RIO HONDO WATERSHED DISTRICT

SB 384 appropriates $100,000 from the state general fund to the New Mexico Department of Agriculture for planning, developing, and creating a Rio Hondo Watershed District during fiscal year 2026. The funds are specifically for the Department of Agriculture to conduct this planning work, with any unspent balance reverting to the general fund by year-end. The bill directly affects the Rio Hondo watershed area by initiating formal planning for a dedicated district to manage water resources. It does not create the district immediately but funds the foundational planning phase through state agency action. The bill is procedural in nature, focusing solely on allocating funds for this planning process.