Why It Matters: Last week, the New Mexico Legislature wrapped up its second session of the 57th legislature; a 30-day budget “sprint” session in which a handful of strong sportsmen’s bills passed through both chambers with flying colors and an anti-sportsmen’s bill died quietly. During the session, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) coordinated several efforts both inside and out of the capital to grow the New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and ensure that sportsmen and women had strong representation in the “Roundhouse.”
Highlights:
- CSF supported Senate Bill 104 (SB 104), establishing a process for the removal of Fish and Game Commissioners, and supported appropriations included in House Bill 2 (HB 2), the annual budget, which both passed the legislature.
- CSF opposed Senate Bill 17 (SB 17), a bill which would have placed burdensome restrictions on Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealers while also banning the sale of modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines, which was defeated upon session adjournment after stalling in the House.
- CSF organized a successful New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus cocktail reception and attended the New Mexico Camo at the Capital rally, the House Natural Resource Committee Dinner, and “Ag Group” partner meetings.
New Mexico’s legislature adjourned Sine Die at noon on February 19, 2026. In the shortened 30-day budget session that occurs every even numbered year in New Mexico. During this time legislation must move fast, or it will die a procedural death. While most of the bills in these sprint sessions are budget-related, sportsmen were still able to glean a few wins.
SB 104, sponsored by Sen. Peter Wirth and now signed into law, established a formalized process for the removal of New Mexico Fish and Game Commissioners, including proper public notice and cause requirements, as well as a pathway for Commissioners to contest their removal from the New Mexico Fish and Game Commission in the state supreme court. Having strong and consistent leadership on the commission is essential to ensure the commission functions properly. This has been difficult in recent years with all the turnover on the commission. Codifying a formal process for the removal of commissioners will bring order and clarity to the commission, especially as qualified commissioner recruitment has become increasingly challenging. This provision was originally included in Senate Bill 5 (which CSF supported) which passed in the last legislative session. However, this specific provision was line-item-vetoed due to constitutional concerns and then reworked in the interim to its now codified form.
HB 2 is the annual omnibus budget bill, which has passed the legislature and now awaits a signature from the Governor. CSF supported three appropriations within this bill: $100 (amended down to $70) million for public land access, investment, and recovery (sponsored by New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Nathan Small), $15 million for the River Stewardship Program, and $2 million for aquatic species and fish hatcheries.
Finally, SB 17, which stalled in the House and ultimately died with the end of session, would have placed significant restrictions on FFLs and banned modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines. Some version of this bill has been introduced during each of the last eight sessions. While we can be sure similar legislation will be back in 2027, so will CSF.
In addition to direct engagement on legislation, CSF also planned and attended events in Santa Fe. The first annual New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus cocktail reception, planned by CSF, was a resounding success, attended by legislators from both parties and both chambers, including Sportsmen’s Caucus members and Co-Chairs, legislative committee and staff, partners in the Hunt-Fish Coalition, the New Mexico Department of Fish and Game, and Governor Lujan Grisham’s office.
CSF was also present at the Camo at the Capitol event where New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Nathan Small and Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus member Sen. Martin Heinrich both spoke, as well as the House Natural Resources Committee dinner, the annual Senate vs. House basketball game, and the weekly ag group meetings.
As we look towards future legislative sessions, CSF will continue to work with the New Mexico Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and key partners to ensure New Mexico sportsmen and women’s voices are represented in the “Roundhouse”.
