Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee adds Santa Cruz de la Cañada land grant to statute authorizing political‑subdivision status
Summary
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance SB47, adding the Santa Cruz de la Cañada land grant to the statute listing land grants eligible for recognition as political subdivisions.
The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced SB47 by due‑pass. The bill adds the Santa Cruz de la Cañada land grant (also spelled with an ñ) to the statutory list of recognized land grants that may exercise certain powers as a political subdivision. Sponsor Senator Jaramillo and representatives of the land grant described its history and governance structure: heirs elect a five‑member board, and the grant holds roughly 4,600 acres today of an original approximately 46,600 acres granted in the colonial era.
Representative witnesses included the land grant’s president Don Bustos and its secretary Brian Martinez, who described monthly meetings and biennial elections for the board. The Land Grant Council’s expert witness, Arturo Archuleta, and the state Land Office registered support. Committee members asked routine governance questions; senators offered a friendly amendment to correct orthography (inserting the Spanish ñ in Cañada) and the measure received a due‑pass recommendation without recorded opposition.
Action: Committee approved a due‑pass recommendation; bill will proceed to subsequent legislative action.
