By Matthew Reichbach, NM Political Report
—A bill that would protect farms from many lawsuits on “nuisance” for expansion and changes of farms passed the House on Saturday and is headed to Gov. Susana Martinez’s desk. The proposal would stop lawsuits alleging nuisance on farms unless they both changed the “nature and scope” of their operation.
“Wow, what a sweeping removal of rights from our fellow New Mexicans,” Rep. Jeff Steinborn, Las Cruces, said.
Rep. Andy Nunez, R-Hatch, said it was a necessary bill.
“Whose rights are we protecting?” He asked. “We’re protecting these rights of these farmers.”
Animal Protection Voters vocally opposed the bill, saying it would create “a nearly impossibly high obstacle to a neighbor’s attempt to find relief from genuine anguish and loss of use of their property.”
An attempt to change it to the “nature or scope” of the operation by House Minority Leader Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe, failed.
