SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday lauded the Senate passage of Senate Bill 9, a measure to establish the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund.

This landmark legislation would create the state’s first-ever dedicated source of recurring funding for conservation, prioritizing land and water stewardship, forest and watershed health, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation, and wildlife species protection.

“The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund will provide lasting protections for New Mexico’s beloved lands and waters, and I applaud the Senate for taking this step toward its establishment,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

The bill has true bipartisan support. Its sponsors are Democratic Senator Peter Wirth and Republican Senator Steven Neville. It now moves to the House, where it is sponsored by Democratic Rep. Nathan Small.

Passage of The Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund would fulfill the vision laid out by Gov. Lujan Grisham in her executive budget recommendation, prioritizing funding for existing state programs spread across six agencies with existing programs that protect New Mexico communities from wildfire, flood and drought; safeguard urban and rural water supplies; support rural and agricultural communities; and grow our outdoor recreation economy. The proposal does not create any new programs but instead utilizes existing statutes and programs with established track records.

###