[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6291342,"mediaKeyId","2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3","parentId",2530072,"title","Committee advances bill to create land‑grant and acequia infrastructure fund with amendments delaying distributions","audioSeconds",1598,"startMs",2021000,"endMs",3619000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3&start=2021&end=3619","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3/thumbnail_2021000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6291342/New-Mexico/Committee-advances-bill-to-create-landgrant-and-acequia-infrastructure-fund-with-amendments-delaying-distributions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291342-6918f24ee5e162bbaf62b0bf0fdaedf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183559&Signature=R88opCIy~zRQ-vsEAg3HE~ZlwfUYO~AIfqSJE7l04n9sk7PArUivzq4~aS9zcUWnY0YxuczTqj3kENk89MtbJHkSnsg1O6BvcCen9d1LOQClecRtwdYLTXYj0q6S~OZJMy7X2f4QInL8ZK2BDGNybm3Z0ET~kI9XGVMPYCUakKU9XD4t32x~yvIwXNLDkzwNAul6Ucv4rnvfRvqLIvkjkVfpWt2zzhUIHzxcToNWeCWHo101kIPxPFWiROawg96kiOwbTN1eI3wUDhwYVKm4NvjjL1ODFxlduryR1LihMpFXoEd3jiTVzMWYMHkvVcBxJ~slBKtworY7ggH6GnCSRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Mexico Legislature","date","2025-03-06T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Indian Rural Cultural Affairs Committee voted to recommend a due pass for Senate Bill 374, a bill that would create a dedicated funding stream for land grant and acequia infrastructure projects by using a portion of the state's severance tax bonding capacity and by directing program administration through existing entities.

Sponsor testimony described the bill as intended to provide recurring, programmatic funding for community ditch and acequia infrastructure statewide. The bill would allocate a percentage of estimated severance tax bonding capacity to a Land Grant Infrastructure Fund and an Acequia Infrastructure Fund; testimony estimated each 1.1% allocation would equal roughly $19,000,000. The sponsor said the bill also establishes the New Mexico Land Grant Council and the acequia bureau process for vetting and prioritizing project lists.

The committee considered and adopted multiple amendments. Sponsor and staff explained the principal changes: delay disbursements from the trust fund for five years so the State Investment Council (SIC) can examine the five‑year balance; change the annual distribution date to Aug. 1 to match SIC reconciliation timelines; and restore certain bonding allocations to 6.5% (the amendment was presented by Senator Benny Shendo and described as returning a prior bonding percentage reduced during the 2015‑16 downturn).

Witnesses representing acequia and land‑grant communities and affiliated organizations described unmet needs for projects ranging from community drinking‑water systems to dam repairs, multipurpose community centers, and equipment purchases. Testimony from a bill expert cited data including: more than 700 acequias across 23 counties, an unfunded capital outlay total of $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, an ICIP (Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan) request for FY26 with a 5% match figure presented as $21,000,000, and prior acequia bureau administered funds of $6,000,000 and $5,800,000 in recent years with only $2,500,000 in recurring funding—leaving an annual gap described as roughly $4,000,000 that has been met with special appropriations.

Several municipal and tribal representatives, Farm to Table / New Mexico Food & Agriculture Policy Council, the New Mexico State Land Office and the New Mexico Acequia Association testified in support. Testimony emphasized that consistent, recurring funding and programmatic administration would help complete projects efficiently and reduce repeated capital‑outlay requests.

Senator Solis moved the due‑pass motion; Senator Maestas seconded. The roll call recorded: Senator Maestas — yes; Senator Sanchez — yes; Senator Soles — yes; Senator Pinto — yes. The clerk recorded \"4 yeses and 1 excused.\" The committee reported the bill as amended with a recommendation to pass.

Committee members asked about access to capital for smaller entities with audit or administrative limitations; Senator Sanchez suggested future work on assistance to help small land grants and acequias meet audit requirements so they can access funds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate - Indian, Rural and Cultural Affairs Mar 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 374, which would establish a land‑grant and acequia infrastructure fund using severance tax bond capacity; amended language delays initial disbursements five years, moves distribution timing to Aug. 1, and restores a larger allocation to tribal infrastructure bonding capacity.","taxTitle","Senate, Legislative, New Mexico","taxId",78419,"location","New Mexico","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291346,"Committee tables bill to recognize \"Gracias, New Mexico\" as winter song",530,1421000,1951000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3&start=1421&end=1951","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3/thumbnail_1421000.jpg","/articles/6291346/New-Mexico/Committee-tables-bill-to-recognize-Gracias-New-Mexico-as-winter-song","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291346-eca098b050ded26860c08a46978d405a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183559&Signature=AjJ5tIyIN1voRRF6i5l~ZKHurvwqu6300xOJ3yXnogJY8Rhl93Dxn0iWMYJB-gk2FTxYtYfZZOwePUplcOCrQJ4yTdgMwRrsDwcgVz1TVoqZD8XQysRvxfg7g4VFXdRoJbbsZ8nM3k79i9--K6BzPZfnvSDGr~qYRddLp9AW4ugGNsVHfIl20Os34LBJT~6~gF6eV7ph8~z0jc3lwwFd8cvzW1Tmk0CMr75b8ndtGNAmbLlHivA-jO8P0OK-hrCU2W8Y820tKdu6t8X~KdThUmKMB~Z5XeKnCtwHlqH4QTHaWoekuVVg4P7R9I74nmqwbo26FDCaPU-lPgBojXkxdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Indian Rural Cultural Affairs Committee on Wednesday tabled Senate Bill 379, a proposal to recognize a wintertime song titled \"Gracias, New Mexico.\" Supporters described the song as a tribute to New Mexico's mixed cultural heritage; others said the piece is not widely known statewide and suggested leaving adoption for another time.

Jay Garcia, a private citizen from Santa Ana Pueblo, spoke in support and said the song \"does embody everything about New Mexico and especially during the winter holidays.\" The bill sponsor noted the recording and performance history in New Mexico and said the composer waived royalties if an official recognition were adopted.

Several senators questioned whether making the song an official item was appropriate. Senator Soles said a formal list of state recognitions should reflect items that are \"very widely known and accepted\" across the state. After a brief in‑room performance of part of the song, the committee debated the merits and potential downstream costs or implications. A motion to table the bill carried by committee vote; the clerk recorded a three‑yes result to table SB 379.","The committee tabled Senate Bill 379, a measure to formally adopt a winter‑themed song titled \"Gracias, New Mexico.\" Supporters and several members praised the song, but some senators said it is not sufficiently widely known to make official; the committee voted to table the bill.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6291351,"Senate committee gives due-pass to memorial to review tribal language teacher certification",0,2494000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3&start=2494&end=2494","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2530072-ba95c7e46f00435c37e3554ad42443e3/thumbnail_2494000.jpg","/articles/6291351/New-Mexico/Senate-committee-gives-due-pass-to-memorial-to-review-tribal-language-teacher-certification","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6291351-328ad5d1acc8602ff7f6a2a29fe8c68b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183559&Signature=mhnFHhonGeoPzbx5xFGK3tdSbleZ7GBQ5nkphRBg85kEqzyVYIB16F0-AGy1eWKxWVCMLsp7S6MVrt2prpn5osl~zj7t-~aSAgf76EO~T8KsU5p7pqf4n6DVHlOJ3ojaNX-phaK8O5EtDBzsd-UktwiFXKhAp-wJKRNj-uEd7liMbcRr5kFAhumiSvNeNWPuyZ5PWq01FBxwbLOA3FpjyhX2ZwYVzo5XF45TFeqFNBx4-7vfIbN3dx051SQCLUJ~PAyIj3ZI-MVnKM1SeQ8c6zCH~nt~QZ7oO~fyRcwiBNTR8tQvU-4~Rx-Hp~iqQCxmwUxQoAP9jaMehfjp~1GbWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Indian Rural Cultural Affairs Committee on Wednesday voted 5-0 to give a due‑pass recommendation to Senate Memorial 9, which would convene a working group to examine the Native American language and cultural certification program known as the \"5‑20\" agreements.

Supporters told the committee the memorial aims to address implementation problems that leave Indigenous language teachers without consistent recognition, renewal paths or access to professional development. \"We stand in technical support of this memorial, and we believe that it's long overdue,\" said Dr. Patricia Trujillo, deputy cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Higher Education Department.

The memorial calls for a legislative education study‑committee convened working group to review how 5‑20 tribal‑state agreements operate in practice. Dr. Geneva Vicente, introduced to the committee as the NISN Dine Language and Mentor Apprentice program director, described the 5‑20 pathway as an agreement by which tribes evaluate and certify language teachers and then work with the Public Education Department (PED) to issue licensure for use in public schools.

Several tribal and community witnesses said the memorial is a needed step to preserve Indigenous languages. \"Language in Indian country is they're losing it day by day,\" said James Rivera, a tribal councilman from the Pueblo of Puyahki Inn, arguing that classroom and immersion programs help children use language at home and at school. Andy Nez, a member of the Navajo Nation Council and a former elementary school teacher, said the memorial would help ensure instructors receive resources and recognition they deserve.

Committee members asked whether the memorial—without an appropriation—could change district practices. Supporters and experts said the memorial is meant to raise awareness, identify implementation gaps (including renewal and professional development approval by districts) and recommend policy or administrative fixes rather than impose immediate mandates on local districts. Dr. Vicente told the committee that recurring concerns include district refusal to approve teachers' professional development attendance, inconsistent treatment of language teachers compared with regular classroom teachers, and gaps in curriculum collaboration between tribes and districts.

Senators discussed whether the working group should be formed by LESC (Legislative Education Study Committee) or by statute and whether resulting recommendations should be policy or law. Senator Maestas and others urged a working group with mixed legislative and non‑legislative membership and resources for per diem and staff support.

Action: the committee moved for a due‑pass recommendation on Senate Memorial 9. The motion was seconded by Senator Maestas and carried on a roll call vote: Senator Maestas — yes; Senator Sanchez — yes; Senator Sherrer — yes; Senator Soles — yes; Senator Pinto — yes (5‑0). The committee record shows the memorial asking for convening a working group to address implementation and renewal issues for the 5‑20 agreements.

The committee took the memorial as a starting point for further study; supporters said future work could recommend administrative policy changes or legislation depending on findings and stakeholder input.","The Senate Indian Rural Cultural Affairs Committee voted 5-0 to recommend a due pass for Senate Memorial 9, which asks for a working group to examine implementation and support for tribal \"5‑20\" language certification agreements and Native language teachers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances bill to create land‑grant and acequia infrastructure fund with amendments delaying distributions

Committee tables bill to recognize "Gracias, New Mexico" as winter song

Senate committee gives due-pass to memorial to review tribal language teacher certification