Summary:

 Senate Joint Memorial 1 (SJM 1) requests the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department and the Economic Development Department to jointly study and make recommendations to expedite forest restoration through economic development in New Mexico 
 

Legislation Overview:

 Senate Joint Memorial 1 (SJM 1) requests the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) and the Economic Development Department (EDD) to jointly study and make recommendations to expedite forest restoration through economic development in New Mexico. 

SJM 1 finds:
•New Mexico's forests have a high risk of wildfire and require significant thinning and watershed restoration to reduce hazards and protect human and natural resources;
•The wood byproducts from forest and watershed restoration are costly to process and remove without viable markets;
•State incentives are needed to drive innovation in wood utilization, create markets that promote sustainable tree thinning, and reduce the overall cost of forest and watershed restoration for the public good; and
•Recommendations are needed to encourage investment in the wood utilization sector and accelerate forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction statewide.

SJM 1 requests the following:
•That the EMNRD and the EDD study and jointly develop recommendations regarding missed business opportunities for a fully functioning wood products economy, including the need to retain workforce and succession; methods of reducing costs for removal of wood byproducts and increase the economic viability of the state's wood utilization sector; what other states do in this area; what new or existing state programs and incentives can be leveraged for certain aspects of economic development to foster industry expansion.
•That the EMNRD and the EDD will report its findings and conclusions to the appropriate interim legislative committees dealing with natural resources and economic development by 1 September 2025.
•That the secretary of energy, minerals and natural resources and the secretary of economic development will receive copies of this SJM for appropriate distribution.
 

Amendments:

 2/25/25
The Senate Conservation Committee amended SJM 1 (SJM 1A SCONC) by modifying the request to look at business opportunities for a functioning wood product economy to include business opportunities for a functioning sustainable wood products economy. It requires the EMNRD and the EDD to report and make recommendations on what incentives, legal actions and regulations are needed to ensure healthy forests that will reduce wildfire risk.