The bill establishes a new section within the Public Health Act to create a Statewide Public Health and Climate Program, which is to be implemented by January 1, 2026. The program aims to enhance interagency collaboration focused on health equity and to mitigate the health impacts of extreme weather and climate change in New Mexico. Key responsibilities of the environmental health epidemiology bureau include developing coordinated action plans for local communities, providing expertise for climate-informed decision-making, integrating climate science into emergency preparedness, and facilitating engagement with communities most affected by climate-related events.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $1,100,000 from the general fund to the Department of Health for the fiscal year 2026 to support the program's initiatives. Any remaining funds at the end of the fiscal year will revert to the general fund. This funding is intended to bolster the efforts of the environmental health epidemiology bureau in addressing public health challenges associated with climate change.