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Committee backs simplifying veterans’ state‑park camping passes; sponsor asks to roll bill to next hearing
Summary
A proposal to simplify New Mexico veterans’ access to State Parks camping passes won support at the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee; the sponsor asked to roll final action to next Tuesday so staff can refine administration and fiscal estimates.
A bill introduced to simplify New Mexico veterans’ access to State Parks camping passes drew broad support in the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee; the sponsor asked the committee to roll final action to next Tuesday so staff and the parks director can reconcile fiscal estimates and administrative details.
Sponsor Representative Dowell said the existing rule gives three nights of free primitive camping to veterans who verify a 50 percent or greater service‑connected disability; the bill would instead allow eligible veterans to request an annual camping pass and remove the paperwork burden currently handled by state parks staff. “This is a pretty tiny price toward our behavioral health package,” the sponsor said, describing outdoor access as therapeutic for many veterans and families.
Joan Dickerson of the Veterans and Military Families Caucus testified in support and questioned the fiscal‑impact assumption in the fiscal information report (FIR), which estimated a revenue loss of $361,800 if all veterans used the benefit. Dickerson noted that more than half of New Mexico veterans are age 65 or older and that actual usage of overnight camping is likely lower than the FIR’s base assumption.
The Department of Veterans Services, represented by Deputy Cabinet Secretary Eric James, also supported the bill. Committee members asked about verification procedures, administrative burden on State Parks and how the program would be administered at gates or online. The sponsor and the parks director agreed to work with staff to simplify verification and to update the FIR before the next committee meeting.
Action: Sponsor requested the bill be rolled to next Tuesday for additional drafting and fiscal follow‑up; the committee approved the request.
End: The bill had broad support from veterans’ organizations and the Department of Veterans Services; committee action was postponed to allow the sponsor and agency staff to resolve implementation details and update fiscal estimates.
