HB 111 New Mexico House · 2026 Regular Session

WATER LAW VIOLATION MAXIMUM PENALTY

HB 111 increases daily civil penalties for water law violations in New Mexico from $100 to $3,400 per day for most infractions, such as unauthorized water diversion or overuse. It directly affects water users, permit holders, and entities violating state water rights or groundwater regulations. Penalties accrue daily during the violation and become enforceable only after a compliance order becomes final, following required hearings. The bill also sets higher penalties of $10,000 per day for violations involving illegal recovery or use of stored water.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Signed Mar 5, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill strengthens New Mexico's water enforcement by clarifying the State Engineer's authority to issue compliance orders and increasing civil penalties for water law violations. It adds new provisions for water repayment, hearing procedures, and higher fines for illegal water diversion.

Scope change

The bill expands enforcement authority to include new compliance order procedures and increases penalty amounts for violations of water laws and groundwater storage regulations.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new Section 1 provisions allowing the State Engineer to issue compliance orders with specific requirements for hearings, service methods, and finality timelines.

Added new Section 1 provisions allowing the State Engineer to require repayment of overdiverted water, up to double the amount diverted.

Increased civil penalty maximum from unspecified amount to $3,400 per day for general violations and $10,000 per day for violations directly related to illegal groundwater recovery.

Added new Section 2 establishing specific penalty amounts for violations of the Ground Water Storage and Recovery Act.

Added new Section 3 clarifying that the State Engineer may suspend or revoke water licenses for violations of bond conditions.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 15, 2026 · House Feb 12, 2026

How they voted

35–3

Passed

Total votes 38

Feb 15, 2026

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican16

13 Yea 3 Nay

81% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 5, 2026

Signed into law

Signed

executive

Feb 15, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Conservation Committee

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee & House Judiciary Committee

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors