Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR
Reps. Terrazas, Dow, Vincent, Hernandez/
Sen. Ramos
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/12/2025
SHORT TITLE
Archaeology Field School Education
Program
BILL
NUMBER House Bill 315
ANALYST Jorgensen
APPROPRIATION*
(dollars in thousands)
FY25 FY26
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
$250.0 Nonrecurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA)
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Bill 315
House Bill 315 (HB315) appropriates $250 thousand from the general fund to board of regents at
New Mexico State University (NMSU) for the New Mexico Department of Agriculture
(NMDA)’s Soil and Water Conservation Commission to develop an archaeology field school
education program statewide in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA).
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
The appropriation of $250 thousand contained in this bill is a nonrecurring expense to the
general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY26 shall
revert to the general fund.
NMDA would use existing resources to implement the program funded through HB315 but notes
that the department does not possess staff with the expertise required to implement the program.
Thus, NMDA would need to release a request for proposals and hire a contractor with the
appropriate professional qualifications.
House Bill 315 – Page 2
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
DCA reports:
A statewide archaeology field program would likely benefit DCA’s Office of
Archaeological Studies (OAS) by increasing the pool of qualified archaeologists in New
Mexico. OAS provides cost-reimbursable archaeological services to generate revenue and
has at times faced a shortage of candidates for openings. If OAS actively supported the
operation of the program by employing students, there would be a fiscal impact for which
OAS would need financial support.
DCA highlights that critical wildfire recovery and fire mitigation are sometimes delayed in New
Mexico due to a lack of qualified archaeologists to complete preparatory field studies in
compliance with regulation.
CJ/hj/SR