Michael and Margie Garcia thought they had a deal with the state.

Working with the Agriculture Department and the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust, the Corrales couple was going to sell part of their land in Sandoval County as a "conservation easement." To prepare for the sale, they spent about $10,000 on hydrological and geological reports, appraisals and surveys.

But deep within the 48-page Capital Outlay Bill, passed this week in the Senate and working its way through House committees, there's language that could sandbag the transaction, leaving the Garcias some $10,000 poorer.

"This is money from my retirement," said Michael Garcia, a retired railroad worker who lives on a fixed income.

Section 116 of the bill calls for all funds allotted last year for conservation easements and restoration projects around the state to be "reauthorized and reappropriated" to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department "to make infrastructure improvements at state parks statewide."

There are seven conservation-easement projects affecting seven landowners around the state. Like the Garcia project, the other six had been approved and preliminary work had started.

The Garcia easement is budgeted for $647,550.

Also affected are nine restoration projects in the state.

A spokesman for Gov. Susana Martinez said Wednesday that he wasn't sure what the State Parks projects were. "Like all measures, we'll evaluate these projects on their merits when they reach the Governor's Office."

The Garcias, along with their son Mike Garcia, were at the Roundhouse on Wednesday trying to convince lawmakers to not ax their project. They met with Martinez's chief of staff, Keith Gardner, but said they left the meeting pessimistic about their chances.

Eric Vasquez, a spokesman for Conservation Voters New Mexico, which is working to keep the projects, said there is some debate about whether the bill would apply to those like the Garcias who already have a contract with the state for projects.

As of Wednesday night, the bill was in the House Taxation & Revenue Committee.

Corrected: 8 p.m. Margie Garcia's name has been corrected.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com. Read his political blog at roundhouseroundup.com.