By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, folks. It’s Tuesday and a rainy one at that. The National Weather Service has the entire state of New Mexico under a flood watch until tomorrow. All the rain, however, is helping mitigate wildfire threats. Yesterday, in fact, the state forester lifted statewide fire restrictions. The rain also makes for good reading weather, and we have you covered. We have yet more election coverage, with interviews with the two candidates for lieutenant governor; a look at legislative ethics reform from a New Mexico think tank; and much more below and online at sourcenm.com. Thanks for being here! Stay dry.
The New Mexico State Land Office on Monday finalized rules requiring higher financial assurances for oil and gas operators. Above: Oil derricks pictured in Hobbs on Aug. 18, 2026. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann/Source NM)
New Mexico State Land Office finalizes increased bonding requirements for oil and gas operators
The New Mexico State Land Office on Monday announced that it had finalized higher bonding requirements for oil and gas companies that lease state Trust lands. Anticipating a lawsuit over the new bonding rule, the State Land Office on Monday also filed a lawsuit seeking a judgment affirming the office’s authority to increase the bonding minimums.
Recent rainstorms, including over the burn scar of the Frijoles Fire pictured above, prompted New Mexico forestry officials on Monday to lift state restrictions on campfires and pile burns. (Photo courtesy Inciweb)
New Mexico forester lifts statewide fire restrictions after recent rains
New Mexico State Forester Laura McCarthy announced Monday that she was rescinding fire restrictions on state lands after recent rainfall statewide alleviated risk of wildfire ignition and spread. Late-season monsoons in recent weeks mean that New Mexico has seen more than twice as much rain as average in September.
State Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice) and State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, a Democrat, are running in the Nov. 3 race to be New Mexico’s next lieutenant governor. (Gallegos photo by Danielle Prokop/Source NM; Garcia Richard courtesy photo)
New Mexico Election 2026: Lieutenant Governor
In addition to electing a new governor, New Mexicans will also elect a new second-in-command on Nov. 3 to replace Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, the Democrat who has served alongside Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the last eight years. Source senior reporter Joshua Bowling talked with Republican state Sen. David Gallegos and Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard, a Democrat, as part of Source NM’s ongoing election coverage.
Think New Mexico on Sunday released a new report and a list of proposed ethics reforms for state legislators, lobbyists and advocacy groups ahead of the 2027 legislative session. (Photo by Patrick Lohmann/Source NM)
New Mexico think tank proposes legislative ethics reforms
A new report from Think New Mexico proposes nearly a dozen reforms for state legislators, lobbyists and advocacy groups as elements of “modernizing” the state Legislature. Those proposals include enhanced financial disclosures for lawmakers and lobbyists, and efforts to close loopholes around dark money groups.
ICYMI
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