House honors acequia and land‑grant leaders, hosts Tierra Aldentro flamenco and Santa Fe officials

On Feb. 2 the New Mexico House of Representatives recognized Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo day, welcomed leaders from land‑grant and acequia communities to the rostrum, and hosted a performance by students from Tierra Aldentro Charter School.

Representative Serrato introduced land‑grant and acequia leaders — including Dr. David Aguayo, Mary Trujillo Mascarenas, Mary Baca, and Jose Lucero — and framed the observance around centuries of resilience, noting the loss of promised protections after 1848 and the long fight for recognition and rights. "We are the 1 state where land grants are recognized in our constitution," the representative said while honoring those guests.

Several members rose to acknowledge the cultural and agricultural importance of acequias and land grants, and the House highlighted state budget priorities including irrigation funding and water‑leadership development. A committee member noted a $6,500,000 appropriation in the budget for irrigation infrastructure.

The House also observed City of Santa Fe Day, introduced Mayor Michael Garcia and several city councilors and municipal staff, and presented certificates. Earlier in the session, students from Tierra Aldentro performed Canarios, a choreographed flamenco piece, and were thanked by members for their participation.

The recognitions were ceremonial and entered into the House record; actions discussed included introductions and floor acknowledgements rather than binding policy decisions. Several legislators noted ongoing needs tied to water management and disaster recovery in affected communities as next steps for future policy work.