by Paul Dirdak
When NM became a state, one of the initial provisions of statehood was the Federal Government deeding 9,000,000 acres in a perpetual trust, the earnings of which are to provide funds for public schools, hospitals and other specified institutions. In addition, 13,000,000 sub-surface acres of mineral rights were included in the trust.
The State Land Commissioner is the elected chief executive of the trust. By virtue of office, the Commissioner is also a member of the State Investment Council (SIC). The Commissioner, like other state-wide officers, is term-limited to two 4-year terms. In the General Election of 2026, New Mexico will need to elect its next State Land Commissioner.
The institutions that benefit from NMSLO revenue are shown here.
The 2024 NMSLO Annual Report is shown here.
Scroll to pages 9 & 10 for a history of New Mexico’s State Trust Lands
Scroll to pages 28 & 29 to see renewable energy project maps.
The NMSLO derives revenue on behalf of its beneficiaries through leases such as oil & gas (rent and royalty income), mining, grazing, wind farms, solar arrays, geothermal, as well as sales and swaps of land for commercial use in the many cases where state trust land is adjacent to or surrounded by cities and towns. The SLO collects fees from outdoor recreation use including hunting and fishing.
The future value of state trust lands is of prime concern so the remediation of past damage, capping abandoned wells, removing invasive non-native species and erosion control require consistent management. Much of trust land is home to NM’s wildlife – its sustainability is as high a value as the land, itself.
In the 2026 General Election, New Mexico will elect the next NM Commissioner of Public Lands. There are three candidates. Their campaign web sites are listed here for comparison.
Matthew McQueen
Representative, HD50, NM Legislature, chair of the Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee:
Matthew McQueen for New Mexico
When was the last time you saw a candidate’s web site with a section entitled, “Results”?
Juan Sanchez
Political Director on staff of Senator Martin Heinrich.
Jonas Moya
Rancher and former NM State Director of the Farm Service Agency in the Biden Administration.
