IPANM (Nov. 9, 2026) – On November 9, 2026, IPANM and the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association (NMOGA) filed a Motion to Dismiss the State Land Office’s (SLO) declaratory judgment lawsuit in Santa Fe District Court concerning its controversial Lease Bonding Rule. The motion argues that Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard lacks legal standing to initiate the lawsuit under New Mexico’s Declaratory Judgment Act and that only the Attorney General has authority to bring such litigation on behalf of a state official. IPANM and NMOGA further contend that the SLO’s lawsuit improperly attempts to preempt their broader legal challenge already pending in Lea County, which addresses constitutional, statutory, contractual, and procedural violations. The associations are requesting dismissal of the SLO’s lawsuit with prejudice, allowing their comprehensive challenge to the bonding rule to proceed independently.

To see the full filing, click here.