tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col {\t\t\r\n\t\tbackground: #edede8;\r\n\t\tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t\tpadding: 15px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 88%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col .enabling {\r\n\t\tfont-family: \"Arial\", Sans-serif;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n    \tline-height: 26px;\r\n\t}\r\n\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col .enabling span {\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\r\n\t\tdisplay: block;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 300;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col .bottom-content {\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 15px;\r\n\t}\t\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col .bottom-content {\r\n\t\t\tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t    \tflex-wrap: wrap;\r\n\t    \tjustify-content: space-between;\t    \t\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .right-col .bottom-content .col-6 {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 49%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .left-col {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 10%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .left-col img {\r\n\t\tdisplay: none;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .body .content .left-col img {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 100%;\r\n\t\t\tdisplay: block;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer {\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\r\n\t\tbackground: #edede8;\r\n\t\tborder-radius: 5px;\t\t\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content {\r\n\t    padding: 15px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row {\r\n\t\tdisplay: flex;\r\n    \tflex-wrap: wrap;    \t\r\n    \tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 49%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 .title {\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 span {\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 ul li {\r\n\t\tfont-size: 15px !important;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row.col-6 {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 49%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 a {\r\n\t\ttext-decoration: none !important;\r\n\t\tcolor: #000;\r\n\t\tfont-size: 14px !important;\r\n\t\tline-height: 20px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .footer .content .first-row .col-6 a span {\r\n\t\tbackground: #f7f7f4;\r\n\t\tpadding-left: 10px;\r\n    \tpadding-right: 10px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n    \tmargin-right: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .last-row {\r\n\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .last-row {\t\r\n\t\t\tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t    \tflex-wrap: wrap;    \t\r\n\t    \tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t\t}\t\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .last-row .col-6 {\t\t\r\n\t\tline-height: 20px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities .container .last-row .col-6 {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 49%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities .container .last-row .col-6 .session {\r\n\t\tfont-size: 14px !important;\r\n\t\tbackground: #f7f7f4;\r\n\t\tpadding: 5px 10px;\t\t\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<div class=\"authorize-municipalities\">\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"container\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\r\n\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/wp-content\/themes\/guten\/partials\/images\/authorize-municipalities\/header.jpg\" width=\"699\" height=\"86\" alt=\"header\" \/>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"box-content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"heading\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAuthorize Municipalities to Establish Storm Water Utilities\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><i>-><\/i> Sponsors: Sen. Sharer, Rep. Hochman-Vigil<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"body\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"right-col\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"enabling\">SB ### is enabling legislation which gives municipalities in New Mexico the option to establish and operate stormwater utilities.<span>If passed, SB ## enables municipalities to enact local ordinance to:<\/span><\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bottom-content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Acquire, operate, and maintain<\/strong> stormwater facilities to provide storm water management services.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Charge a just and reasonable fees<\/strong> to property owners based on their contribution to stormwater runoff.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-col\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/wp-content\/themes\/guten\/partials\/images\/authorize-municipalities\/vertical-img.jpg\" width=\"81\" height=\"185\" alt=\"header\" \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"footer\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"first-row\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Key Provisions<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Authorization for Municipal Stormwater Utilities:<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Municipalities are empowered to acquire, operate, and maintain stormwater utilities through local ordinances.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>These utilities are responsible for collecting, treating, storing, and disposing of stormwater.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Fee Structure:<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Municipalities can choose to charge property owners just and reasonable fees for stormwater services.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Fees are structured to support the operation and maintenance of stormwater facilities.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Each community deliberates and determines fee structures, maintaining local control.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Inclusion in &#8220;Municipal Utility&#8221; Definition:<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Amends \u00a73-1-2 NMSA 1978 to include &#8220;stormwater facilities&#8221; in the definition of municipal utilities.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Ensures stormwater facilities are treated similarly to other utilities like water, sewer, and electric services.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Enforcement of Fees:<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Updates \u00a73-23-1 NMSA 1978 to include stormwater services in the list of utilities where municipalities can enforce payment.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>Allows for discontinuation of water service to enforce unpaid fees for stormwater utilities, aligning enforcement mechanisms with other utility services.<\/li>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a><span>-><\/span> FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE REVERSE SIDE<\/a>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"last-row\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"session\">SESSION CONTACT: Adrian N. Carver &#8211; call\/text (505) 615-0879<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col-6\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"session\">SUBJECT MATTER\/TECHNICAL EXPERT: Sarah Hurteau shurteau@sig-nal.org<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-4186556\" data-id=\"4186556\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-50761f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"50761f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<style>\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two {\r\n\t\tmax-width: 450px;\r\n\t\tmargin-left: auto;\r\n    \tmargin-right: auto;\r\n    \tbackground: #d7d7d1;\r\n\t}\t\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container {\r\n\t    border: 10px solid #d7d7d1;\t\t\r\n\t    padding-bottom: 25px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header {\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 10px;\r\n\t}\t    \r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header .box-content {\r\n\t\tbackground: #e2e2dd;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 6px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 6px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header .content {\r\n\t\tbackground: #eaeae6;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 6px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 6px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header .heading {\r\n\t\tbackground: #f0f0ec;\r\n\t\tpadding-top: 7px;\r\n    \tpadding-bottom: 7px;\r\n    \tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n    \tpadding-left: 15px;\r\n    \tpadding-right: 15px;\r\n    \tfont-family: \"Arial\", Sans-serif;\r\n\t\tcolor: #000;\t\t\r\n    \tfont-size: 20px;\r\n    \tfont-weight: 600;\r\n    \tline-height: 22px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header .heading span {\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170 !important;\r\n\t    display: block;\r\n\t    font-weight: 600;\r\n\t    font-size: 14px !important;\r\n\t    margin-top: 8px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .header .heading span i {\r\n\t\tbackground: #d7d7d1;\r\n\t    padding-left: 10px;\r\n\t    padding-right: 10px;\r\n\t    border-radius: 5px;\r\n\t    margin-right: 2px;\r\n\t    color: #292c51;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body .content {\r\n\t\tbackground: #edede8;\r\n\t\tborder-radius: 5px;\r\n\t\tpadding: 15px;\t\t\t\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body .content {\t\t\t\r\n\t    \tdisplay: flex;\r\n\t    \tflex-wrap: wrap;\t    \t\r\n\t    \tjustify-content: space-between;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\r\n\t@media screen and (min-width: 1200px) {\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body .content .right-col {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 48%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body .content .left-col {\r\n\t\t\twidth: 48%;\r\n\t\t}\r\n\t}\t\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body .title {\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n\t\tfont-size: 15px !important;\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 10px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body strong {\r\n\t\tmargin-bottom: 10px;\r\n\t\tdisplay: block;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body p {\r\n\t\tfont-size: 15px !important;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .body p span {\r\n\t\tfont-size: 15px !important;\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170 !important;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .footer .content {\r\n\t\tpadding: 0px 15px 15px 15px;\r\n\t\tbackground: #edede8;\r\n\t\tborder-bottom-left-radius: 5px;    \r\n    \tborder-bottom-right-radius: 5px;\r\n\t}\r\n\t.authorize-municipalities-two .container .footer .content span {\r\n\t\tcolor: #396170 !important;\r\n\t\tfont-weight: 600;\r\n\t}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<div class=\"authorize-municipalities-two\">\r\n\r\n\t<div class=\"container\">\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"header\">\r\n\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/wp-content\/themes\/guten\/partials\/images\/authorize-municipalities\/header.jpg\" width=\"699\" height=\"86\" alt=\"header\" \/>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"box-content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"heading\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAuthorize Municipalities to Establish Storm Water Utilities\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span><i>-><\/i> Sponsors: Sen. Sharer, Rep. Hochman-Vigil<\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"body\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"right-col\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"title\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/div>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Why do we need to provide the option to establish stormwater utilities?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>Stormwater management is currently an unfunded mandate for municipalities,<\/span> which often rely on general funds to cover the costs. This bill establishes a dedicated funding stream for O&#038;M, ensuring sustainable and effective service delivery.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>What is the difference between a stormwater utility and a flood control district?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>A stormwater utility focuses on local, street or neighborhood scale stormwater<\/span> generated from homes and commercial buildings. In contrast, a flood control district typically manages regional-scale runoff from larger areas including arroyos to prevent city-wide flooding through infrastructure like levees, dams, and watershed- scaled structures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Can&#8217;t municipalities already provide stormwater services?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>Yes.<\/span> However, while municipalities may be statutorily required to manage stormwater under general health, safety, and welfare obligations, <span>they lack a stable funding mechanism.<\/span> This bill provides the legal and financial framework to establish a sustainable utility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Who pays, and who administers the utility?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>Municipalities may choose to require property owners within the municipality to pay reasonable fees or service charges<\/span> for stormwater services. The utility is administered by the municipality, ensuring dedicated resources for operations and maintenance (O&#038;M) of stormwater facilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"left-col\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>What other states allow stormwater utilities, and who does it well?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>There are more than 2000 stormwater utilities across 41 states.<\/span><br \/>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Several states, including <span>Minnesota, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, and Michigan<\/span> have successfully implemented stormwater utilities. These states showcase effective funding and operational frameworks that municipalities can learn from.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>How does this bill promote local control?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p><span>This bill enables, but does not require municipalities to create and manage stormwater utilities,<\/span> giving local governments authority over decisions about infrastructure, service provision, and fee structures.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>How does this bill interact with home rule?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Home rule municipalities may already have authority to establish utilities, but <span>codifying this language in state statute ensures clarity, minimizes legal challenges,<\/span> and promotes statewide consistency.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<strong>How does this work when the water utility is separate from the municipality?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>For example, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) does not manage stormwater within its scope of responsibilities.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<p>Without this bill, municipalities like Albuquerque cannot charge stormwater fees because stormwater management falls outside the jurisdiction of their water utility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<div class=\"footer\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<strong>Which municipalities are experiencing this issue?<\/strong>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\t<p><span>Municipalities in New Mexico currently manage stormwater<\/span> under general health, safety, and welfare obligations <span>without a dedicated mechanism to fund these services.<\/span> Most municipalities, large &#038; small, rural &#038; urban, currently face challenges in managing, maintaining, and improving stormwater infrastructure because of a lack of dedicated funding streams, instead relying on their general funds and regular budgeting processes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n\t<\/div>\t\r\n\r\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here is some information on current legislation being proposed in the 2025 legislative session that may be of interest to stormwater professionals in New Mexico.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2611","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2611","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2611"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2611\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2794,"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2611\/revisions\/2794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devsite-landandwatersummitnm.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2611"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}