Senate committee advances bill giving local review of large fences on Sangre de Cristo land grant

The Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on April 17 advanced House Bill 10 23 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation as amended, following testimony from local residents, state wildlife officials and conservation groups about an extensive, high fence constructed on La Sierra in the Sangre de Cristo land grant.

Senator Chris Simpson (opening sponsor) said the bill "is really about a story and a sense of place" and described the measure as permissive — giving county commissioners the option to require local review for certain large fencing projects that may affect wildlife movement, erosion and historic access rights. "The bill is really, essentially permissive as well," Simpson said, adding the measure would apply to fences more than 5 feet tall that enclose an area over a mile long or form an unbroken line longer than half a mile.

Co-sponsor Senator Faith Gonzales framed the bill in historical context, recounting the Sangre de Cristo land grant history and legal decisions dating to the 19th century. Gonzales reminded the committee of the 19th-century Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and noted court…