This bill amends the current structure and appointment process of the Spaceport Authority in New Mexico. It establishes that the authority will consist of seven voting members and two nonvoting members, with the governor appointing two members (with Senate consent), and one member each appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority floor leader of the Senate, and the minority floor leader of the house of representatives. Notably, one of the appointed members must be a resident of Sierra County, and no more than three appointed members can belong to the same political party. The bill also introduces qualifications for members, requiring experience in areas such as the aerospace or aviation industry, public finance, or relevant legal and academic fields.

Additionally, the bill outlines the process for filling vacancies among the appointed voting members, stating that replacements will be appointed in the same manner as the original appointment. It specifies that members will serve staggered terms, with initial appointees serving varying lengths of time. The bill also includes a temporary provision allowing current members to continue serving until their terms expire, after which the new appointment process will take effect. The provisions of this act are set to become effective on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 58-31-4