Opposite The Editor
Published by the Santa Fe New Mexican | Edition 03/15/2025 | Link To Article
New Mexico is on the verge of having historic legislation that would transform our wildlife management system. Senate Bill 5 reflects years of negotiations between a broad group of stakeholders convened by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and has now passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support.
Because of her leadership, our organizations came together to form a consensus bill to modernize the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and reform the State Game Commission. Now, we hope she will honor our hard work and sign it into law.
Senate Bill 5 was born out of several meetings the department convened throughout 2024. From there, the governor’s staff and administration officials maintained an open line of communication with our coalition and the bill sponsors. Collectively, we worked hard to address each concern raised by stakeholders and the executive. Every step of the way, the legislation got better and secured more support.
The bill before her desk has bipartisan sponsorship, passed four legislative committees and was approved with bipartisan votes. The entire process is a model for how legislation should be passed. As The New Mexican commented (“Game and Fish reform: So near, so necessary,” Our View, March 9) in its recent editorial, “bipartisanship can still work in New Mexico. And that’s as it should be.”
New Mexico is the fourth-most biodiverse state in the nation. Thriving wildlife populations safeguard the air, land and water we all need. The threats to our wildlife are real and imminent, from catastrophic wildfire to flooding and drought. The department and the Game Commission cannot meet these 21st-century challenges without the necessary tools, funding and authority. That’s what this bill provides.
Senate Bill 5 is especially important to New Mexico’s sportsmen community and those who support our growing outdoor recreation economy. Wildlife is deeply tied to our cultural traditions and helps sustain our $3.2 billion outdoor recreation economy through hunting, fishing, birdwatching and more. The legislation will help build a wildlife management system that includes a well-funded department and functioning commission.
Throughout her administration, the governor has shown strong, national leadership to support New Mexico communities by creating the Outdoor Recreation Division, championing the Outdoor Equity Fund and spearheading the first statewide source of conservation funding through the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund. Senate Bill 5 is the most significant piece of legislation affecting the Department of Game and Fish since its founding. Signing it will help cement her legacy as a conservation champion.
We thank sponsors Sens. Peter Wirth, Pete Campos and Crystal Diamond Brantley, as well as Reps. Matthew McQueen and Nathan Small, for their steadfast support. Throughout the process, they stood strong against misinformation and stood up for their constituents.
Because of their leadership, New Mexico is now better positioned to protect our hunting and fishing traditions, support our outdoor recreation economy and ensure wildlife will be healthy for future generations.
Our coalition is made up of hunters, anglers, outfitters and guides, conservationists, farmers and ranchers, animal rights protection groups, good government advocates, the faith community and tribal leaders. We come from all areas of the state, fall on different ends of the political spectrum, and have often been on opposing sides of legislation in the past.
We hope the governor will honor the spirit of our collaboration and sign Senate Bill 5 into law.