This bill amends the Watershed District Act in New Mexico to change the method of appointing the boards of directors for watershed districts from an election process to an appointment process. Specifically, it establishes that the board of supervisors for the relevant soil and water conservation district will appoint the directors, rather than having them elected by the public. The new structure will consist of five directors, with initial appointments staggered between two and four-year terms, and subsequent appointments will be for four-year terms. Additionally, if a watershed district spans multiple soil and water conservation districts, each minority jurisdiction district will be entitled to appoint three additional directors.

The bill also introduces new definitions, including "minority jurisdiction district," and clarifies the roles and responsibilities of the board of directors, including the requirement to elect a chair, secretary, and treasurer from among its members. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to streamline the governance of watershed districts by shifting to an appointed board system, which may enhance efficiency and accountability in managing water resources.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 73-20-2, 73-20-12