HB 308 New Mexico House · 2025 Regular Session

REMOVE MRGCD FROM LOCAL ELECTION ACT

HB 308 removes the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) from New Mexico's Local Election Act, creating a separate election process for its board members. The bill eliminates standard requirements for absentee voting, election notices, and polling locations under the Local Election Act, instead establishing new rules for MRGCD elections. Key provisions include requiring election proclamations to be published in local newspapers 30 days before the first Tuesday after the first Monday in May, and mandating that qualified electors must own property within the MRGCD's benefited area to vote. This directly affects MRGCD voters (property owners in the district) and election administrators who now follow specific MRGCD procedures instead of standard local election rules. The bill became law on March 22, 2025.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

Signed into Law

Mar 2025

Introduced Feb 5, 2025 Signed Mar 22, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

JC substitute → Final Version · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill reorganizes conservancy district elections by removing them from the Local Election Act and creating a separate legal framework. It establishes new definitions for election roles, sets a 45-day deadline for compiling voter lists, and expands eligibility to include tribal land owners and pueblo residents.

Scope change

Conservancy district elections are now governed by separate statutes rather than the Local Election Act, creating a distinct legal framework for these districts.

SCOPE

Removed conservancy districts from the Local Election Act and created a separate statutory framework for their elections.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'election director', 'election officer', 'list compiler', 'qualified elector', 'qualified elector's list', and 'residence' specific to conservancy districts.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the qualified elector list compilation deadline from 90 days to 45 days prior to election.

Added requirement that election directors or officers must distribute qualified elector lists to each polling place, including those within pueblos.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded qualified elector eligibility to include individuals who own legal or equitable title in tribal lands and those residing on pueblo lands with legal or equitable title.

Modified property ownership proof requirements to include recorded deeds, county clerk records, pueblo lists, and current property tax bills.

introduced version → JC substitute · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends New Mexico conservancy district election laws to remove conservancy districts from the Local Election Act and establish independent election procedures. The changes clarify that conservancy districts are not local governments for election purposes, define new roles like election directors and list compilers, and set specific timelines for compiling voter lists and holding elections. These changes aim to streamline conservancy district elections and ensure they follow procedures appropriate for these specialized districts rather than general local government elections.

Scope change

Conservancy districts are explicitly excluded from the Local Election Act and now operate under their own election procedures defined in this bill, while still following certain election code provisions.

DEFINITION

Conservancy districts are no longer classified as local governments under the Local Election Act, creating a separate legal category for these districts.

New definitions were added for 'election director', 'election officer', 'list compiler', 'qualified elector', and 'qualified elector's list' to clarify roles and requirements.

TIMELINE

Election timing was changed to occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in October in odd-numbered years, with specific provisions for the 2025 election.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements establish that conservancy districts must compile and deliver qualified elector lists to county clerks at least 180 days before elections, with updates every 30 days until 90 days before the election.

Removed requirements for conservancy district elections to follow Local Election Act procedures, including certain absentee voting and polling location rules.

New provisions allow conservancy district boards to adopt their own election rules and procedures, including provisions for public notice, ballot forms, and election administration.

ELIGIBILITY

Qualified elector requirements were clarified to include individuals who own real property within the benefited area or those residing on and owning legal title in tribal lands.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 16, 2025 · House Mar 5, 2025

How they voted

36–0

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 40

Mar 16, 2025

D Democratic24

22 Yea 2

91% Yea

R Republican16

14 Yea 2

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 22, 2025

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Mar 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Rules Committee & Senate Conservation Committee

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Mar 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

lower

Feb 15, 2025

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors