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 Campos
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 2/6/2025
SHORT TITLE Citizen Science Projects
BILL
NUMBER Senate Bill 262
ANALYST Davidson
APPROPRIATION*
(dollars in thousands)
FY25 FY26
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
$137.5 Recurring General Fund
$137.5 Recurring General Fund
$137.5 Recurring General Fund
$200 Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT*
(dollars in thousands)
Agency/Program
FY25 FY26 FY27
3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
EMNRD
No fiscal
impact
$137.5 $137.5 $275.0 Recurring General Fund
NMED
No fiscal
impact
$137.5 $137.5 $275.0 Recurring General Fund
DGF
No fiscal
impact
$137.5 $137.5 $275.0 Recurring General Fund
UNM
No fiscal
impact
$200 $200 $400 Recurring General Fund
Total
No fiscal
impact
$612.5 $612.5 $1,225 Recurring General Fund
Parentheses ( ) indicate expenditure decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Relates to House Memorial 34 from the 2024 Legislature
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources (EMNRD)
Agency Analysis was Solicited but Not Received From
New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Department of Game and Fish (DGF) University of New Mexico (UNM) Senate Bill 262 – Page 2
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Senate Bill 262
Senate Bill 262 appropriates $137.5 thousand from the general fund to the Energy, Minerals and
Natural Resource Department (EMNRD), New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), and
the Department of Game and Fish (DGF) each for the purpose of overseeing citizen science
projects relating to research and data collection on wildlife.
Senate Bill 262 also appropriations $200 thousand from the general fund to the University of
New Mexico (UNM) Board of Regents for Natural Heritage in New Mexico, a program within
the Museum of Southwestern Biology and the biology department of the university, to oversee
citizen science projects and create and maintain web sites and systems to track and evaluate
citizen science projects.
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 three
appropriations of $137.5 thousand and the appropriation of $200 thousand contained in
this bill are recurring expenses to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance
remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund. Although SB262 does
not specify future appropriations, establishing a new source of funding for a program could
create an expectation the source of funding will continue in future fiscal years once the initial
appropriations are expended; therefore, these costs are assumed to be recurring.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
House Memorial 34 from the 2024 legislative session created a working group of state agencies
(EMNRD, NMED, DGF, UNM, and State Land Office) to develop and recommend actions to
establish and expand citizen science using the best available science and data collection
practices. The memorial generally defines citizen science as a way for members of the public to
participate in scientific research conducted by state agencies.
Agency analysis from the EMNRD notes each of the agencies involved with the working group
voiced the need for additional personnel to aid in coordinating and conducting research and
fieldwork related to wildlife and conservation on public lands. The agencies also voiced the need
for additional personnel to aid in data collection on species and wildlife. The working group
expressed citizen science projects could supplement these goals.
Analysis from EMNRD notes the goals from the working group, who presented the goals to the
Water and Natural Resources Committee, included:
1) Establishing a team of program coordinators, consisting of one coordinator at each of
the member agencies comprising, at an estimated cost of $550,000.
2) Leveraging opportunities to expand and integrate citizen science-related efforts
through partnerships.
Senate Bill 262 – Page 3
3) Developing metrics of success and sharing outcomes from citizen science projects.
4) Developing funds for the Natural Heritage in New Mexico to support citizen science
projects, data collection, marketing, and other related program support services.
CONFLICT, DUPLICATION, COMPANIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP
Senate Bill 262 is related to House Memorial 34 from the 2024 legislative session. The memorial
called for the study of citizen science projects and made recommendations to the Water and
Natural Resources Committee regarding how the named agencies in the memorial should
cultivate, expand, and develop citizen science projects.
AD/hj