Even though the 2025 New Mexico State Legislative Session just began on January 21st, we’ve already seen a slew of pro-animal bills filed, with still others waiting in the wings. As the second week of session is finishing up, we are glad to share the following updates on those bills.
Investing to Create Sustainable Funding for New Mexico’s Dog and Cat Shelters, Rescues, and Humane Programs
House Bill 113—sponsored by Rep. Tara Lujan (HD 48), Rep. Reena Szczepanski (HD 47), Rep. Joseph Sanchez (HD 40), Rep. Cynthia Borrego (HD 17), and Sen. Jospeh Cervantes (SD 31), and cosponsored by Rep. Anita Gonzales (HD 70)—will establish the Animal Welfare Trust Fund, an investment fund which will grow over time to create sustainable funding for New Mexico’s lifesaving animal care infrastructure.
Earnings from the Animal Welfare Trust Fund would be disbursed as grants and contracts for services to county and municipal shelters, tribal entities, and nonprofit organizations for animal care programs and projects. HB 113 is written to benefit a wide variety of potential programs and projects to bolster animal welfare and public health and safety via New Mexico’s dog and cat shelters and rescues, law enforcement and animal control agencies, and community programs.
Rep. Lujan was so enthusiastic about this legislation that she pre-filed the bill before the official start of the session. HB 113 has since been referred to the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee, where it will first be heard. If your Representative serves on this committee, look out for an email from us in the coming weeks announcing when the hearing is scheduled and how you can make your voice heard.
Using Science-Based Methods to Protect Wildlife Populations For All New Mexicans
Senate Bill 5—sponsored by Sen. Pete Campos (SD 8), Sen. Peter Wirth (SD 25), Rep. Matthew McQueen (HD 50), Sen. Crystal Brantley (SD 35), Rep. Nathan Small (HD 36), and Sen. Gabriel Ramos (SD 28)—will modernize wildlife management using science-based methods, stabilize the New Mexico Game Commission, and bring much needed funding to the Department of Game & Fish.
Currently, Game Commission members are not required to have specific qualifications related to wildlife management, and the Department is largely focused on managing species that are hunted and fished. Thus, neither entity reflects New Mexicans’ growing appreciation for watching, photographing, and otherwise enjoying wildlife through non-consumptive means. Animal Protection Voters is part of a broad coalition supporting SB 5 so that all New Mexicans can enjoy thriving wildlife populations for generations to come.
SB 5 is strongly supported by wildlife conservation groups, outdoor enthusiasts, and many others, and we were proud to join with them in supporting SB 5 during the Senate Rules Committee (SRC) hearing on January 27th. SB 5 passed out of SRC with a vote of 6 to 3 and is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Conservation Committee.
Updating the Law So That Survivors of Family Violence Can Seek Safety with Their Companion Animals
Senate Bill 26—sponsored by Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez (SD 16), Rep. Pamelya Herndon (HD 28), Rep. Tara Lujan (HD 48), and Rep. Diane Torres-Velásquez (HD 30)—would recognize animal abuse with the intent to harm or intimidate someone as a type of domestic abuse, as well as explicitly allow a judge to add companion animals to the protective order issued. Both changes would better protect domestic violence survivors and their beloved animals by allowing them to swiftly seek safety together.
SB 26 is supported by a diverse coalition advocating for broad reforms to New Mexico’s law against family violence and is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee.
Coming Soon: Creating an Equine Welfare Trust Fund to Benefit Shelter and Rescue Equines
Senator Carrie Hamblen (SD 38) will soon file a bill that will create the Equine Welfare Trust Fund, an investment fund that would generate earnings to care for homeless and abused equines in New Mexico. Earnings from the Equine Welfare Trust Fund would flow to the existing Equine Shelter Rescue Fund, which is administered by the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB). When the NMLB seizes equines from cruelty situations, or impounds abandoned equines, they rely on the network of registered non-profit equine shelters to care for and rehabilitate those animals. The Equine Welfare Trust Fund will help ensure a more sustainable source of funding for these shelters that provide crucial services to the state of New Mexico. Responsible investment of the trust fund assets will ensure that our needy horses, donkeys and mules will receive the humane care they deserve, and that New Mexicans want.
Coming Soon: Promoting the Humane Management of Free-Roaming Horses
Longtime animal protection champion Representative Matthew McQueen (HD 50) will soon file a bill that would better protect free-roaming horses from entering the horse slaughter pipeline, as well as preserving the landscapes where those horses graze. As drafted, the bill would update current law by allowing local governments to take the lead on free-roaming horse protection and management by working with qualified experts who are registered with the New Mexico Livestock Board. These experts would need to be skilled in determining the land’s carrying capacity, use best available science, and use only humane methods to stabilize herd size and relocate horses when necessary.
Expanding Protections for Missing Qualified Service Animal (“Ivy’s Law”)
House Bill 111—sponsored by Rep. Marian Matthews (HD 27)—also known as Ivy’s Law, would increase protections for qualified service animals during emergencies. Once notified by the owner, trainer, or handler that a service animal is missing, first responders— to the extent practicable and while prioritizing human safety and security—would be required to make a reasonable effort to search for the animal. The bill is named after Ivy, a service dog who perished under debris after a city water main caused the roof of her house to collapse in Albuquerque. HB 111 is assigned to the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee and is currently scheduled for a hearing on February 6.
Reigning in the Harmful Effects of Mega-dairies and CAFOs in New Mexico
Senate Bill 21—sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth (SD 25), Rep. Kristina Ortez (HD 42), and Sen. Bobby Gonzales (SD 6) — would enable the State of New Mexico to take over federal permitting for waters that have federal protections under the Clean Water Act. New Mexico is one of only three states in the nation that currently leaves this up to the Environmental Protection Agency, so permits for waters still protected under the Clean Water Act aren’t issued here in New Mexico but from a regional office in Dallas. Harmful and environmentally devastating mega-dairies and CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations) are frequent sources of water pollution required to be permitted and regulated. SB 21 passed the Senate Conservation Committee on January 30th by a 6-3 vote, and next awaits a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Interrupting Animal Fighting By Updating New Mexico’s RICO Act
Senate Bill 70—sponsored by Sen. Craig Brandt (SD 40)—will update our state’s racketeering law, commonly known as the RICO Act, by adding dog fighting and cockfighting to the list of violations. Adding organized animal fighting to our RICO statute will bring our state’s statute in line with what law enforcement professionals here and across the country have long known: that animal fighting rings are often part of larger criminal enterprises that include drug and arms trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and more. Using the RICO statute to interrupt animal fighting rings means better protection, not only for the animals harmed and killed, but also for our communities.
SB 70 was heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 29th, but after lengthy testimony on the need for the bill, no action was taken. The Committee announced it will incorporate multiple other crime bills into a single public safety omnibus bill, and we hope to see language from SB 70 included.
We’re thrilled there is already so much state legislation that has the potential to better protect New Mexico’s animals! Stay with us as we continue to bring you important updates on these, and likely other, bills affecting animals this session. We will be your eyes and ears at the Roundhouse, and we thank you for your support!
