House committee backs $12 million resilience fund to help local and tribal communities prepare for extreme weather

Santa Fe — The House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee voted 7-4 to recommend House Bill 109, the Extreme Weather Resilience Fund, which would create a $12 million grant program to help local governments and tribal communities plan for and respond to climate-driven extreme weather.

Representative Sanna Cortez, who sponsored HB109, told the committee the bill is designed to “provide much needed financial resources to local governments and tribal communities to plan, prepare for, and respond to these escalating threats,” citing rising temperatures, worsening drought and increased wildfire smoke that have contributed to more emergency-room visits and water-supply risks.

The measure would authorize $12,000,000 in grants, with individual awards capped at $1,000,000. The bill directs that at least 50% of funding be targeted to small or rural communities. The Department of Health would administer the program and develop rules for awarding grants, and recipients must be political subdivisions of the state—counties, municipalities, tribal governments, soil and water conservation districts and acequias—rather than individuals.

“My hope is that communities can get these funds out quickly to improve preparedness—whether that’s planning, improving a facility to serve as a cooling center or supporting wildfire evacuation plans,” Representative Cortez said. Shelley Mann Lev, executive director of Healthy Climate New Mexico, urged support, saying, “HB109 really represents more than just an emergency fund. It’s really an investment in our community’s future, safety, and our health.”

Supporters described eligible projects broadly: installation of cooling and air-purification systems in schools and senior centers, distribution of high-quality masks during wildfire smoke events, brush clearance for high-risk residents, community wildfire evacuation planning and public education, and modest infrastructure to allow community buildings to act as safe shelters.

Committee members pressed for clarity on administration, pace and oversight. Representative Small asked that the sponsor coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to leverage existing federal grant programs and technical support. Representative Cortez said she expects the Department of Health to lead rulemaking and that the committee will engage other agencies; she also said the program is intended to be flexible so local needs can be met.

Questions about program scale and timing surfaced: the bill’s sponsor said the $12 million is an increase from prior proposals and that the larger $1,000,000 cap responds to community requests for funding level sufficient to retrofit facilities or support larger projects. Committee members asked how quickly funds could be distributed; Representative Cortez said she hoped rules could be written promptly so communities could apply and begin projects as soon as possible, but she did not give a firm timeline.

During public comment, nonprofit and tribal representatives, health advocates and public-health professionals voiced support, stressing disproportionate impacts on children, the elderly and low-income households and urging rapid deployment of funds. Opponents did not register at the committee session for HB109.

On a motion to recommend the bill, Representative Small moved a “do pass” recommendation and Representative Perla seconded. The roll-call vote recorded seven yes votes (Representative Abeta; Representative Dixon; Representative Garcia; Representative Guarola; Representative Small; Vice Chair Sunny Yona; Chair McQueen) and four no votes (Representative Sanna Cortez; Representative Henry; Representative Montoya; Representative Murphy), producing a committee recommendation to advance the measure.

The committee discussion emphasized that the fund is intended for political subdivisions and that funds are not paid directly to individuals. Members said the program should coordinate with existing state and federal programs and that the Department of Health would set eligibility rules and reporting requirements once the program is established.

If enacted, the bill would create a new, state-administered grant program aimed at filling gaps in preparedness funding for extreme heat, wildfire smoke and flood-related responses in communities across New Mexico.