As we near the halfway point of the 2026 New Mexico legislative session, which lasts a mere thirty days, we’re thrilled to share updates on several key animal-related bills.
Senate Bill 38 to Save New Mexico’s Affordable Spay/Neuter Law Makes Swift Progress
In 2020, when the state legislature passed New Mexico’s Affordable Spay/Neuter Law, which collects fees from large pet food manufacturers to fund spay/neuter programs, the Law included an expiration date—known as a “repeal date”—of July 1, 2026.
This session, Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth (SD 25) and Rep. Cristina Parajón (HD 25) introduced Senate Bill 38, to remove that repeal date. Soon after, Rep. Joanne Ferrary (HD 37), Sen. Heather Berghmans (SD 15), and Sen. Liz Stefanics (SD 39) joined as cosponsors. Additionally, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signaled her support by issuing Senate Executive Message No. 18 authorizing SB 38 to be considered during this limited 30-day session. This overwhelming early backing to save the Affordable Spay/Neuter Law has been followed by impressive support in the committee hearings for SB 38: the bill passed the Senate Conservation Committee (7 to 2) and the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee by a unanimous 10 to 0 vote.
As often happens when a policy has widespread support, an identical House version of the bill was filed: House Bill 51. The bill appears to be on hold while Senate Bill 38 moves through the legislative process. HB 51 boasts additional sponsors Rep. Jenifer Jones (HD 32), Rep. Susan Herrera (HD 41), Rep. D. Wonda Johnson (HD 5), and Rep. Kathleen Cates (HD 44).
With the session nearing the halfway point, and SB 38 now headed to the Senate floor, we are hoping and advocating for this to advance quickly over to the House. What’s at stake? The Affordable Spay/Neuter Law successfully brings in over $1 million a year in low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter services across the state, which is especially needed in tribal, rural, and underserved areas of New Mexico. That’s funding New Mexico’s communities can’t afford to walk away from.
Legislation Filed to Create Reliable Funding for Vulnerable Equines
We’re excited to announce that House Bill 243 has been introduced by sponsors: Rep. Joseph Sanchez (HD 40), Rep. Tara Lujan (HD 48), Rep. G. Andrés Romero (HD 10), and Rep. Cynthia Borrego (HD 17). HB 243 provides an answer to a long-standing problem in New Mexico when it comes to the humane care of abused and homeless equines (horses, donkeys, and mules)—and ensuring they don’t enter the slaughter pipeline. A network of nonprofit equine shelters provides safe placement for these animals, and they also assist the New Mexico Livestock Board and other law enforcement agencies by taking in and caring for impounded strays or cruelty victims. In 2013, the State of New Mexico created the Equine Shelter Rescue Fund to support the services that these equine shelters provide. But the Rescue Fund has received only sporadic and inadequate funding over the years.
HB 243 would provide a jolt of support with $500,000 to the Rescue Fund, move the Rescue Fund to a larger agency (the Department of Agriculture) better equipped to administer large annual grants, and would also create and fund a new Equine Welfare Trust Fund (an investment fund) to generate annual revenue for the Rescue Fund.
HB 243 currently awaits its first committee hearing in the House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee, scheduled for Tuesday, February 3. If your representative sits on this committee, please urge them to vote YES on HB 243!
The “Never Leave a Companion Behind Act” Supports Veterans’ Wellbeing by Ensuring Their Animals Are Safe and Well Cared For
We were thrilled for the opportunity to work on House Bill 177 this session. The bill, also known as the “Never Leave a Companion Behind Act,” was introduced by sponsors Rep. Alan Martinez (HD 23), Rep. Mark Duncan (HD 2), Rep. Rebecca Dow (HD 38), Rep. Cynthia Borrego (HD 17), Rep. D. Wonda Johnson (HD 5), and has since picked up cosponsors Rep. Stefani Lord (HD 22) and Rep. John Block (HD 51).
As drafted, HB 177 would appropriate $150,000 to the Veterans’ Services Department to provide veterans’ animals with pet food, boarding, veterinary care, and on-site kennels at facilities primarily housing veterans. Providing safe, humane, and consistent care for their service and companion animals is vital to ensuring that veterans can access medical care, stable housing, and support services for themselves.
On January 29, the House Labor, Veterans & Military Affairs Committee unanimously (8-0) passed HB 177, and the bill will next go to the House Appropriations & Finance Committee.
Bill to Improve Process for Removal of Wildlife Commissioners Moves Forward
Senate Bill 104, filed this session, is the final puzzle piece to the big overhaul of the Wildlife Commission and Department of Wildlife achieved by last year’s Senate Bill 5. The Governor thankfully signed that bill into the law, but struck provisions in SB 5 that outlined the process for removing Wildlife Commissioners for malfeasance, incompetence, or neglect of duty—citing that removal process as potentially long and unwieldy.
SB 104, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (SD 25), Sen. Pete Campos (SD 8), Rep. Nathan Small (HD 36), Rep. Matthew McQueen (HD 50), and Sen. Crystal Brantley (SD 35), adds a new clear, fair, and efficient removal process—ensuring that Wildlife Commissioners can serve without undue political influence but be swiftly removed for disqualifying behavior.
SB 104 passed the Senate Rules Committee unanimously (10 to 0) on Friday January 30 and now awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
APV Opposes Legislation Encouraging Expansion of Mega-Dairies and CAFOs
We have identified the first bill this session that Animal Protection Voters opposes: Senate Bill 113, sponsored by Sen. Antonio Maestas (SD 26). SB 113 doubles the tax credit for transporting manure from dairy and feedlot operations (agricultural biomass) to facilities for energy production. This increased tax credit, which could encourage the expansion of large-scale dairy farms and CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations), falsely frames methane and carbon dioxide produced by factory farms as a sustainable “win-win” solution for the environment and energy production. In reality, methane and carbon dioxide are potent greenhouse gases and significant drivers of climate change.
New Mexico already has the largest average dairy herd size in the country, and dairies are the site of some of the worst large-scale animal cruelty found in the state. In 2025, the New Mexico Livestock Board undertook a felony animal cruelty investigation of a dairy in Roswell with approximately 6,000 dairy cows and calves, after footage showed cows being brutally beaten and pregnant cows having calves prematurely and violently extracted, resulting in injury and death. APV opposes SB 113 because it would, perhaps inadvertently, give CAFOs and mega-dairies a green light to get even bigger and create even bigger problems.
SB 113 was given a hearing in the Senate Tax, Business & Transportation Committee on Friday, January 30th. As is customary for tax-related bills, the bill was held in that committee for future consideration of possible inclusion in the omnibus tax package the committee is putting together. We will continue to watch to see that the bill is not included in the tax package.
Stay With Us as We Head Into the Last Half of the Session
Other bills have been introduced that would benefit animals, but they are not moving at this time because they have been deemed “not germane” to the short legislative session, which is limited by provisions of the New Mexico Constitution. Legislation like Senate Bill 74 to increase cockfighting criminal penalties, and Senate Bill 80 that ensures animals can be included in domestic violence protection orders, would need an Executive Message from the Governor authorizing those bills to move forward.
Stay with us as we head into the last half of the session and be sure to visit our Legislative Session Tracker often.
Lastly, don’t forget, Animal Protection Lobby Day is Tuesday, February 10th. Go here to sign up, and Thank You!
