HB 128 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

NMFA LOCAL SOLAR ACCESS FUND

HB 128 establishes a $60 million Local Solar Access Fund within New Mexico's Finance Authority to provide grants for solar energy systems. The fund supports eligible entities like counties, municipalities, school districts, and tribal nations in planning, installing, and upgrading solar systems for public buildings and infrastructure. Grants prioritize projects in rural areas, low-income communities, and those serving community services or emergency needs, with rules requiring transparency in allocation. The fund’s money does not revert to the general fund annually, ensuring ongoing support for solar initiatives.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Apr 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed Apr 9, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten from a simple introductory draft to a comprehensive final version that creates a new Local Solar Access Fund within the New Mexico Finance Authority. The final version adds detailed grant programs for solar energy systems, establishes specific eligibility criteria and prioritization metrics, and includes requirements for contractor bonds and rule-making timelines.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general concept to include specific grant programs for eligible entities (counties, municipalities, school districts, land grant institutions, and Indian nations/tribes/pueblos), technical assistance grants for federal funding applications, and administrative cost coverage.

DEFINITION

Added formal definitions for 'eligible entity' and 'solar energy system' including energy storage and interconnection equipment.

FISCAL

Created the Local Solar Access Fund with provisions for appropriations, distributions, and investment income that cannot revert to the general fund.

ELIGIBILITY

Established specific eligibility requirements for grants including cost estimates, operating cost savings, and community benefit descriptions.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for eligible entities to require contractors to post performance and payment bonds under Section 13-4-18 NMSA 1978.

ADDED

Added priority metrics for grant selection including funding need, low-income household percentage, community service usage, rural allocation requirements, operating cost reductions, geographic diversity, and workforce development.

TIMELINE

Set a December 31, 2025 deadline for the Finance Authority to establish rules in consultation with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.

TECHNICAL

Added provisions for the fund to be administered as a separate account with potential subaccounts.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 20, 2025 · House Mar 1, 2025

How they voted

22–16

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 40

Mar 20, 2025

D Democratic24

22 Yea 2

91% Yea

R Republican16

16 Nay

100% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 9, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Legislature · Passed

floor substitute adopted (1 amendment)

legislature

Mar 1, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Conservation Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

Mar 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS, as amended, committee report adopted

lower

Jan 27, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee & House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Pre-file

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors