Join us on February 27, 2025, at the New Mexico State Capitol for an advocacy-filled day that will allow you to make your voice heard on behalf of animals.
- 9am – 10am: Check-in for the day will take place at our Santa Fe Office (located at 1111 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe 87501) where we will meet as a group and enjoy delicious vegan pastries and coffee.
- 10am – 11:45am: Our team will review our Legislative priorities with everyone.
- 11:45am – 12pm: We will head to the Capitol to take a group photo.
- 12pm – 2pm: Everyone will break out and distribute the letters for your legislators!
- Finally, join us at 2pm in the Rotunda for our Animal Protection Lobby Day press conference.
- Parking Info: click here
By engaging with legislators and supporting pro-animal bills, you have the power to make humane the new normal in New Mexico.
Since the adjournment of the 2024 session last February, Animal Protection Voters has been working diligently on several bills, including legislation focused on establishing long-term, sustained funding streams available for animal programs and projects across the state. Below is a preview of legislation that we hope to see introduced in the 2025 session.
Thank you for being an Animal Protection Voter!
Animal Welfare Trust Fund – HB 113
In 2024, House Bill 191 aimed to create an Animal Welfare Trust Fund to provide resources for animal shelter projects and programs through investment earnings. Despite strong support and a unanimous committee vote, the bill stalled in the House Appropriations & Finance Committee. Advocating for the Animal Welfare Trust Fund remains a legislative priority for Animal Protection Voters in 2025.
Equine Welfare Trust Fund
New Mexico faces unique and growing challenges concerning equines, including keeping homeless and abused horses from entering the slaughter pipeline through safe placement with registered equine shelters and rescues.
Several nonprofits currently assist the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) in caring for impounded and abandoned equines, but funding is inconsistent. Similar to the Animal Welfare Trust Fund, an Equine Welfare Trust Fund would generate earnings to flow to the NMLB. Establishing an Equine Welfare Trust Fund is a proactive solution to ensure sustainable support for equine welfare in the state. This fund is a legislative priority for Animal Protection Voters in 2025.
Promoting the Humane Management of Free-Roaming Horses
New Mexico is home to countless free-roaming horses. While these horses are often cherished by communities, in some areas they lack resources and face degraded habitat. In 2023, Senate Bill 301 would have improved the state law covering free-roaming horses. The bill passed the Senate but died in the House.
In 2025, Animal Protection Voters plans to revive this legislation to ensure responsible population control and humane treatment of free-roaming horses. Improving the law protecting free-roaming horses is an Animal Protection Voters legislative priority for 2025.
Reforming and Modernizing the State Game Commission and Department of Game & Fish
There is a deep need, and widespread support, for updating the New Mexico Game Commission and Department of Game & Fish. A diverse set of interests want to: advocate for establishing a nominating commission for qualified candidates, update the Department’s name and mission, and increase certain hunting and fishing license fees to boost revenue.
Reforming the State Game Commission and Department to better protect New Mexico’s wildlife and serve all New Mexicans is an Animal Protection Voters legislative priority for 2025.
Renaming the Family Violence Protection Act
New Mexico’s law against family violence should be updated to recognize animal abuse with the intent to harm or intimidate someone is a form of domestic violence. The law should allow companion animals to be included in protective orders. Both changes would better protect domestic violence survivors and their beloved animals by allowing them to swiftly escape abuse together.
Animal Protection Voters is part of a coalition advocating for broad reforms to the Family Violence Protection Act. Updating the law to better protect people and their companion animals is an Animal Protection Voters legislative priority for 2025.
Fact sheet coming soon.
Animal Protection Lobby Day Parking Instructions
Parking at the APNM office is limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you arrive and find that there are no available spots, we recommend the free public parking garage located a quarter of a mile away, next to the Capitol Building. Please follow these steps to reach that location.
If you have access to Google Maps or a similar navigation tool:
- Enter the following into the navigation program: State Capitol Parking Facility, 485 Galisteo St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
If you DO NOT have access to Google Maps or a similar navigation tool:
- Starting from our office, located at 1111 Paseo de Peralta, you will turn left out of our parking lot to get back onto Paseo de Peralta.
- From our office, drive approximately one quarter of a mile until you get to W Manhattan St.
- Go right on W Manhattan St.
- Next you will turn right onto Galisteo St.
- The Visitor entrance to the State Capitol Parking Facility will be on your immediate right once you turn onto Galisteo St.
- See the Visitor entrance to the parking garage (pictured below.)
