SCHOOL WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

SB0084

SENATE BILL 84

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS; CREATING THE HIGH SCHOOL WATER
MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION PROGRAM AS A TWO-YEAR PILOT
PROJECT; ASSIGNING DUTIES TO THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT;
MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1.
A new section of the Public School Code is
enacted to read:

"[
NEW MATERIAL
] HIGH SCHOOL WATER MANAGEMENT AND
CONSERVATION PROGRAM--PILOT PROJECT--REPORTING AND
EVALUATION.--

A. The "high school water management and
conservation program" is created as a two-year pilot project
that creates a one-credit, elective high school course to study
the feasibility of providing practical environmental education
that prepares high school students for careers in water
management and conservation.

B. The department shall:

(1) administer the high school water
management and conservation program and develop a suitable
curriculum for the program in collaboration with the higher
education department, the department of health, the state
engineer and Indian nations, tribes and pueblos;

(2) determine the criteria and procedures for
selecting three high schools to participate in the program;
provided that the high schools shall be selected from one class
A county, one class B high valuation county and one class B low
valuation county;

(3) establish reporting and evaluation
requirements for the participating schools, including student
and program assessments; and

(4) provide interim and final reports annually
to the legislature and the governor on the efficacy of the
program.

C. The department may use up to four percent of any
appropriation made by the legislature for the high school water
management and conservation program for professional
development for participating educators and department
administrative costs."

SECTION 2.
APPROPRIATION.--Five million dollars
($5,000,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the
public education department for expenditure in fiscal years
2027 and 2028 for curriculum development and operational
expenses, including teacher salaries, for the high school water
management and conservation program. Any unexpended balance
remaining at the end of fiscal year 2028 shall revert to the
general fund.

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