SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 37
46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2004
INTRODUCED BY
John Arthur Smith
A JOINT MEMORIAL
REQUESTING THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC LANDS TO PROVIDE RELIEF FOR THOSE LESSEES WHO HAVE BEEN SEVERELY AFFECTED BY DROUGHT CONDITIONS ON THEIR STATE LEASE HOLDINGS.
WHEREAS, New Mexico has been in significant drought for several years, and many areas of the state and other parts of the southwest have been declared areas of drought emergency by the federal government; and
WHEREAS, leaseholders of state land have contractual obligations with the state land office obligating them to payments based on normal range condition; and
WHEREAS, the drought has affected the range condition so severely that herds have had to be reduced, yet no commensurate reduction in fees paid to the state land office has occurred;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commissioner of public lands be requested to review the current rates for stocking and rental of all state trust land under an agricultural lease and to identify areas affected by drought and, if applicable, offer drought relief; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that drought relief be offered to protect the state's valuable natural resources and trust lands and that the drought relief program should consider freezing rentals, adjusting the carrying capacity where warranted, requesting livestock reductions and adjusting rentals on a percentage basis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that drought relief requests be reviewed by the commissioner of public lands in a timely manner and that the appropriate relief measures be approved through December 2004 for leases in good standing on January 1, 2004; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that drought relief requests only be accepted from lessees of record and that any rental adjustments be made on the next annual billing of the lease; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the commissioner of public lands.
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