# New Mexico SB 5: GAME COMMISSION REFORM

New Mexico SB 5, GAME COMMISSION REFORM, is a 2025 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Pete Campos (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-03-20 (Signed by Governor - Chapter 6 - Mar. 20); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB5-2025
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: New Mexico SB 5
- State: New Mexico
- Session: 2025 Regular Session
- Title: GAME COMMISSION REFORM
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-03-20, Signed by Governor - Chapter 6 - Mar. 20
- Sponsor: Pete Campos (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (70 yes, 38 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 12

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Half-price wildlife licenses for resident veterans: benefit, low. New Mexico veterans and active-duty military members get 50% off wildlife licenses, permits, and stamps with valid proof of service. The discount excludes the resident disabled-veteran fishing and game hunting combination license, which has a separate $10 price.
- Lower wildlife license costs for SNAP households: benefit, low. Beginning April 1, 2026, New Mexico residents receiving SNAP get 25% off all wildlife license fees. Residents must first qualify with the Department of Wildlife.
- Refunds and transfers for unused hunting licenses: benefit, low. Beginning April 1, 2026, the wildlife director can approve hunting license refunds or transfers; neither is automatic. Hunters must apply in writing before the hunt when verified injury or life-threatening illness prevents hunting, or military deployment prevents travel. After a hunter dies before…
- Residents avoid shed antler license costs: benefit, low. New Mexico residents can hunt for shed antlers without a shed hunter license. Nonresidents do not receive this exemption; their listed shed hunter license fee is $200.
- Limits on extra wildlife license charges: benefit, low. Beginning April 1, 2026, license sellers can keep a vendor fee for each license or permit they issue. The fee must be fair under commission rules and cannot exceed the seller's costs for that license or permit. The Department of Wildlife cannot charge this fee on special licenses for antelope, elk,…
- Wildlife license fees can rise with inflation: cost, low. Listed base fees include resident fishing at $35 and game hunting at $25; nonresidents pay $90 for either license. Nonresident deer costs $375, and nonresident bighorn sheep costs $3,500. Beginning April 1, 2027, the commission can adjust listed fees each April 1 by no more than inflation, rounded…
- Limits on required nuisance wildlife help: cost, low. The Department of Wildlife is not required to respond to nuisance wildlife incidents outside two exceptions. It must respond for species protected by statute before July 1, 2026, or when a commission rule requires a response. Residents reporting other species cannot rely on a required department re…
- Clearer rules for paid hunting businesses: mixed, low. The law defines which paid hunting-service providers count as outfitters or guides. It covers people advertising for hire, employed, or accepting payment to provide hunting facilities, equipment, or services within the hunt unit. People who only cook, cut wood, or do similar work not directly tied…
- Broader wildlife protections and activity rules: mixed, low. The State Wildlife Commission can set when, where, how, and how much people hunt, capture, possess, release, or trade wildlife. Its authority also covers shipping wildlife and bringing it into or out of the state. The commission can extend management and protection to any wildlife species by rule,…
- New public process for wildlife nominees: mixed, low. A new nine-member nominating committee reviews applicants and sends the governor at least three qualified names per commission seat. Its New Mexico resident members include four legislative appointees, two university representatives, two governor appointees from different parties, and one governor-…
- New representation rules for wildlife commissioners: mixed, low. The renamed State Wildlife Commission has seven voting members who are New Mexico residents knowledgeable about wildlife, hunting, and fishing. The governor appoints members from committee nominees, with Senate approval. Four seats require backgrounds in ranching or farming, conservation, hunting a…
- Term limits and removal rules for commissioners: mixed, low. Commissioners serve six-year terms, with no more than two terms after January 1, 2027; partial terms count unless shorter than one year. A seat becomes vacant upon death, resignation, loss of appointment qualifications, or three consecutive missed meetings. The governor fills the remaining term fro…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Pete Campos (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Crystal Brantley (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Matthew McQueen (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Nathan P. Small (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Peter Wirth (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-03-12 | House | Final House Vote | pass | 42 | 26 |   |
| 2025-03-01 | Senate | Final Senate Vote | pass | 28 | 12 |   |

## Actions (11)

- 2025-03-20: Signed by Governor - Chapter 6 - Mar. 20 (Senate)
- 2025-03-13: Senate has concurred with House Amendments (Senate)
- 2025-03-12: Passed in the House of Representatives - Y:42 N:26 (House)
- 2025-03-07: HENRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s) (House)
- 2025-03-03: Sent to HENRC - Referrals: HENRC (Senate)
- 2025-03-01: Passed in the Senate - Y:28 N:12 (Senate)
- 2025-03-01: Senate Floor Amendment (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: SFC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s) (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: SCONC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s) (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: SRC: Reported by committee with Do Pass recommendation with amendment(s) (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Sent to SRC - Referrals: SRC/SCONC/SFC (Senate)

## Bill text

- Final Version, 2025-03-20: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/final/SB0005.pdf)
- HENRC Committee Report 3/07/25, 2025-03-07: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005EN1.pdf)
- Senate Floor Amendment 5 3/01/25, 2025-03-01: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005FS5.pdf)
- SFC Committee Report 2/28/25, 2025-02-28: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005FC1.pdf)
- SCONC Committee Report 2/10/25, 2025-02-10: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005CO1.pdf)
- SRC Committee Report 1/28/25, 2025-01-28: [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005RU1.pdf)
- Introduced, 2025-01-21: [HTML](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005.html), [PDF](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB 2: GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2025 (signed)
- SB 45: COUNTY HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE FUND USE (signed)
- SB 343: TEACHER SALARY RATES CHANGES (signed)
- SB 345: TEACHER & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LICENSURE (signed)
- SB 133: EDUCATIONAL RETIREES RETURNING TO WORK (signed)
- HB 157: NEW SCHOOL LICENSES (signed)

## Sources
- [Final Version (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/final/SB0005.pdf)
- [HENRC Committee Report 3/07/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005EN1.pdf)
- [Senate Floor Amendment 5 3/01/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005FS5.pdf)
- [SFC Committee Report 2/28/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005FC1.pdf)
- [SCONC Committee Report 2/10/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005CO1.pdf)
- [SRC Committee Report 1/28/25 (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005RU1.pdf)
- [Introduced (HTML)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005.html)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/25%20Regular/bills/senate/SB0005.pdf)

## Related
- [HB 2: GENERAL APPROPRIATION ACT OF 2025](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB2-2025)
- [SB 45: COUNTY HEALTH CARE ASSISTANCE FUND USE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB45-2025)
- [SB 343: TEACHER SALARY RATES CHANGES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB343-2025)
- [SB 345: TEACHER & INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LICENSURE](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB345-2025)
- [SB 133: EDUCATIONAL RETIREES RETURNING TO WORK](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB133-2025)
- [HB 157: NEW SCHOOL LICENSES](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-HB157-2025)
- [New Mexico bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-mexico/bills)
- [New Mexico state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/new-mexico)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/NM-SB5-2025 (as of 2026-10-16).