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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Lopez
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/22/2007
HB
SHORT TITLE Study Need for Agricultural Districts
SB SJM 54
ANALYST McOlash
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 54 requests the New Mexico Legislative Council to appoint a committee
to study the need for agricultural districts and requests the New Mexico Department of
Agriculture (NMDA) to assist in the study.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Senate Joint Memorial 54 recognizes that farming and ranching are the lifeblood of New Mexico
and vital to the economy of the state with centuries upon centuries of Native American, Hispanic
and Anglo families making their living and their lives from the land. With agriculture so vital to
New Mexico’s economy, environment and culture, it is important to conserve, protect,
encourage, develop and improve agricultural land and resources.
The Joint Memorial requests the Legislative Council to appoint an interim committee to study
the need to protect agricultural resources through the creation of agricultural districts, the use of
conservation easements and the limiting of eminent domain powers.
The memorial requests the NMDA to assist the interim committee and the committee to report its
findings and recommendations to the 2008 Legislature.