HB0471

HOUSE BILL 471

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2025

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph L. Sanchez and Anita Gonzales

AN ACT

RELATING TO LIVESTOCK; RESTRICTING LIVESTOCK RUNNING AT LARGE IN TRADITIONAL HISTORIC COMMUNITIES; DEFINING "TRADITIONAL HISTORIC COMMUNITY".

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

SECTION 1. Section 77-14-7 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1909, Chapter 146, Section 4, as amended) is amended to read:

"77-14-7. LIVESTOCK RUNNING AT LARGE--WHEN UNLAWFUL--IMPOUNDING--DISPOSITION--SUIT FOR DAMAGES.--

A. It is unlawful for the owners of livestock to willfully allow the livestock to run at large within the town, conservancy district, irrigation district, traditional historic community or military reservation or enclave. An owner who willfully allows livestock to run at large is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978 for each offense.

B. For livestock that is not an equine, the sheriff or other peace officer or proper military authority or the board shall impound livestock found running at large and sell the livestock at public auction to the highest bidder for cash after giving notice of the time and place of sale in some newspaper published in the county where the violation occurred three days prior to the day of sale; provided that in the case of a military reservation or enclave, the sale shall be conducted by the board pursuant to the procedure set forth in Section 77-14-36 NMSA 1978. The proceeds up to ten dollars ($10.00) per day for each animal shall be retained by the impounding authority to cover its expense and fees. The balance, if any, shall be paid to the general fund.

C. For livestock that is an equine, the sheriff, other peace officer, proper military authority or the board shall impound the equine running at large and give notice in some newspaper published in the county where the violation occurred of three days prior to the day of disposition. The notice shall include a description of the equine and state when and where the equine was impounded and that:

(1) unless the equine is redeemed by the legal owner within three days after publication of the notice, a registered equine rescue or retirement facility shall be given the right of first refusal to purchase the equine for an ownership transfer fee equal to all actual costs incurred by the impounding agency in caring for the equine while the equine was impounded;

(2) if a registered equine rescue or retirement facility is unable or unwilling to purchase the equine, the board shall auction the equine through a sealed-bid process administered by the board and established in rule;

(3) if the equine is not purchased through the sealed-bid process, the board may pursue an alternative placement for care with a last resort option to humanely euthanize the equine by a licensed veterinarian; and

(4) any proceeds from the sale of an equine pursuant to this subsection shall be retained by the impounding authority to cover its expenses and costs, and the balance, if any, shall be paid to the general fund.

D. The owner of livestock impounded may redeem the livestock at any time prior to disposition by paying the impound fees and costs incurred for each day or portion of a day that the livestock has been in custody; provided that in the case of a military reservation or enclave, redemption shall be allowed pursuant to Section 77-14-36 NMSA 1978.

E. A person claiming damages for violation of the provisions of Subsection A of this section may file suit to recover damages as in other civil cases; provided that such damages, in the case of a violation involving a military reservation or enclave, shall include direct, indirect, incidental and consequential damages.

F. As used in this section, "traditional historic community" means an area that:

(1) is an unincorporated area of a county;

(2) is an identifiable village, community, neighborhood or district that can be documented as having existed for more than one hundred years;

(3) includes structures or landmarks that are associated with the identity of the area seeking designation as a traditional historic community;

(4) is of a distinctive character or traditional quality that can be distinguished from surrounding areas or new developments in the vicinity; and

(5) has been declared a traditional historic community by an ordinance of the board of county commissioners of the county in which the area is located."

SECTION 2. Section 77-14-36 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1975, Chapter 329, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:

"77-14-36. IMPOUNDMENT OF TRESPASS LIVESTOCK.--

A. Any livestock found to be in trespass upon the lands of another or running at large upon any public highway that is fenced on both sides or running at large within the limits of any municipality, town or village, whether incorporated or not, or traditional historic community or within a military reservation or enclave is subject to impoundment by an agent of the board. The place of impoundment shall be at the nearest or most convenient location from where the trespass occurred.

B. Any livestock impounded under the provisions of this section shall be released to the owner or the owner's representative upon the payment by the owner of a fee set by regulation of the board not to exceed amounts prescribed by law for impounding.

C. The board shall designate a custodian and a place of impoundment and allow a reasonable fee to be charged by the custodian of the impounded livestock; provided that in case of a controversy as to what constitutes a reasonable charge, the board shall set the amount of the charge.

D. This section shall not be construed to affect the obligation of a property owner of meeting the requirements of Section 77-16-1 NMSA 1978 for fencing against such trespasses.