NMFLB Legislative Accomplishments

The New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau works hard to provide input and to represent the best interests of our members at the state capitol. The following are a few examples of the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau's past legislative accomplishments.

Agricultural Products Tax Deduction:

This bill amended a section of the Gross Receipts and Compensating Tax Act Pertaining to a gross receipts tax deduction for transportation of milk products by contract haulers by allowing haulers to deduct gross receipts taxes on milk. Farm Bureau supported.

Cotton Boll Weevil Control Committee Election:

Providing for election to disband a cotton boll weevil control committee by a majority of those producers voting in a district and once all the debts had been paid. Farm Bureau supported.

Limiting the Valuation of Residential Property:

This bill limited the increases in the value of residential property for property taxation purposes. The amount a property valuation could increase was limited to 3% where a county was 85% current and correct or 5% in a county that did not have at least 85% of the residential properties reassessed. Farm Bureau supported.

Electric Generation/Transmission Cooperatives Rodarte Arthur:

This bill is known as the "Tristate-Plains Electric Merger Bill", and allowed the generation and transmssion of cooperatives to merge with undue regulation by the Public Regulation Commission. Farm Bureau supported.

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Increase State Minimum Wage Maloof, Phil:

The bill attempted to amend section 50-4-22 NMSA 1978 to increase the state minimum wage to $5.65 on hour until July1, 2002 and $6.15 and hour on and after July 1, 2003. The Farm Bureau requested the Governor veto the bill which he did.

Contracts with Irrigation Districts:

The bill allows for municipal water users' associations' to contract with irrigation districts, such as the Elephant Butte Irrigation District to lease water to municipalities, counties, state universities, member-owned community water systems and public utilities supplying water to municipalities or counties. The Bill is an attempt to provide water to a growing urban center without jeopardizing irrigators. Farm Bureau supported.

Enviromental Impact Statements on the Pecos River:

Through a memorial the NMF&LB has requested the state of New Mexico to participate in as a "joint lead agency" under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 in developing an enviromental impact statement for Fort Sumner Dam and the Pecos River.

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Domestic Wells Study:

We asked for the state engineer to report to the interim legislative water and natural resources committee on number and general locations of domestic wells applied for with the office of the state engineer. Also to be included is an estimate of the potential impact of those wells on streams and the interstate compact water deliveries and critical areas of the state where domestic wells may impact other appropriators. In addition, the state engineer is to report on proposed rules relating to capping and plugging of abandoned wells and necessary statutory changes concerning problems associated with domestic wells. Farm Bureau supported.

Increase funding for Wildlife Services:

The New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau worked to increase funding to the Wildlife Services Division for increased protection of livestock. The increase was the first in a number and reversed the trend of a decline of funding. Farm Bureau supported.