Legislators will consider several bills that would dramatically change the way energy and environmental issues are handled in the state, including:

• HB 22: Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces, is sponsoring a bill that would require state agencies to report on how a rule would affect communities, the general fund and small-business bottom lines.

• HB 80: Sponsored by Rep. Patricia A. Lundstrom, D-Gallup, this bill would create a Natural Resources and Environment Department to replace four other agencies: Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources; Department of Game and Fish; Environment Department; and Natural Resources Trustee. Like HB 84, this one would eliminate the State Game Commission and sunset "all boards and commissions addressing energy and natural resources issues." The new department would have sweeping responsibility over issues such as air quality, environmental health, natural resources, solid waste, forestry-abandoned mines, the oil conservation division and state parks. The first committee where the proposal will be heard is House Energy and Natural Resources.

• HB 87: This bill, sponsored by Rep. Paul Bandy, R-Aztec, would place the state Organic Commodity Commission and all organic agricultural programs under the authority of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and New Mexico State University. The House Energy and Natural Resources committee will first hear the bill.

• SB 91: The controversial greenhouse-gas emissions rule and a carbon cap-and-trade rule, along with clean-car standards adopted for the state and Bernalillo County, would be suspended under this bill, carried by Sen. Clinton D. Harden, R-Clovis. It will be heard first in the Senate Judiciary committee.

• SB 249: Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, proposes doing away with the Water Quality Control Commission and moving rule-making authority to the Environment Department secretary. The first committee to hear it will be Conservation.


ON THE WEB

• For copies of the bills, committee hearing schedules and actions, visit www.nmlegis.gov.