Part of Clear Horizons Act, Community Benefit Fund Doubles Down on Long Term State Investments in Community Resilience and Opportunity
Santa Fe, NM – Today, the New Mexico Senate Conservation Committee made a powerful move to ensure a cleaner, healthier, and more resilient future for New Mexico’s families and communities.
The Committee passed the Community Benefit Fund, comprised of Senate Bills 48 and 49, sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque). These bills are part of a suite of transformative legislation that includes the Clear Horizons Act and Innovation in Government Act. Together, these bills aim to provide the policy, investment, and regulatory framework needed to resume New Mexico’s leadership in reducing pollution and emissions while creating a thriving, resilient future for families and communities across the state.
“The Clear Horizons Act and its accompanying legislation represent an opportunity for New Mexico to lead once again in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building resilient communities,” said Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque). “The Community Benefit Fund, in particular, gives New Mexicans the tools to invest in their future, adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather, and seize the economic opportunities that come with a clean energy transition.”
The Community Benefit Fund (CBF) allocates $340 million to fund projects that prioritize pollution reduction, grid reliability, renewable energy expansion, workforce training, and community resilience. It operates by providing direct grants to locally-driven initiatives, equipping communities to design and implement projects that address their unique needs. By focusing on rural and underserved communities, the CBF ensures equitable investment across New Mexico, with funding targeted toward areas that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change. This approach not only fosters sustainability but also creates pathways for long-term economic growth and resilience statewide.
In 2024 alone, New Mexico spent nearly $150 million in emergency funds to address climate-fueled disasters such as wildfires, floods, and extreme droughts. The Clear Horizons Act, including the Community Benefit Fund and Innovation in Government Act, seeks to address these growing challenges by creating a proactive approach to climate action.
“This package of bills is more than just legislation—it’s a commitment to the people of New Mexico,” Senator Stewart emphasized. “We have the resources and the vision to secure a thriving future for every community, and the time to act is now.”
“We must commit to being aspirational. The future we want for our children, and their children, does not have to differ from our most audacious hopes,” said Senator Angel Charley (D-Acoma). “It is my honor to support these bills. And, I thank you Senator Stewart, for planting these seeds. In our lifetime, we may not taste the fruit of what you have planted today- but I know the fruit will nurture and sustain those who are coming, our future generations.”
Senate Bill 48 (CBF) and Senate Bill 49 (CBF appropriations) both passed out of the Senate Conservation Committee on votes of 5-3. They will be heard next in the Senate Finance Committee. The companion Clear Horizons Act (Senate Bill 4) will also be heard next in Senate Finance.
To learn more about the bill, visit www.clearhorizonsnm.org.
