New Mexico Land Office

09/30/2026

Commissioner Garcia Richard has implemented a new rule that protects the pocketbooks of New Mexicans by requiring stronger financial assurances from oil and gas companies that lease state lands.

New Mexico's school kids should not be on the hook for messes made by large corporations that utilize our public resources for profit.

The State Land Office also sued NM oil industry groups seeking a judge's affirmation that the office has authority to implement the rule.

09/17/2026

The Office of the Renewable Energy at the State Land Office has won the 2026 "Rural Project of the Year" Award from New Mexico IDEA, recognizing the expansion of renewable energy on state lands under Commissioner Garcia Richard's leadership.

Since 2019, the amount of renewable energy under lease on state lands has increased tenfold, generating hundreds of millions in new revenue for our public schools, universities, and hospitals!

Meanwhile, 11 community solar projects on state lands will bring clean, affordable energy directly to the homes of New Mexicans in rural areas.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/3VgwdZa

09/16/2026

The Miners' Colfax Medical Center provides world-class services to occupationally ill and injured miners and their families.

Public institutions like the Medical Center are funded in part by leasing activities on state lands, and are a big reason why Commissioner Garcia Richard has focused on diversifying revenue streams at the State Land Office to the tune of more than $15 billion in new money since 2019!

Miners' Colfax Medical Center's long-term care facility is a rare jewel in New Mexico's nursing home landscape — but it's tough to replicate.

09/11/2026

In case you missed it, last week Commissioner Garcia Richard issued an executive order banning uranium mining on state lands.

Uranium mining has no place in New Mexico, especially given that the federal government and uranium industry still have not addressed the hundreds of abandoned sites scattered across the state, putting our communities at risk.

It's time to clean up this toxic legacy.

Garcia Richard said Friday that the risks of environmental and health harms from uranium mining outweigh any revenue to state coffers.

09/04/2026

At a press conference today, Commissioner Garcia Richard announced an executive order banning uranium mining on state trust lands!

New Mexico has a painful history as the largest producer of uranium ore in the history of the United States and the site of the development of the nuclear bomb. And the Trump administration is aggressively pushing to increase uranium production despite the fact that there are still thousands of mining sites nationwide that haven't been cleaned up.

Today, we say NO to uranium mining on state lands!

Read more and download the executive order here: https://bit.ly/4xbLIir

08/24/2026

The State Land Office is hosting two meetings this week to gather feedback on proposals for projects on state trust lands.

Tuesday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m. in Carlsbad
A public meeting to discuss a proposed 1.07-mile transmission line across state trust lands in Eddy County.

Thursday, August 27 at 6:00 p.m. in Estancia:
A public meeting to discuss construction of the proposed Bolo Transmission line across state trust lands in Torrance County.

More details available at nmstatelands.org!

08/21/2026

The updated royalty rate for oil and gas leasing on state lands pushed by Commissioner Garcia Richard has already resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue at recent lease sales for New Mexico’s public schools, universities, and hospitals.

And analysts project that the 25% royalty rate will deliver billions more to these critical institutions once the royalty payments kick in!

It's clear -- raising the rate for premium tracts of state land did not harm the oil and gas industry. Instead, it is setting the state up for future success.

New Mexico has shown that strong oil and gas production and strong taxpayer protections can go hand in hand.

08/17/2026

Chaco Canyon is sacred and should be off limits to future oil and gas development.

Commissioner Garcia Richard is working on a plan to make protections she put in place for the state lands in the Greater Chaco region more permanent and legally binding. And she is committed to getting it done at all costs, even if she has to sign the contract at 11:59 p.m. on her last day in office.

With her term as state land commissioner winding down, Stephanie Garcia Richard wants to ensure long-term protections at Chaco.

08/12/2026

It was such an honor to tour the NM Veterans Integration Centers Transitional Living Facility in Albuquerque today to learn more about how the facility helps combat veteran homelessness and to get a sneak peek of the next phase of construction.

A big thanks to CEO Brock Wolff, board member Claudia Risner (a Navy veteran), and the rest of the team for the invite and providing the tour!

The work they do makes a big difference in the lives of former servicemembers who are currently unsheltered or at risk of being unsheltered.

07/31/2026

RIO RANCHO: The State Land Office is hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, August 5 to gather feedback on a proposed sale of state trust land in the Cleveland Heights master plan area. No final decisions have been made concerning the proposal at this time.

The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. at the Governing Body Overflow Room at Rio Rancho City Hall. An online option is available for those who cannot attend in-person.

To view the public notice and more meeting details, visit: https://bit.ly/MeetingAug5