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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Komadina
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
1/24/2007
HB
SHORT TITLE Wild Horse Management and Tourism
SB SJM 8
ANALYST Guambaña
APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)
Appropriation
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
FY07
FY08
NFI
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
Senate Joint Memorial Bill 8 requests improved management of wild horse herds and requests the
development of tourism programs at national wild horse territories and other wild horse ranges. New
Mexico started out with twelve national wild horse territories but now has only three territories.
Wild horses of Spanish colonial descent are part of New Mexico's living heritage and history, but
they are endangered and may become extinct in New Mexico. SJM 8 requests: (1) the development
of three existing wild horse territories in New Mexico and the opening of other national wild horse
territories in New Mexico where herds currently exist, (2) the maintenance of a minimum herd size
of two hundred in each national wild horse territory for genetic viability and for tourism, (3) wild
horse population control by the use of contraception rather than sale of excess animals, (4) the
transfer of excess animals to other wild horse territories when overpopulation does exist; preferably
in New Mexico, or placement with private or state wild horse preserves after DNA testing to
determine if the horses are Spanish-line descendants, (5) that helicopters not be used in the state's
rugged terrain to round up wild horses, especially during foaling season, and (6) that the federal
government honor the cultural heritage and history of New Mexico by maintaining Spanish-line and
other wild horse populations for the enjoyment and education of New Mexico residents and other
visitors to the state.
SJM 8 requests that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the heads of the bureau of land
management of the United States department of the interior and the forest service of the United
States department of agriculture; the secretaries of the interior and agriculture; and the New Mexico
congressional delegation.