FIFTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURESB 5/a
FIRST REGULAR SESSION, 2025
February 27, 2025
Mr. President:
Your FINANCE COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred
SENATE BILL 5, as amended
has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:
1. Strike Senate Rules Committee Amendment 3.
2. Strike Senate Conservation Committee Amendment 17.
3. On page 1, line 22, before "PROVIDING", insert "ADDING LICENSE TYPES AND FEES;".
4. On page 6, line 16, strike "11" and insert in lieu thereof "12".
5. On page 17, between lines 19 and 20, insert:
"SECTION 8. Section 17-3-2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), Chapter 17, Section 2, as amended) is amended to read:
"17-3-2. CLASSES OF LICENSES.--
A. As used with reference to licenses in Chapter 17 NMSA 1978:
(1) "fishing" entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during the open seasons for each species;
(2) "game hunting" entitles the licensee to hunt game birds, other than wild turkey, and squirrel during the open seasons for each and to apply for or purchase a license to hunt for deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, javelina, bear, oryx, ibex, cougar and wild turkey;
(3) "deer" entitles the licensee to hunt deer during the open season;
(4) "antelope" entitles the licensee to hunt antelope during the open season;
(5) "elk" entitles the licensee to hunt elk during the open season;
(6) "bighorn sheep" entitles the licensee to hunt bighorn sheep during the open season;
(7) "Barbary sheep" entitles the licensee to hunt Barbary sheep during the open season;
(8) "javelina" entitles the licensee to hunt javelina during the open season;
(9) "bear" entitles the licensee to hunt bear during the open season;
(10) "nongame" entitles the licensee to hunt or take any animal or bird not protected by law;
(11) "temporary fishing" entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during a specific period of time indicated on the license;
(12) "oryx" entitles the licensee to hunt oryx during the open season;
(13) "ibex" entitles the licensee to hunt ibex during the open season;
(14) "cougar" entitles the licensee to hunt cougar during the open season;
(15) "turkey" entitles the licensee to hunt turkey during the open season;
(16) "special season turkey" entitles the licensee to hunt turkey during special seasons designated by the state [game] wildlife commission;
(17) "quality elk" entitles the licensee to hunt elk during a special quality elk season, to be established by the state [game] wildlife commission, when the timing of the season and hunter density is specially regulated and the elk population is managed with an intent to provide the licensee an increased opportunity to take a mature elk;
(18) "quality deer" entitles the licensee to hunt deer during a special quality deer season, to be established by the state [game] wildlife commission, when the timing of the season and hunter density is specially regulated and the deer population is managed with an intent to provide the licensee an increased opportunity to take a mature deer;
(19) "temporary game hunting" entitles the licensee to hunt game birds, except wild turkey, and squirrel during a specific period of time indicated on the license;
(20) "second rod" entitles the licensee to fish using two fishing rods to fish for game fish during the open seasons for each species; [and]
(21) "fishing and game hunting combination" entitles the licensee to hunt squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, and to fish for game fish during the open season for each; and
(22) "shed hunter license" entitles the licensee to shed hunting; provided that a shed hunter license shall not be required for shed hunting by a resident.
B. A hunting license does not entitle the licensee to hunt, kill or take game animals or birds within or upon a park or enclosure licensed or posted as provided by law or within or upon a privately owned enclosure without consent of the owner or within or upon a game refuge or game management area.
C. A fishing license does not entitle the licensee to fish for or take fish within or upon a park or enclosure licensed or posted as provided by law or within or upon a privately owned enclosure without consent of the owner or in or on closed waters.
D. A junior fishing license may be purchased by a resident who has reached the age of twelve years but has not reached the age of eighteen years. A junior fishing license entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during the open season for each species.
E. A senior fishing license may be purchased by a resident who has reached the age of sixty-five years. A senior fishing license entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during the open season for each species.
F. A nonresident junior fishing license may be purchased by a nonresident who has reached the age of twelve years but has not reached the age of eighteen years. A nonresident junior fishing license entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during the open season for each species.
G. A senior game hunting license may be purchased by a resident who has reached the age of sixty-five years. A senior game hunting license entitles the licensee to hunt for squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, during the open seasons for each species and to apply for or purchase a license to hunt for deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, javelina, bear, oryx, ibex, cougar and wild turkey.
H. A junior, resident or nonresident, game hunting license may be purchased by a person who has not reached the age of eighteen years. A junior game hunting license entitles the licensee to hunt for squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, during the open seasons for each species and to apply for or purchase a license to hunt for deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, javelina, bear, oryx, ibex, cougar and wild turkey.
I. A handicapped fishing license may be purchased by a resident who has a severe physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who can furnish adequate proof of this disability to the state [game] wildlife commission. A handicapped fishing license may be purchased by a resident who has a developmental disability as defined in Subsection H of Section 43-1-3 NMSA 1978 and who can furnish adequate proof of this disability to the [state game] commission. A handicapped fishing license entitles the licensee to fish for game fish during the open season for each species.
J. A handicapped game hunting license may be purchased by a resident who has a severe physical impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and who can furnish adequate proof of this disability to the state [game] wildlife commission. A handicapped game hunting license entitles the licensee to hunt for squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, during the open season for each species and to apply for or purchase a license to hunt for deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, javelina, bear, oryx, ibex, cougar and wild turkey.
K. A fishing license may be obtained at no cost by a resident who has reached the age of seventy years.
L. A second rod validation may be purchased by either a resident or nonresident. A second rod validation entitles the licensee to fish using two rods for game fish during the open season for each species.
M. A junior-senior elk license may be purchased by a resident who has not reached the age of eighteen years or by a resident who has reached the age of sixty-five years. A junior-senior elk license entitles the licensee to hunt for elk during the open season for that species.
N. A junior-senior deer license may be purchased by a resident who is younger than eighteen years or older than sixty-five years. A junior-senior deer license entitles the licensee to hunt for deer during the open season for that species.
O. A junior or senior fishing and game hunting combination license may be purchased by a resident who is younger than eighteen years or older than sixty-five years. A junior or senior fishing and game hunting combination license entitles the licensee to fish for game fish or hunt for squirrel and game birds, other than wild turkey, during the open seasons for each species and to apply for or purchase a license to hunt for deer, antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, javelina, bear, oryx, ibex, cougar and wild turkey.
P. Except for a resident, disabled veteran, fishing and game hunting combination license issued pursuant to Section 17-3-13 NMSA 1978, a New Mexico resident who is a veteran of the United States military or who is active duty military is eligible for a fifty percent discount on any license, permit or stamp purchase upon valid proof of service as determined by the state [game] wildlife commission."
SECTION 9. Section 17-3-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1912, Chapter 85, Section 48, as amended) is amended to read:
"17-3-7. BLANK FORMS--LICENSE ISSUED ONLY ON APPLICATION--FALSE STATEMENT VOIDS LICENSE--RECORDS--REPORTS--ACCOUNTING FOR FEES COLLECTED--REFUND OF FEES--TRANSFER OF HUNTING LICENSE.--
A. The director of the department of [game and fish] wildlife shall prescribe and procure the printing of all forms and blanks that may be required to carry out the intent of Chapter 17 NMSA 1978. All necessary blanks shall be furnished by the director to the license collectors. No license shall be issued except as provided in Section 17-3-5 NMSA 1978. Any false statement in any application shall render the license issued void.
B. A license collector shall keep a correct and complete record of licenses issued, which record shall remain in the license collector's office and be open to inspection by the public at all times.
C. A license collector may collect and retain a vendor fee for each license or permit issued; provided that the fee shall be just and reasonable, as determined by regulation of the state [game] wildlife commission, and shall not exceed [one dollar ($1.00)] vendor costs for each license or permit issued; and provided further that no such fee shall be collected by the department of [game and fish] wildlife from the purchaser of a special license. "Special license" includes those licenses for the following species: antelope, elk, Barbary sheep, bighorn sheep, bison, oryx, ibex [gazelle] and javelina.
D. A license collector shall remit to the director of the department of [game and fish] wildlife the statutory fee of all licenses and permits sold on or before the tenth day of the month following and shall by the same time report the number and kind of licenses issued.
E. Except as provided in Section 17-1-14 NMSA 1978, the director of the department of [game and fish] wildlife shall turn over all money so received to the state treasurer to be credited to the game protection fund.
F. The director of the department of [game and fish] wildlife, in the director's sole discretion, may authorize a refund of the amount of a hunting license fee from the game and fish suspense fund if:
(1) upon written application by the licensee, prior to the time of the hunt for which the license has been issued, the director finds that:
(a) the licensee has a disability, due to a verified injury or life-threatening illness, that prohibits the licensee from hunting during the period that the license is valid; or
(b) the licensee has been deployed by the military and the deployment prevents the licensee from traveling to the hunt during the period that the license is valid;
(2) upon written application by a personal representative of a licensee's estate, the director finds that the licensee died prior to the time of the hunt for which the license was issued; or
(3) the director cancels a hunt due to forest fire or other natural disaster.
G. The director of the department of [game and fish] wildlife, in the director's sole discretion, may authorize a transfer of a hunting license:
(1) to the licensee's designee if, upon written application by the licensee, prior to the time of the hunt for which the license has been issued, the director finds that:
(a) the licensee has a disability, due to a verified injury or life-threatening illness, that prohibits the licensee from hunting during the period that the license is valid; or
(b) the licensee has been deployed by the military and the deployment prevents the licensee from traveling to the hunt during the period that the license is valid;
(2) to the designee of the licensee's estate if, upon written application by the personal representative of the licensee's estate, the director finds that the licensee died prior to the time of the hunt for which the license was issued; or
(3) upon written application by a licensee, to a nonprofit organization approved by the state [game] wildlife commission.
H. The state [game] wildlife commission may prescribe, by rule, the documentation necessary for a finding pursuant to Subsection F or G of this section."".
6. Renumber the succeeding sections accordingly.
7. On page 20, line 4, strike "3,150.00" and insert in lieu thereof "9,000.00".
8. On page 20, between lines 11 and 12, insert "Nonresident, shed hunter license.......500.00".
9. On page 24, strike lines 11 through 19 and insert in lieu thereof:
"SECTION 13. REPEAL.--Sections 17-1-1 and 17-2-2 NMSA 1978
(being Laws 1921, Chapter 35, Section 1 and Laws 1937, Chapter 23,
Section 1, as amended) are repealed.
SECTION 14. EFFECTIVE DATE.--
A. The effective date of the provisions of Sections 1, 4 through 7, 11 and 13 of this act is July 1, 2026.
B. The effective date of the provisions of Sections 2, 3 and 12 of this act is January 1, 2027.
C. The effective date of the provisions of Sections 8 through 10 of this act is April 1, 2026.".
___________________________________
Senator George Muñoz, Chair
Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________
(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)
Date ________________________
The roll call vote was 9 For 1 Against
Yes: Brandt, Campos, Gonzales, Lanier, Muñoz, Padilla, Shendo, Tobiassen, Trujillo
No: Woods
Excused: Steinborn
Absent: None
SB0005FC1.wpd 231469.2