Strategic Water Supply Act halfway through Legislature
The executive-backed Strategic Water Supply Act, proposed in House Bill 137, passed on a 57-4 through the House on Friday. It would allow the state to enter into contracts with or award grants to projects that treat and reuse brackish water — 652-1,303 trillion gallons of which exist in New Mexico, according to the Environment Department.
The bill when first introduced included the treatment and reuse of produced water, or wastewater, from oil and gas operations. But legislators removed that provision and are only focusing on the saline water component to help appease some policymakers and environmentalists.
"We have tried to listen to legislators who have had deep concerns," said bill sponsor Rep. Susan Herrera, D-Embudo.
Herrera also declined to block a Republican amendment to the bill to ensure people can and have time to protest against brackish water reuse projects.
This year's $10.8 billion budget proposal sets aside $40 million for the strategic water supply program, should the legislation pass. It also appropriates $19 million for the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to conduct aquifer mapping and $4 million for New Mexico State University to continue studying water reuse and treatment technology and projects.
The appropriation is $35 million less than the bill initially sought. The Strategic Water Supply Act began as a $500 million bill last year, and legislators have since watered it down to accommodate concerns around the feasibility of the program.
The state can get started with $40 million, said Rebecca Roose, infrastructure advisor to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
"We would like to see more of an investment in this area," she told the Journal after the bill's passage. "We think the need is there. We think the opportunity and potential is there."
Roose added that although produced water isn't a part of the Strategic Water Act anymore, the state is committed to continuing to work this year and beyond "on getting the regulatory provisions in place and continuing to invest for treatment and reuse."
The executive's office could come back for legislative market incentives in the future, she said, or the market could take off on its on once the regulations are in place.
"We won't know for sure until we get there," Roose said.
Lujan Grisham said in a statement Friday afternoon that the legislation is a "forward-thinking approach" to managing water.
"By developing New Mexico's brackish water resources, we're charting a new course that balances economic opportunity with responsible stewardship of our freshwater supplies," she said.
The four votes against the bill came from Democratic Reps. Marianna Anaya, Dayan Hochman-Vigil and Patricia Roybal Caballero, all of Albuquerque, and Angelica Rubio of Las Cruces.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
8 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Gavin Newsom and Pete Buttigieg's Chances of Beating JD Vance in 2028: Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new poll shows potential 2028 presidential election matchups between Vice President JD Vance and prominent Democratic leaders as next year's midterm campaigns are on the horizon. Why It Matters Early polls, especially in crucial swing states, have gained significance as potential contenders for the 2028 presidential election begin to emerge. Even with the election still a few years away, polling could offer insight into candidate viability, voter sentiment and evolving party dynamics, particularly after the pivotal 2024 election cycle. What To Know In the poll released Tuesday by SoCal Strategies and sponsored by On Point Politics and Red Eagle Politics, California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom secured 39 percent in a potential matchup with Vance, who landed 37 percent. The survey shows 23 percent were undecided in the matchup. In a race against former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Vance trailed with 37 percent of the vote compared to Buttigieg's 41 percent. The survey shows 21 percent were undecided. The poll surveyed 700 U.S. adults on August 18. "The survey was weighted by age, gender, race, education, and 2024 vote to match the Bonfire National Voter File," the pollster noted. ESPN host Stephen A. Smith also came close to Vance in the survey, receiving 35 percent of the vote compared to Vance's 37 percent. Previous polling has shown Vance as the clear GOP primary front-runner. The field is more crowded for Democrats, as former Vice President Kamala Harris, Newsom and Buttigieg all are early top contenders. Tuesday's poll also shows President Donald Trump's overall approval rating at 45 percent versus a disapproval rating of 48 percent. California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on the state's redistricting plans at a news conference on August 14 in Los Angeles. (Photo by) California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks on the state's redistricting plans at a news conference on August 14 in Los Angeles. (Photo by) What People Are Saying Columbia University professor Robert Y. Shapiro, to Newsweek via email on Tuesday: "It is of course much too early to tell anything significant from this other than the 2028 election is likely to be close just like the last presidential elections. See the high percent undecided as well. "The data may suggest that Vance is not as strong a candidate as Donald Trump, but we would need to compare the hypothetical of Trump running for an imaginary third term against Newsom or Buttigieg. Regardless of what might happen in the midterm election, it looks like 2028 will be another nail biter..." Trump, while answering questions during a news conference on the 2028 Olympics, when directly asked if Vance is the successor to MAGA: "Well, I think most likely in all fairness, he's the vice president. I think Marco [Rubio] is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form. I also think we have incredible people, some of the people on the stage right here, so it's too early obviously to talk about it but certainly he's doing a great job, and he would be probably favored at this point." What Happens Next Pollsters and analysts were expected to release additional national and state-level surveys in the coming months as midterm campaigning ramps up.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Iowa administrator Adam Steen announces GOP campaign for governor
Adam Steen, former Iowa director of Administrative Services, was joined by his sons, Maverick and Ryker and his wife Kasey Steen, as announced he was running for governor Aug. 19, 2025 at Berean Church in Pleasant Hill. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Republican Adam Steen, former director of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, announced his campaign for governor Tuesday, labeling himself as a 'faith guy' in the race to succeed Gov. Kim Reynolds. Steen held a campaign kickoff event Tuesday at Berean Church in Pleasant Hill, starting with a musical performance from Nathan Thomas and the A17 worship band and an introduction from Pastor Gary Pilcher. As he introduced himself, Steen said there had been some speculation online about what type of candidate he would be. 'Let me tell you, from my own lips, who I am: I am the faith guy,' Steen said. 'I'm a Jesus guy. I'm a Make America Great Again guy. I'm a common-sense policy, America first, people first guy.' In addition to being a credentialed minister, Steen said some of his highest profile commitments to faith were as DAS director. The department had canceled a Satanic Temple of Iowa holiday celebration event at the Iowa Capitol in December 2024, with Steen saying the event was denied because it included 'elements that are harmful to minors.' Steen said at the campaign event he was 'the guy that stood in front of the Satanists when they blatantly targeted our children, and I'm the guy getting sued by the Satanists for protecting our children.' He also said there was another event request at the Capitol he denied, for an all-ages, family-friendly drag show. He said this planned event was not as well known, but that he believed it was the right thing to do despite being at risk of getting sued. Steen, appointed in 2021 to serve as DAS director in Reynolds' administration, said he led some of the major policies changing state government, like the government agency restructuring signed into law in 2023. Speaking with reporters, Steen said he had discussed running for the seat with Reynolds and came to a 'mutual agreement' that he would resign from his position if he ran for the office. 'Today, at 10 a.m., I walked into the governor's office and I submitted my resignation,' Steen told the crowd. 'Today I walked away from a job that I loved. I walked away from a job that I loved, so I could join the fight and defend the state that I love.' Before leading DAS, Steen was the director of business development at Syverson Strege, a financial services firm, and had previously owned a management consulting firm called 25 Connections. He also was a minor league baseball relief pitcher in 2002, playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and Batavia Muckdogs. Steen highlighted his commitment to protecting private property rights, but did not go into detail on his views about the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipeline projects — the subject of a contentious bill that was vetoed by Reynolds this session. 'I was working with her at this time, and I support everything that Governor Reynolds is doing,' Steen said. When asked about his views on the use of eminent domain in these projects, he said 'I'm a pro-property rights, pro-private ownership person.' Steen is the latest Republican to join the field of GOP candidates seeking to take the mantle from Reynolds after she announced she would not run for reelection in 2026. U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra and state Sen. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny, currently have 'exploratory' committees for governor, while Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, and former state legislator Brad Sherman have announced campaigns. Iowa Auditor Rob Sand is considered the current frontrunner to become the Democratic gubernatorial candidate. Former political operative Julie Stauch and Democrat Paul Dahl are also running to become the party nominee.
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Susan Collins to get Hollywood treatment at fundraiser with Democrats
The fundraiser will be held at the home of Sherry Lansing, a former Paramount Pictures chair and prominent liberal donor, according to three people with knowledge of the fundraiser. Lansing's home in the Bel Air neighborhood is a mainstay on the philanthropy and Democratic fundraising circuit, hosting the likes of Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis of California on her patio, which opens to sweeping views of Los Angeles. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Lansing is set to co-host the event with Casey Wasserman, the sports and entertainment mogul and chair of the Los Angeles Olympics organizing committee, which is handling logistics for the Summer Games in 2028. Wasserman is a longtime Democratic giver as well, but he has taken steps to ingratiate himself with the right as of late, giving Olympic medals to President Donald Trump at the White House this month and donating to some Republicans during this election cycle. Advertisement Casey Wasserman, chairman of LA28, presented medals from the 1984 Olympics to President Trump in Washington on Aug. 5. Alex Brandon/Associated Press The Bel Air event has attracted some attention in Hollywood because Democrats will need to topple Republicans such as Collins if they have a chance at retaking the Senate. It is unclear how strong a candidate Democrats will field in Maine. On Tuesday, a political novice, Graham Platner, announced his entry into the Democratic primary. Advertisement Wasserman and Lansing decided to participate in the Southern California fundraiser because it was set up as a bipartisan host committee, with two Democrats and two Republicans, according to a person close to them. One of the Republicans is Harry E. Sloan, a former chair of MGM and a current member of the Lionsgate board. Sloan was once a prominent backer of moderate Republicans such as John McCain, but in recent years he has also made six-figure contributions to Democrats, including to back the 2024 presidential campaigns of Joe Biden and then Kamala Harris. Sloan's wife, Florence, a filmmaker with similar giving patterns to her husband, is also listed on the invitation. The other Republican hosting the event is Michael Burns, vice chair of the Lionsgate film and television studio. 'I'm proud to have supported my dear friend Senator Collins for many years,' Burns said in a text message. 'She remains a clear-thinking, bipartisan moderate in a world that, at least for the moment, is something far different.' Lansing, Wasserman and Sloan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Collins' campaign had no comment. Tickets for the reception run from $3,500 to $10,000. Collins is also expected to attend finance events in Northern California around the time of the Bel Air fundraiser, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. This article originally appeared in
