HOUSE BILL 66

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Sarah Maestas Barnes

FOR THE LAND GRANT COMMITTEE

AN ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR LEGAL ANALYSES OF PROPERTY MAPPING OF LAND GRANT-MERCED COMMUNITIES AND MULTIPLE TAXATION ISSUES FOR THESE PROPERTIES; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

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

     SECTION 1. APPROPRIATION.--

          A. Fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the office of the attorney general for expenditure in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 to:

                (1) research the history and legal basis for the state-mandated plat maps used to assess property taxes on land grants-mercedes;

                (2) research the issues in law and equity raised by the practice of multiple entities making duplicative taxation payments for the same parcels of property claimed by land grants-mercedes; and

                (3) develop potential remedies that the state might pursue to remedy overlapping or conflicting property claims encountered by land grants-mercedes.

          B. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2017 shall revert to the general fund.

          C. The analyses funded in Subsection A of this section shall be presented to the appropriate legislative interim committee by October 15, 2016.

     SECTION 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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