SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 56

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO LIVESTOCK; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE LIVESTOCK CODE; RESTRICTING ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION REGARDING LIVESTOCK OWNERS, THEIR ANIMALS AND THEIR OPERATIONS DURING INVESTIGATIONS AND RESPONSES TO ANIMAL HEALTH EVENTS.

 

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

     SECTION 1. A new section of The Livestock Code, Section 77-3-1.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

     "77-3-1.1. [NEW MATERIAL] RESTRICTIONS ON INFORMATION

ACCESS.--

          A. When the board or any of its authorized representatives determines that a disease or an animal health event affecting livestock has a significant economic impact or is zoonotic, fatal or highly injurious to livestock or fowl of any kind, the board or any of its authorized representatives shall restrict access to the information regarding persons or animals involved with the livestock industry if the board or authorized representatives believe protection of that information would encourage producer participation in quickly identifying, isolating and controlling a disease or condition affecting the health of livestock and subsequently affecting security of the food supply. Specific details of livestock operations related to the investigation of disease or animal health events may include:

                (1) ownership;

                (2) number of livestock owned;

                (3) locations of livestock more specific than level of county or region of the state;

                (4) movement of livestock;

                (5) financial information;

                (6) the purchase and sale of livestock;

                (7) account numbers or unique identifiers issued by government or private entities;

                (8) operational protocols, including herd management plans that contain biosecurity details and critical infrastructure that would expose vulnerabilities in an operation that can be exploited for the purpose of malicious intent; and

                (9) records obtained from private veterinarians that are considered confidential data pursuant to board regulations.

          B. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the board or any of its authorized representatives to obtain information not otherwise permitted by law.

          C. Nothing in this section shall:

                (1) preclude a person of interest from accessing the person's own information; or

                (2) prevent the release of information to state or federal agencies involved in response to livestock disease or animal health events, including any disease or condition of public health significance."

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