Water Can't Wait 

Water is our most precious resource and our state has been in a drought for decades. New Mexico will have 25-35% less water by 2070.  Learn more about the New Mexico water crisis and what you can do >>. 

2025 Legislative Session Results - What passed to protect urban and natural waters?

Senate Bill 7 - Stormwater Utility Bill

Senate Bill 7 allows municipalities to acquire, operate, and maintain stormwater facilities to manage stormwater at a reasonable rate. Stormwater management was an unfunded mandate for municipalities. This bill establishes a dedicated funding stream, ensuring sustainable and effective service delivery.

Senate Bill 21 - Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Act

Senate Bill 21 gives New Mexico the power to protect its streams and wetlands that lost federal protection, helping safeguard drinking water, farms, and wildlife habitat. It also transfers permitting authority for federally protected waters from the EPA to the state, bringing New Mexico in line with 47 other states. Lastly, it strengthens groundwater protections by allowing the state to hold polluters accountable and clean up long-neglected contamination sites.

Senate Bill 37 - Strategic Water Reserve

Senate Bill 37 strengthens New Mexico’s Strategic Water Reserve, a program that protects rivers by allowing the state to buy and hold water for wildlife and to meet agreements with other states. The bill creates a permanent fund to ensure money is available when water rights come up for sale and adds aquifer recharge as a new purpose to support groundwater health. It also allows the state to prioritize water uses that support recreation and cultural needs, alongside its core conservation goals.

House Bill 212 and 140 - NM moves to ban nearly all PFAS-containing products by 2028

House Bill 212  bans per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as "forever chemicals” in products like cookware, cosmetics, menstrual items, and food packaging by 2027–2028, with exceptions for essential uses lacking alternatives. House Bill 140 will label discarded firefighting foams with PFAS as hazardous waste and expand the state’s definition of hazardous materials. New Mexico is the third state to enact a broad PFAS product ban.

River Protection: Commission Designates 250+ Miles of New Mexico Rivers as Outstanding Waters

The New Mexico Water Quality Control Commission has unanimously voted to protect more than 250miles of rivers and streams as Outstanding National Resource Waters. This landmark designation shields portions of the Rio Grande, Rio Chama, Cimmaron, Pecos, and Jemez watersheds from degradation while preserving traditional and recreational uses. With up to 95% of New Mexico's waters having lost federal Clean Water Act protections last year, these state-level safeguards are more crucial than ever. Thank you to everyone who helped secure this victory for New Mexico's waters!