This week saw movement of several pro-animal bills at the Legislature, including bills led by Animal Protection Voters. We’ve now reached the point in the session when committees meet on weekends, hearings are happening at a rapid-fire pace, and the deadline for introducing bills looms near (February 20th). We’re happy to share the good news that all of Animal Protection Voters’ priority bills beat the filing deadline. Still, that’s just the first of many “do or die” deadlines for bills in this year’s 60-day session.
Senate Conservation Committee Votes YES to Modernize Wildlife Management and Include Tribal Representation on Game Commission
On Saturday, February 8th, Senate Bill 5, led by Sen. Pete Campos (SD 8) and Rep. Matthew McQueen (HD 50) was heard by the Senate Conservation Committee.
The three-part bill, which empowers the Department to protect all wildlife in the state and increases hunting and fishing license fees, also brings expertise and diversity to the Game Commission, which oversees the Department. SB 5 requires Commission members be vetted by a nominating committee and that the Commission includes members with experience in wildlife management and conservation. Per SB 5, the Governor still retains the power to appoint all nine Commissioners but protects Commissioners from being dismissed without cause.
Kudos to Sen. Angel Charley (SD 30) for introducing an amendment to SB 5 during the hearing to ensure at least one of the Commission members appointed by the Governor is a member of an Indian nation, tribe or pueblo. The amendment was adopted, and SB 5 passed out of the Committee with a vote 5 to 3.
The next stop for SB 5 is the Senate Finance Committee, where we expect to hear more discussion around the $10.5 million appropriation attached to SB 5 put forward by the bill’s co-sponsor Rep. Nathan Small (HD 36). Rep. Small, who serves as Chair of the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, deserves special thanks for ensuring this desperately needed funding will be included in this year’s state budget. The appropriation, one of the largest single general fund appropriations made to a state agency, will empower the Department to develop the 21st century wildlife management system New Mexico deserves.
Animal Protection Voters Speaks Up at Hearing for House Bill 111 – Known as “Ivy’s Law” – Which Will Expand Protections for Qualified Service Animals During Emergencies
On Tuesday February 11th, House Bill 111, sponsored by Rep. Marian Matthews (HD 27) passed out of the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee with a unanimous vote of 6-0. The bill, lovingly referred to as Ivy’s law, requires that first responders who are duly notified a qualified service animal is missing during an emergency must make reasonable efforts to locate the animal. The bill received no opposition from lawmakers or the public during the hearing, and it is now awaiting a hearing in the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee.
Senate Bill 26, Which Provides Protections for Animals in Family Violence Situations, Passes First Committee With a 6-4 Vote
The next evening on Wednesday February 12th, Senate Bill 26, the Protection Against Abuse and Violence Act, sponsored by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, was heard by the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee. New Mexico’s current law against family violence has long needed updates, including recognizing that animal abuse committed with the intent to intimidate and control a household member is a form of abuse. SB 26 will also allow companion animals to be included in protective orders. Animal Protection Voters is part of a coalition advocating for broad reforms to the current law, and thanks the six SHPAC members who voted in favor of the bill. SB 26 is next slated to be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee, though a hearing date has not yet been set.
SB 358—the Equine Welfare Trust Fund bill—Introduced by Senator Carrie Hamblen
Early Wednesday, February 12th, long time champion for animals at the Roundhouse, Sen. Hamblen (SD 38), introduced the Equine Welfare Trust Fund, bill. The Equine Welfare Trust Fund, if established, would be an investment fund to generate sustainable funding to help cover the cost of care for homeless and abused equines taken in by nonprofit equine shelters and rescues.
Because there are no government-run or government-funded equine shelters in New Mexico, the state, and in particular the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB), is reliant on the network of twelve NMLB licensed nonprofit shelters to absorb equines that NMLB takes into custody from cruelty, neglect, and estray cases. Currently, the shelters receive irregular, minimal funding—not nearly enough—to cover their costs from the Equine Rescue Shelter Fund (ESRF), which is administered by the NMLB.
SB 358, which creates the Equine Welfare Trust Fund, would generate earnings through investments. After allowing the initial investment in the Equine Welfare Trust Fund to grow for three years, earnings would begin to flow to the ESRF. This would empower the NMLB and the shelters it contracts with to cast a wider safety net for horses, donkeys and mules in New Mexico.
Hats off to Sen. Hamblen for seeing both the need, and the opportunity, our state currently faces. While there is severe need for additional funding to care for vulnerable equines, there is also the once in a lifetime opportunity to invest some of the state’s current budget surplus in trust funds.
SB 358 includes a $20 million appropriation to seed the Equine Welfare Trust Fund, and thus will have to pass through the Senate Finance Committee. Before that, however, SB 358 must pass through the Senate Conservation Committee where we hope it will be heard soon. Stay tuned for updates on this uniquely New Mexican legislation (we know of no other bill quite like it).
House Bill 284 Charges Forward to Gain Protections for New Mexico’s Free-Roaming Horses
Then on Thursday, February 13th, Animal Protection Voters joined sponsor Rep. McQueen (HD 50) in presenting HB 284 to the House Agriculture, Acequias & Water Resources Committee.
The bill fixes gaps and anomalies in current law, passed back in 2007, which prevent humane management of free-roaming horses, leaving the horses vulnerable to starvation and suffering. The Committee heard compelling testimony from several who have first-hand experience using best practices for stabilizing herd size and reducing conflict between the horses and communities where they graze, including use of the highly effective PZP contraceptive. Importantly, HB 284 introduces much needed protections for free-roaming horses, including making it illegal to slaughter or transport them to slaughter.
We’d like to thank members of HAAWC for their unanimous 7-0 vote in favor of HB 284. The next stop for this bill will be the House Judiciary Committee.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all and stay with us as we continue on our quest to build a safer, healthier future for New Mexico’s animals. And be sure to check our Legislative Session Tracker daily for updates on bill movement, votes and other important details: https://apvnm.org/legislation/
