Bill > HB37

This bill amends property tax law to define "agricultural use" to include land that is resting due to a special water district's man-made infrastructure failure, provided that the failure results in a significant reduction in water delivery (seventy percent or less of the previous year's delivery) and is certified by the special water district to the county assessor. A special water district is defined as various types of entities with statutory authority to deliver water, such as conservancy districts, acequias, community ditch associations, and irrigation districts. This change aims to ensure that land affected by such infrastructure failures can still be valued for property tax purposes as if it were being used for agriculture, thereby providing relief to landowners. The bill also requires these special water districts to certify water scarcity to county assessors in the same property tax year the failure occurs, and these provisions will apply to property tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=37&year=26