New Mexico bill would fund bureau to plan statewide development

The bill would establish a planning bureau within the Economic Development Department’s economic development division. The bureau would address New Mexico’s growth and development and help coordinate how the state uses land, facilities, and resources.

The bureau would prepare and update a statewide development plan with state and regional partners. The plan would address future development, including jobs, housing, transportation needs, and connections, as well as cooperation among agencies and governments. The bureau would update the plan every three years or more often if it decides an update is needed.

The bureau would collaborate with an Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo on development and planning matters when it requests collaboration. The collaboration would cover development and planning matters. The nation, tribe, or pueblo must request collaboration.

The bill would set aside $1 million for staffing the planning bureau. The money would go to the Economic Development Department for bureau staffing. Money left at the end of a fiscal year would not return to the general fund. The money would be available for expenditure in fiscal year 2027 and subsequent fiscal years.