SANTA FE _ Several wildlife-related bills are advancing through the New Mexico Legislature.
The Senate Conservation Committee on Tuesday voted to approve SB462, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces. The bill would create an outdoor recreation division within the New Mexico Department of Economic Development.
Steinborn has said that outdoor recreation puts nearly $10 billion a year into New Mexico’s economy. Communities around the state are working to develop that aspect of their local economies, he said.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation supports the creation of the outdoor recreation division.
Also on Tuesday, the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted to advance a bill that calls for developing a plan to address wildlife corridors in the state.
Senate Bill 228, sponsored by Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, would direct the New Mexico Department and Game and Fish and the state transportation department to develop a plan for how to address areas where crossing wildlife poses a risk to motorists.
Stewart has said that the incidence of wildlife-related crashes has increased in recent years. The game department and the transportation department have cooperated in recent years in the installation of fencing and other structures on highways around the state.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation supports SB228.
On Monday, the full Senate passed SB383, a bill that would allow the state game commission to set rules that embody the principles of fair chase.
Officials with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish say the bill is necessary to prevent people from using the state’s open records law to seek information on the location of animals fitted with radio collars that report their exact locations.
Game department officials have said that hunters in some other states have requested location information to allow themselves to locate particular trophy animals.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation supports the bill.
