Panel approves Site Readiness Act, creating fund and advisory panel with $24M in budget

The Appropriations & Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 169, legislation to create a site-readiness program and fund intended to make strategic parcels "shovel ready" for business development. The committee recorded unanimous approval after proponents described how predevelopment work—site characterization studies, recommended site designs and strategic infrastructure investments—could shorten timelines and attract private investment. Committee sponsors said House Bill 2 included $24 million for the new site readiness fund.

Vice Chair (sponsor) described the bill's principal aims: to let the Economic Development Department commission site characterization studies, create a site advisory committee to review findings and recommended site designs, designate strategic economic development sites, and solicit proposals for predevelopment projects, including infrastructure and environmental remediation. "One of the things we frequently hear from businesses that are looking to move to New Mexico is that it takes too long to get the utilities and infrastructure set up," the sponsor said. "This act will allow the economic development department to do site characterization studies" and improve competitiveness.

Business and industry groups testified in support. Allison Riley, public policy director for the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce, said the bill "accelerates job creation by reducing delays in site development," and Kent Cravens, a registered lobbyist for the New Mexico Association of Realtors, called the proposal "exciting" for long-term scoring of projects. Utilities and industry representatives including PNM and Xcel Energy said they supported the bill and that predevelopment investments help attract projects and jobs.

Committee members asked about advisory-board membership and geographic reach. The bill sets advisory members from state agencies that intersect with economic development (including environment, transportation and finance authority representatives), with five public members appointed by the legislative council who should have expertise in planning, architecture, utilities, transportation or economic development. Witnesses said an amendment added Indian nations, tribes and pueblos as public partners and that a recent pilot had identified 28 candidate sites across rural and urban New Mexico.

Representative Duncan moved approval and Representative Brown seconded; the motion carried unanimously. Sponsors said the EDD will publish criteria and reporting on site-selection and that follow-up performance measures will be coordinated with legislative finance staff as programs move into implementation.