A significant discussion unfolded during the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources meeting on September 19, 2025, as Candido Orchardo Archuleta, a representative from the New Mexico Land Grant Council, advocated for the Small Cemetery's Conveyance Act (H.R. 4284). This proposed legislation aims to return community cemeteries, currently managed by the federal government, back to local communities.

Archuleta emphasized the historical context of these cemeteries, which were established on lands granted by the Spanish Crown and Mexican government between 1693 and 1854. These lands served as vital communal spaces for local settlements, providing resources for personal and public use, including hunting, grazing, and community infrastructure. However, following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, many of these lands fell under federal control due to a lengthy and often corrupt adjudication process.

Today, at least 20 community cemeteries are located on federal lands in New Mexico, primarily within the U.S. Forest Service system. Archuleta outlined three ways these cemeteries came under federal management, highlighting the need for local communities to reclaim their sacred burial sites. The bill proposes a mechanism for transferring these cemeteries to qualifying government entities, including states, Indian tribes, and local governments, which would allow communities to manage and protect these important sites.

A key aspect of the bill is the provision allowing the Secretary of Agriculture to waive any costs associated with the land transfer, addressing concerns about charging communities for the return of their sacred spaces. Archuleta concluded by urging the committee to support the bill, underscoring the importance of local stewardship over these historically significant cemeteries. The committee's decision on this legislation could have lasting implications for community rights and heritage preservation in New Mexico.