2025 ROUND HOUSE REVIEW
Sine Die
The 2025 Session of the New Mexico Legislature ended this past Saturday at noon. A total of 246 pieces of legislation were passed by both the House and Senate during the 60-day session. As of today, the Governor has signed 22 items into law. Other items of legislation not signed into law before April 11th will be pocket vetoed. Of course, MLG is already threatening a special session to ramrod her unpassed priorities down the throats of New Mexicans. But seeing as she is a lame duck that has threatened a special session at the end of literally every session for the past 6 years, I’m not sure anyone is taking her seriously anymore.
There was one major piece of legislation passed this session that will have an impact on the NM outfitting industry but before we get to that, I’d like to take a second to point out that absolutely nothing happens in the New Mexico Legislature without Democrats. And that includes the death of bad legislation. It’s common for folks on either side of the aisle to get siloed into thinking their side is exclusive to a certain position. But that’s not the way it works. In NM, where over 60% of the legislature is Democrat, the Ds don’t need the Rs to pass something. However, the Rs desperately need the Ds to kill something. So, if you see bills on this list that you are glad did not pass, then you need to thank the Democrats that made it happen. In the case of SB279 (Gas-operated Semiauto Firearms Exclusion Act) and HB11 (Paid Family & Medical Leave Act) that would be Senator Cervantes and Representative Matthews. These two democrat legislators have been instrumental in helping protect gun owners (Cervantes) and local small business owners (Matthews) against these bad bills. We owe them both a debt of gratitude!
Now, back to the legislation that the Governor signed. NMCOG has caught a lot of heat for supporting SB5 these past 2 months. To oversimplify the situation, we worked across the aisle to make sure a piece of legislation which we knew had the momentum to pass, would pass in a form that the outfitting industry could live with. And despite all the hysteria and sensationalism that has surrounded this process, when the dust finally settles, I promise the fallout will be minimal. Sure, NM hunters and anglers may notice that their license costs have increased (for the first time in 20 years) and perhaps some will realize that the Game and Fish in NM is now called the Wildlife Department. But mark my words, apart from those minor changes, very few will notice any tangible impact resulting from SB5. The actual
impacts of SB5 are policy based and revolve around the governance of the agency. Most hunters, anglers, and landowners don’t pay any attention to the game commission now and the passage of this bill won’t change that.
MLG signed SB5 into law with a partial veto. She signed 98% of the bill and vetoed the provision that made it more difficult for a governor to remove a game commissioner. There are some organizations that are very upset about the vetoed portion, and there are some legal questions about whether MLG has the authority for a partial veto on this type of bill (is it an appropriations bill – no one seems to know for sure). But honestly, NMCOG doesn’t really care. In fact, a governor’s ability to easily remove commissioners from their position has
benefited NMCOG several times in the past. We were glad to see the other commission guardrails signed into law and are confident these changes will have a positive impact on the overall stability of the Game Commission. There will be those who read this and disagree. My response to those concerns is time will tell.
There was one major piece of legislation passed this session that will have an impact on the NM outfitting industry but before we get to that, I’d like to take a second to point out that absolutely nothing happens in the New Mexico Legislature without Democrats. And that includes the death of bad legislation. It’s common for folks on either side of the aisle to get siloed into thinking their side is exclusive to a certain position. But that’s not the way it works. In NM, where over 60% of the legislature is Democrat, the Ds don’t need the Rs to pass something. However, the Rs desperately need the Ds to kill something. So, if you see bills on this list that you are glad did not pass, then you need to thank the Democrats that made it happen. In the case of SB279 (Gas-operated Semiauto Firearms Exclusion Act) and HB11 (Paid Family & Medical Leave Act) that would be Senator Cervantes and Representative Matthews. These two democrat legislators have been instrumental in helping protect gun owners (Cervantes) and local small business owners (Matthews) against these bad bills. We owe them both a debt of gratitude!
Now, back to the legislation that the Governor signed. NMCOG has caught a lot of heat for supporting SB5 these past 2 months. To oversimplify the situation, we worked across the aisle to make sure a piece of legislation which we knew had the momentum to pass, would pass in a form that the outfitting industry could live with. And despite all the hysteria and sensationalism that has surrounded this process, when the dust finally settles, I promise the fallout will be minimal. Sure, NM hunters and anglers may notice that their license costs have increased (for the first time in 20 years) and perhaps some will realize that the Game and Fish in NM is now called the Wildlife Department. But mark my words, apart from those minor changes, very few will notice any tangible impact resulting from SB5. The actual
impacts of SB5 are policy based and revolve around the governance of the agency. Most hunters, anglers, and landowners don’t pay any attention to the game commission now and the passage of this bill won’t change that.
MLG signed SB5 into law with a partial veto. She signed 98% of the bill and vetoed the provision that made it more difficult for a governor to remove a game commissioner. There are some organizations that are very upset about the vetoed portion, and there are some legal questions about whether MLG has the authority for a partial veto on this type of bill (is it an appropriations bill – no one seems to know for sure). But honestly, NMCOG doesn’t really care. In fact, a governor’s ability to easily remove commissioners from their position has
benefited NMCOG several times in the past. We were glad to see the other commission guardrails signed into law and are confident these changes will have a positive impact on the overall stability of the Game Commission. There will be those who read this and disagree. My response to those concerns is time will tell.
FULL LIST OF LEGISLATION FOLLWED BY NMCOG THIS SESSION
PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
SB 5 – GAME COMMISSION REFORM (partial veto)
For a full analysis of this bill please read our Roundhouse Review’s from week 1 & 2
HB 12 – EXTREME RISK FIREARM PROTECTION ORDER CHANGES
Amends the existing to the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act statute to enable law enforcement officers to file petitions for extreme risk firearm protection orders based on information collected during their official duties and require respondents to immediately relinquish firearms rather than within 48hours later as is currently required.
TABLED IN COMMITTEE
SB 264 – ADMINISTRATIVE FEE CHANGES
HB 11 – PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
RAN OUT OF TIME
HB 208 – HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE VOTER REGISTRATION
HJM 5 – PROTECTIONS FOR UPPER PECOS WATERSHED
SB 318 – FIREARMS IN UNFAIR PRACTICES ACT
SB 507 – FIREARM LICENSES & TRANSFERS
HB 580 – ELK LICENSE PLATE
BAD BILLS STALLED IN COMMITTEE
HB 31 – FOURTH DEGREE FELONY FOR SHOOTING THREAT
HB 38 – POSSESSION OF WEAPON CONVERSION DEVICE
HB 39 – JUVENILE RECORD IN FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS
HB 246 – INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE
HB 394 – CLEAN ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
HJR 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, CA
HJR 11 – CHANGE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE, CA
SB 4 – CLEAR HORIZONS & GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
SB 279 – GAS-OPERATED SEMIAUTO FIREARMS EXCLUSION ACT
NEVER RECEIVED A HEARING
HB 29 – LANDOWNER LIABILITY IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS
HB 294 – TAXATION OF CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL LAND
HB 319 – QUAIL AS "GAME BIRD" & RAISING WITHOUT PERMIT
SB 381 – CRIMINAL CODE DEFINITION OF "LIVESTOCK"
SB 244 – UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF FIREARM TO A MINOR
SB 114 – GAME COMMISSION LAND ACQUISITIONS
PASSED AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR
SB 5 – GAME COMMISSION REFORM (partial veto)
For a full analysis of this bill please read our Roundhouse Review’s from week 1 & 2
HB 12 – EXTREME RISK FIREARM PROTECTION ORDER CHANGES
Amends the existing to the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act statute to enable law enforcement officers to file petitions for extreme risk firearm protection orders based on information collected during their official duties and require respondents to immediately relinquish firearms rather than within 48hours later as is currently required.
TABLED IN COMMITTEE
SB 264 – ADMINISTRATIVE FEE CHANGES
HB 11 – PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
RAN OUT OF TIME
HB 208 – HUNTING & FISHING LICENSE VOTER REGISTRATION
HJM 5 – PROTECTIONS FOR UPPER PECOS WATERSHED
SB 318 – FIREARMS IN UNFAIR PRACTICES ACT
SB 507 – FIREARM LICENSES & TRANSFERS
HB 580 – ELK LICENSE PLATE
BAD BILLS STALLED IN COMMITTEE
HB 31 – FOURTH DEGREE FELONY FOR SHOOTING THREAT
HB 38 – POSSESSION OF WEAPON CONVERSION DEVICE
HB 39 – JUVENILE RECORD IN FIREARM BACKGROUND CHECKS
HB 246 – INCREASE MINIMUM WAGE
HB 394 – CLEAN ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD
HJR 3 – ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS, CA
HJR 11 – CHANGE ANTI-DONATION CLAUSE, CA
SB 4 – CLEAR HORIZONS & GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
SB 279 – GAS-OPERATED SEMIAUTO FIREARMS EXCLUSION ACT
NEVER RECEIVED A HEARING
HB 29 – LANDOWNER LIABILITY IN SPECIAL DISTRICTS
HB 294 – TAXATION OF CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL LAND
HB 319 – QUAIL AS "GAME BIRD" & RAISING WITHOUT PERMIT
SB 381 – CRIMINAL CODE DEFINITION OF "LIVESTOCK"
SB 244 – UNLAWFUL TRANSFER OF FIREARM TO A MINOR
SB 114 – GAME COMMISSION LAND ACQUISITIONS
| 2025_round_house_review_week_7.pdf |
| 2025_round_house_review_week_5.pdf |
| 2025_round_house_review_week_2.pdf |
| 2025_round_house_review_week_1.pdf |
Regardless of any official stance taken by NMCOG you are always encouraged to reach out to the legislators on a particular committee and your personal legislators to provide public comment on anything that would impact your livelihood.
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To find your legislator click HERE
Our NMCOG Weekly Round House Review publications will begin on January 28th and continue through March 23rd. Please send your concerns and comments regarding anything related to the 2025 legislative session to NMCOG at [email protected]