New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s Energy Efficiency Law Takes Effect Today

New State laws go into effect May 14, 2008

May 14, 2008 -- SANTA FE - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s energy efficiency law takes effect today, as well as nearly 50 news laws. Governor Richardson worked with House Speaker Ben Lujan to pass the Efficient Use of Energy Act, which require utilities to provide more energy efficiency to New Mexico consumers.

HB 305 Utility Customer Load Management

One of the most prominent bills from the 2008 Legislative Session was House Bill 305, a major piece of energy efficiency legislation. Sponsored by Speaker Ben Lujan, HB 305 directs electric and gas utilities to acquire all cost-effective and achievable energy efficiency resources. The goal is to reduce energy consumption by 20-percent by 2020.

“This is good for the environment and good for New Mexico's energy consumers,” said Governor Richardson. “I am proud to say New Mexico has the most progressive clean and renewable energy policy in the nation."

This new law does the following:

• Electric utilities must achieve at least 5-percent energy efficiency savings from 2005 electricity sales by 2014 and 10-percent by 2020.

• The PRC must approve energy efficiency programs designed to reduce the burden of energy costs on low-income consumers.

• Utilities have an opportunity to earn financial incentives for implementing cost effective energy efficiency programs that are cheaper than building and operating new power plants.

HB 468 Faculty Endowment Fund Name Change

This law, sponsored by Representative Saavedra, provides the mechanism to distribute $5.6 million in funding from the state budget. Building on last year’s legislation which extended the funding to two-year colleges, this law also allows for the funds to be used for student scholarships, this will help community colleges retain and recruit students.

SB 31 Expand Schools in Dual Credit Program SB 31 allows students to take college credit courses while completing their high school graduation requirements. This law emphasizes the need for all New Mexicans to increase educational achievement so they may more fully participate in our workforce. Dual credit courses improve students’ chances of finishing high school and greatly increase students’ ability to complete their college education.

SB 460 College & Workplace Readiness Assessments.

Under this law current standards-based assessment will be used for determining whether a student has met graduation requirements. Students will have a choice of taking a college placement assessment or a workplace readiness assessment. Assessment requirements will change for grades 9, 10, and 11.

The following laws go into effect on May 14, 2008:

Bill # Sponsor Title

HB 054 Gutierrez Define Probate Code “Security Account”
HB 089 Cote Physician Assistant Requirements
HB 142 Cervantes Judicial Performance Evaluation Fund
HB 167 King Birthing Workforce Retention Fund
HB 168 Cote City of Las Cruces License Plates
HB 177 Trujillo Medical License Suspensions and Reporting
HB 181 Varela Behavioral Health Purchasing Rulemaking
HB 215 Gonzales Eliminate Commercial Driver’s License Waivers
HB 237 Campos Automatic Election Recounts
HB 249 Wirth Community College and School District Elections
HB 275 B. Lujan Advanced Chiropractic Certification Registry
HB 305 B. Lujan Utility Customer Load Management
HB 327 Madalena County Clerk Recording Instrument Fees
HB 367 Miera Children’s Mental Health and Disabilities Act
HB 387 Cote Locomotive Fuel Tax Exemption Effective Dates
HB 399 Heaton Self Rescue Devices in Coal Mines
HB 412 Park Revive Basic Child Support Schedule
HB 468 Saavedra Faculty Endowment Fund Name Change
HB 469 K. Martinez Legislative Retirement Time Period Change
HB 517 Varela Information Technology Equipment Replacement
HB 546 Chasey Tobacco Settlement Fund Programs
HB 660 B. Lujan Solar Energy Research Park
SB 018 Lovejoy Capital Outlay to Tribal Infrastructure Fund
SB 031 Nava Expand Schools in Dual Credit Program
SB 081 Morales Eliminate Election Use of Social Security Numbers
SB 116 Snyder Raise Property Tax Elimination Increase
SB 122 McSorley Public Service Law Loan Repayment Changes
SB 127 Komadina Waive Licensure Fees for Medical Doctors
SB 129 Feldman Healthy New Mexico Task Force
SB 146 Nava Public School Capital Outlay Omnibus Bill
SB 161 Leavell New Mexico Finance Authority Bonds for Lea County
Cancer Treatment
SB 174 B. Sanchez High Wage Jobs Tax Credit Eligibility
SB 177 B. Sanchez Monthly Property Tax Prepayments
SB 178 Kernan Breast Cancer Awareness License Plate
SB 209 R. Martinez Amend Uniform Real Property Recording Act
SB 242 Grubesic Property Donations to Cultural Affairs Department
SB 353 Jennings Allow Certain Accountants to Practice in New Mexico
SB 391 Jennings Revise Medical Insurance Pool Act
SB 421 Papen Prescription Drug Program Expenditures
SB 438 Beffort Weight Distance Tax Compliance Penalties
SB 460 Nava College and Workplace Readiness Assessments
SB 492 M. Sanchez Distinctiveness of Purple Heart License Plate
SB 532 J.G. Taylor Approve Zoning Special Exceptions Authority
SB 551 Ingle Vehicle Port of Entry Requirements