WRA Defends New Mexico’s Wildlife
New Mexico Senate Bill 5 was a top priority for WRA, and a huge win for New Mexicans who cherish diverse wildlife. SB5 modernizes how the state manages wildlife and updates the name of the Department of Game and Fish to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. This sweeping legislation gives the Department the legislative authority and modern tools needed to protect wildlife and critical habitat. The law also reforms the New Mexico State Game Commission by creating a bipartisan nominating committee to select candidates with the governor holding appointing power.
Free State Parks for Ute Tribes
Colorado Ute Tribes will now access Colorado State Parks for free thanks to House Bill 1163. WRA backed this bill, and our Senior Indigenous Peoples Engagement Manager, Tahlia Bear explained during a committee hearing how it will help repair historical injustices, restore ancestral connections, and increase equal access to outdoor spaces.
Outdoor Equity Funding Secured Across 3 States
Connecting with nature is important, and it’s why we advocate for increased outdoor equity funding. This year, we successfully helped Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada expand funding for their grant programs that help youth and families who may experience barriers in accessing the outdoors. This funding comes at a time when states are facing budget constraints, but through our advocacy, we showed lawmakers that these programs have far-reaching benefits, like improving health and sustaining outdoor recreation economies. New Mexico appropriated resources in its budget bill, making a historic investment of nearly $4 million for the upcoming grant cycle. Colorado House Bill 1215 increases the allocation to its program by $1 million annually with the opportunity for additional money when funding allows. In Nevada, Assembly Bill 108 appropriates $500,000 to its grant program.
WRA Ensures Renewables Remain Viable in Arizona, Utah
Utah and Arizona saw numerous environmentally harmful bills in their respective 2025 legislative sessions aimed at stopping clean energy expansion, but our experts were on the ground to intervene. WRA worked with clean energy advocates in both states to ensure that renewables remain a viable energy resource. WRA helped defeat bills in Arizona that hindered wind energy development, including a bill that would have required wind projects to be set back 6 miles from the nearest property line. This would have halted new projects and made it one of the most restrictive clean energy environments in the nation. In Utah, we intervened to stop House Bill 241, a ban on solar power on agricultural land. We were also able to negotiate changes to Senate Bill 132 that allows clean energy resources to serve large electricity customers, like data centers.
Colorado Data Center Bill Defeated
Our advocates protected the climate progress we’ve made in Colorado by helping stop Senate Bill 280 that would have provided significant tax benefits to data centers with no consumer or climate safeguards. WRA worked with legislators to ensure this bill didn’t leave the floor.
