Bill > HB153

This bill, titled the "Low-Carbon Construction Material Rebate Act," establishes a program to incentivize the use of environmentally friendly building materials by creating a rebate system managed by the Department of Environment. The program defines "covered construction materials" as common building supplies like cement, concrete, and steel, and establishes criteria for "low-carbon construction materials" based on their "global warming potential" (the amount of greenhouse gases a material emits, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents) compared to an "emissions benchmark," which is a set limit for acceptable emissions. To qualify, materials must have an "environmental product declaration" (EPD), a verified document detailing a product's environmental impact over its lifecycle. The Department of Environment will set "emissions baselines" (industry-average emissions for conventional materials) and benchmarks, and will establish rules for applications, verification, and rebate amounts by July 1, 2027. Rebates are capped at $500,000 per project and $10 million statewide annually, with priority given to projects with greater emissions reductions, materials from New Mexico manufacturers, and other factors. The bill also includes provisions for reporting on program effectiveness, public access to data, and penalties for fraud, including permanent disqualification from the program and repayment of funds. A dedicated "low-carbon construction material rebate fund" is created, with an initial appropriation of $25 million from the general fund for rebates and program administration, and this act will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=153&year=26