TAKE ACTION THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
FOUR WAYS YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR ABOUT
THE BILLS YOU SUPPORT OR OPPOSE
By far the most effective action you can take is to communicate directly with your representatives in the NM House and Senate early and often about the bills you care about. You can also feel free to reach out to all members of a committee to which any bill is assigned using the links below. Legislators are usually inundated by calls and emails, so it is unlikely they will have time to review long emails or messages. However, they do count the number of calls and email subject lines stating support for or against. Here are some tools and suggested language to help you make that quick email or phone call that will make a difference -
POINTERS FOR PHONE OR EMAIL
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Take a moment or two to prepare your thoughts before you call or write.
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Identify yourself as a voter from their district and tell them what your priorities are. If you're writing an email, make sure the subject of the emails contains your ask to support or oppose and the bill number.
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Share some reasons why you support or oppose these bills. Talking points here.
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If you are able to talk to them on the phone or in person, tell them a personal story that informs your priorities. Stories always have more impact than facts.
If you don't know how to contact your representatives, here is the link to look it up.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR OR AN OP-ED
AND SUBMIT TO YOUR LOCAL PAPER
Writing a quick Letter to the Editor helps to inform others in your community what is happening at the legislature and why they should care. It amplifies your voice and can encourage others in the community to talk to your representatives as well. Here are links to submit your letters:
Silver City Daily Press & Independent
SHOW UP FOR HEARINGS
OR IN LEGISLATORS OFFICES
Public comment at committee hearings can be a powerful way to share your personal story or information about why a bill impacts a large or vulnerable section of New Mexico residents. However, the opportunity to have your comment heard depends significantly on the Committee Chair. Some Committee Chairs limit public comment on bills to a certain number for and against, regardless of how much of the public shows up. Some committee chairs limit public comment based on time instead.
Similarly, some committees publish the link to zoom into their meetings on the agenda in advance, and others require an email to the committee Secretary a day in advance to receive the zoom link and make public comment.
We don't want to discourage you, however. Even when only a limited number of public speakers is allowed, the chair will often note the number of people signed up to speak for or against, giving committee members an idea of how (and how passionately!) the public feels about the bill being presented. If there is a bill you care deeply about, we encourage you to sign up and be heard, or at least show your support by being present and making the effort. It can't hurt and it is always interesting to see how decisions are made.
Look up the House Committee Agendas here and the Senate Committee Agendas here.
The Roundhouse is also unique in that the public has access, and an in-person meeting with your representative or another legislator can be the most influential interaction they might have about an issue. If you want to meet your legislator in person contact us and we will give you some pointers on how to make that happen.
JOIN A LEGISLATIVE RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK
TO AMP UP YOUR ACTIVISM
Not yet on our email list? During the legislative session we send out frequent alerts with talking points and contact information to help New Mexicans contact legislators about important energy democracy and climate justice initiatives. The rest of the year we keep you informed about energy policy in New Mexico.
YUCCA (Youth United for Climate Crisis Action) operates a google group for activists who want to help their lobbying efforts on climate and just transition related bills.
Retake Our Democracy sends out near daily alerts during the legislative session to help New Mexicans lobby for progressive bills, including social, economic and climate justice initiatives.
SUMMARY TALKING POINTS FOR OUR PRIORITY BILLS
OPPOSE HB 12 - The "Advanced" Energy Technology Act will:
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HB 12 is designed to finance an energy economy based on fossil fueled hydrogen, nuclear, and carbon capture & sequestration with public funds to benefits private corporations.
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Enshrines a neo-liberal market based approach to emissions reductions that has been proven counter-productive and ineffective, serving only to enrich corporations.
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Invests the funds that should be used for proven technologies like solar, wind and battery storage into unproven and dangerous pipe dreams that prolong the extraction economy.
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HB12 allows the state to take over failed projects from private companies and pay them for their failure. It offers incentives to invest in risky projects such as hydrogen, carbon capture and nuclear reactors that will result in stranded assets and losses.
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Creates mechanisms to transfer unlimited public funding to private industry through public/private partnerships.
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Creates an enormous exception to state procurement rules, effectively eliminating requirements for competitive procurement (comparison between bids with selection being based on cost-effectiveness and other criteria).
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Allows exemptions to the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) to permit closed-door industry preference, and self-dealing that is free from oversight and public scrutiny.
SB165- The Local Choice Energy Act will:
1- Create jobs and increase wealth in our communities
2- Lower electricity bills for residents and small businesses
3- Help our communities go 100% renewable quickly
4- Give our communities choices and control over how our electricity is generated and priced
5- Local Choice Energy is proven, reliable, and successful, serving millions of Americans in more than 1300 communities in 10 states with affordable renewable electricity that creates jobs and invests in local economies.
HB142 -The Generating Facility and Mine Remediation Act will:
1- Ensure that a comprehensive independent assessment of water contamination risk is conducted at the site of the abandoned San Juan Coal Mine and San Juan Generating Station plant.
2- Protect New Mexicans from dangerous coal ash contamination of groundwater wells and the San Juan River.
3- Create an action plan that includes necessary closure provisions and corrective actions that include safe and appropriate disposal of waste, regular ground water monitoring and regular reporting available to the public on accessible internet websites. This means that the public should be made aware, via a summary, of the results of inspection, monitoring and enforcement activities.
SB5 & HB42 -The Public Health and Climate Resiliency Act will:
1- Protect all New Mexicans from threats to our health, properties, acequias and forests caused by extreme weather events related to climate change, which are causing harm today and will be more frequent and intense in the future.
2- Help New Mexico cities and counties build capacity and expertise, support development and implementation of response systems, and improve interagency collaboration to combat risks from fire, flood, drought and other climate catastrophes.
3- Provide New Mexico cities and counties with funding for climate resilience programs and infrastructure.