LEGISLATIVE WATCH
Legislature will consider bills affecting sportsmen
The New Mexico Legislature has reached the halfway point of its 30-day session. A number of bills of interest to sportsmen are moving through the legislative process. NMWF will be in Santa Fe on a regular basis to represent the sportsmen of New Mexico. Please call our office at (505) 299-5404 if you have questions or concerns about a particular bill. If you want to get more involved by contacting your own representative or senator about issues of concern, we are happy to help.
Bills affecting New Mexico sportsmen under consideration this year:
House Bill 24: Sponsored by Rep. William Rehm of Albuquerque, this bill would combine existing habitat and access stamps and fees into a single $9 charge that will be tacked onto the cost of general hunting license. It does not increase fees, just consolidates them. But the bill also would allow, for the first time ever, the use of Habitat Stamp funds on private land closed to hunting and fishing. In addition, a provision that reduces the cost of nonresident youth licenses for elk and deer would cost the Department of Game and Fish an estimated $150,000 a year. NMWF opposes this bill as written.
House Bill 115: Also sponsored by Rep. Rehm, this bill would allow Game and Fish to refund the cost of hunting licenses if a forest fire causes the closure of a big game hunt. NMWF supports this bill.
House Joint Resolution 7: Sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia of Albuquerque, this bill would give the State Game Commission authority to sell or trade the Marquez Wildlife Management Area to Cebolleta Land Grant. State law requires the Legislature to approve the sale of any state asset valued at more than $100,000, but this bill gives that authority before a sale price has been negotiated and for an unspecified amount of time. NMWF opposes this bill as written.
Senate Bill 33: Sponsored by Sen. William Sharer of Farmington, this bill would double the number of bighorn sheep licenses the Department of Game and Fish could allow to be auctioned or raffled to enhance bighorn sheep management in New Mexico. NMWF supports this bill.
Senate Bill 39: Sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, this bill would provide funding for the Department of Game and Fish to put up warning signs on rivers and lakes where the level of mercury in the water may pose a risk to children and pregnant women.