New Mexico Wildlife Federation is tracking several key legislative issues. Courtesy/NMWF
NMWF News:
New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) has been tracking several key legislative issues including:
SB254 – a bill sponsored by Sens. Steven Neville and Pete Campos to increase hunting and fishing license fees. The NMWF supports the bill because the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish needs the funding. The last license fee adjustment was approved 18 years ago. The department gets its operating funding from license fees and associated federal grants. The NMWF has suggested some changes to reduce the game department’s reliance on nonresident license fees to ensure that the department retains flexibility to address inequities in the distribution of an outsized percentage of elk licenses and other tags to nonresident hunters.
HB184 – a bill sponsored by Rep. Matthew McQueen to reform the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. The NMWF supports the bill, which would set new protections for members of the New Mexico State Game Commission and make other changes. Currently, commissioners can be removed by the governor at will. The bill would specify that they could only be removed for cause by the New Mexico Supreme Court.
SB72 – a bill sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart to put up $50 million for the creation of a state Wildlife Corridors Fund to address planning and construction of wildlife corridors around the state. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has worked with the New Mexico Department of Transportation in recent years to identify critical areas that experience the most collisions between motorists and wildlife. The agencies have suggested projects including construction of wildlife overpasses in some areas to address the problem. The NMWF strongly supports the bill.
SB9 – a bill sponsored by Sens. Neville and Peter Wirth, calls for creating the Land of Enchantment Permanent Legacy Fund. The NMWF supports the bill, which would earmark $75 million for wildlife conservation and habitat protection projects as well as for outdoor recreation and cultural affairs.
