Come join us to plan strategy. Bring your ideas or just your ears, if you'd rather.

Environmental Justice Caucus is having a

legislative update.

The final weeks of the 2025 Legislative Session are upon us. Find out how you can help. Let us know of any bills you are following, too.

Our Legislative Action Working Group decided to concentrate on four bills this session:

• Green Amendment
• Idaho Stop
• Methane Emissions Regulation
• High Speed Rail Study

Click on the names of the bills if you'd like to read them.

Green Amendment Progress (NOT) - The bill was passed by the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs without a recommendation. The bill was scheduled to be heard by two additional House committees, a way to slow down a bill since most bills need be heard by only two committees when they start out. This constitutional amendment has been before our legislature for four years and never proceeded past the first committee. This is nothing less than a disaster for the people of New Mexico and a disgrace for the Democratic Party.

High Speed Rail Study - The bill never made it to a committee this year. We will push earlier and harder next session because this is such a revolutionary and important bill for the economy and environment in our state.

Methane Emissions Regulation - The resolution underlying this bill was written by 3 EJC members and put forward with the strong support of another EJCer, Jane Yee, the head of the Bernalillo Resolutions Committee, who also wrote the bill. It was sponsored by EJC member Representative Roybal Caballero. The bill, in essence, would prevent new oil wells from being permitted without oil companies requesting new well permits to demonstrate that their other wells are in compliance with current law. This bill was scheduled in the nick of time by Representative McQueen in HENRC, but was tabled Saturday with the unfortunate assistance of two Democratic representatives on the committee.

Idaho Stop - This is another bill created by our own member, Eric Biedermann. It follows the lead of other states, putting forth proven increased safety for cyclists. It allows bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and red lights as stop signs, reducing accidents by as much as 23%. This bill will soon be voted on the Senate floor before heading to the House. It still has a chance to become law this session.

EJC Members at the Roundhouse waiting for the start of the hearing on Methane Emissions bill. Our Jane Yee acted as the expert witness on the bill, and the rest of us including Kathy Moseley online testified in support.

We are reaching out to you. Many of you have been receiving EJC Targeted Alerts when your Senator or Representative is about to vote on an important bill. Your emails and phone calls to these legislators make a huge difference in influencing them to take positions in support of environmental justice. If you can attend hearings by Zoom or in person to testify that makes a difference, too. Sometimes it's good to simply Zoom in on the hearing to learn what your own legislator is saying. Grass Roots is where it's at!

The EJC will be tabling at two events at the Roundhouse this week. We heartily thank the groups that share our values - the Sierra Club on March 6 and No False Solutions on March 7 - for organizing these events.

Please think about coming up to join us even if you can only stay for an hour or two.

If you come, stop by our table. Learn how to contact your legislator on these days to foster the EJC mission. We'll see you there.

It was a pleasure connecting with so many of you at Albuquerque City Plaza at this protest. We are excited that you are energized to combat the devastating actions of Trump. We welcome our many new members to take an active role and will soon invite all members to a get-together to bring us all up to date. Watch your email for your invitation!

Come join the Legislative Action Working Group as we track legislation and strategize for upcoming committee meetings If you have any questions, email Alex.