Committee supports joint memorial to coordinate forest restoration, economic uses of removed wood

Senate Joint Memorial 1, a nonbinding measure asking state agencies to coordinate a plan for forest restoration and to study economic uses for biomass, won a do‑pass recommendation from the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 11.

Senator Murphy described the memorial as a request for a coordinated planning process among the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, Economic Development Department and other agencies to reduce wildfire risk, improve watershed and ecosystem health, and explore rural economic opportunities from forest restoration work. "We need to clean them up," Murphy told the committee, linking fuel reduction to water quality, wildfire risk mitigation and potential economic development.

Supporters included the Public Service Company of New Mexico, which testified that vegetation management can reduce wildfire risk and support system reliability; the State Land Office, which noted potential revenue for beneficiaries; and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, which said restoring forests can improve watershed health and rural economies.

The committee recorded no opposition during the hearing and advanced the memorial by voice request. Representative Garcia moved a do‑pass recommendation on the memorial and the motion carried; committee members present indicated support and the chair recorded the do pass.

The memorial is nonbinding: it requests that agencies collaborate and report back, and it does not by itself change state law or appropriate funds. Sponsors said the memorial is intended to support planning and stakeholder engagement rather than immediate large appropriations or rule changes.

Ending

Sponsors framed the memorial as a tool to coordinate forestry work that balances ecosystem health, wildfire risk reduction and rural economic development; the committee approved the request and recommended it to the next legislative steps.