SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard is the recipient of the 2025 Luminaria Award presented by the nonprofit organization Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM). The annual award recognizes pro-conservation champions in New Mexico who lead the way to a better New Mexico for air, land, water, wildlife and communities. CVNM presented the award to Commissioner Garcia Richard at its annual legislative reception in Santa Fe this month.
“Since becoming the first Latina and educator to be elected Commissioner of Public Lands, we have generated record revenue year after year while holding oil and gas companies accountable and implementing a rule to protect cultural resources. The work we have done over the past few years proves that responsible oversight and huge earnings can go hand in hand,” said Commissioner Garcia Richard. “Since I took office, we have also seen a six-fold increase in the amount of renewable energy under lease on state lands, diversifying our revenue streams and paving a path toward a cleaner energy future. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without an incredible team behind me that is dedicated to doing good work for all New Mexicans. I am deeply humbled to be recognized by CVNM as its latest Luminaria Award recipient and look forward to the work that is still ahead.”
“Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has been a guiding light in bringing New Mexico’s trust lands into the 21st century,” said Demis Foster CEO of Conservation Voters New Mexico. “A partial list of her accomplishments includes: A ban on oil and gas drilling on state lands near the Greater Chaco Region followed up with the Cultural Properties Protection Rule; One-mile setbacks to protect school children from the effects of oil and gas drilling on air quality; The Accountability & Enforcement program to hold companies and lessees accountable for activities on state lands and the Environmental Compliance Office to develop remediation and reclamation strategies; An executive order that bans large transmission lines and other large developments on state lands on the Caja del Rio plateau; and The Office of Renewable Energy that has led to a six-fold increase in the amount of renewable energy under lease on state lands.”
Since taking office in 2019, Commissioner Garcia Richard has emphasized that state lands should be used to make money for New Mexico’s public institutions, but not at the expense of natural or cultural resources. Under Commissioner Garcia Richard’s leadership, the State Land Office’s Accountability & Enforcement program has compelled companies to plug over 620 abandoned oil and gas wells on state lands, saving taxpayers at least $62 million in potential cleanup costs.
The Cultural Properties Protection Rule that Commissioner Garcia Richard implemented in December 2022 now requires cultural surveys to be performed before any major surface disturbance can occur on state lands. Commissioner Garcia Richard also established an Environmental Compliance Office, which identifies spills and other messes on state lands and provides recommendations on remediation plans.
During Commissioner Garcia Richard’s tenure, the State Land Office has also been repeatedly recognized for its workplace culture, winning Top Workplaces Awards from the USA Today and the Albuquerque Journal.
Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has overseen the New Mexico State Land Office since 2019. In that time the agency has raised more than $11 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, and universities. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations.