GeoLawWatch: Tracking Weather & Climate Legislation

Bill Summary: Cloud Seeding Pilot Program

This bill, introduced in the New Mexico Legislature, establishes a Cloud Seeding Weather Modification Pilot Project within the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. The primary goal of this three-year pilot program is to demonstrate the effectiveness of cloud seeding as a method to mitigate the impacts of climate change and drought on the state's natural water resources.

Key provisions include:

• The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is tasked with creating, developing, and administering the pilot project.
• The Roosevelt Soil and Water Conservation District will collaborate with the department to collect data and design evidence-based cloud seeding demonstration projects using current and evolving scientific methods.
• All water resulting from cloud seeding will be considered part of the natural water supply, meaning it will not be subject to new appropriations but managed according to existing water rights.
• Liability protections are included, stating that cloud seeding activities funded or authorized by the state will not give rise to claims of liability.

Reporting requirements stipulate that the Department of Agriculture must keep a permanent record of pertinent data related to the project, provide annual reports to an interim committee, and submit a final report with recommendations to the governor and legislature.

An appropriation of $1,980,000 is allocated from the general fund for the fiscal years 2025 through 2027 to facilitate the project's development and administration. Any remaining funds at the end of the fiscal year 2027 will revert to the general fund.

The bill has a status of "Died in chamber," indicating it did not progress through the legislative process.