House committee advances land-grant recognition, building-conversion tax credit and adopted-children access bills

A New Mexico House committee voted to advance three bills: Senate Bill 47 to recognize the Santa Cruz De La Cañada land grant as a political subdivision; House Bill 571 to establish a certification and tax-credit framework to encourage converting aging commercial buildings into housing; and House Bill 576 to provide adopted children free admission to state-owned museums, state parks camping passes and fishing licenses. All three measures received due-pass recommendations from the committee.

The actions matter because they change who is recognized as a political subdivision, propose a new state incentive to increase housing supply through building reuse, and extend cost-saving benefits to adopted children and their families.

Senate Bill 47: land-grant recognition

Senator [name not specified] introduced SB 47 and said the measure would place the Santa Cruz De La Cañada land grant into statute to “recognize them as the political subdivision by local units of government and at the federal and state agencies, as well as other local governments.” Don Bustos, president of the land grant group, told the committee the land grant has met statutory requirements and asked the committee to recognize it: “We believe we've met all the statue requirements that are mandated by the state to become a political subdivision of the state.” Arturo Archuleta of the New Mexico Land Grant Council and Secretary Brian Martinez also participated as witnesses.

There was no public opposition in the hearing. Vice Chair Deuce Sanchez moved a due-pass recommendation, Representative Mason seconded it, and the committee recorded a due pass on SB 47.

House Bill 571: building-conversion tax credit and local technical support

House Bill 571, described by its sponsors as a program to help convert aging commercial spaces into residential units, drew the most public comment. Sponsors described the bill as an optional certification and incentive framework rather than a preemption of local land-use authority.

Daniel Werwath of the Office of Housing told the committee the bill would promote “best practices for the state around land use and zoning” and described the variation in approval timetables across New Mexico: “The cost of that compared to getting a project approved in say Roswell in a year or 18 months is $80,000 a unit.” He said the program is optional and framed as support for local governments, not a mandate: “This is an optional thing. It's a certification. It's not any preemption of local rights.” He also noted existing appropriations: the office and other appropriations in House Bill 2 include funds that could cover administrative needs.

Supporters who testified in the hearing included Roger Valdez of the Center for Housing Economics, a coalition of seven local governments represented by Ken Hughes, the New Mexico Association of Realtors represented by lobbyist Kent Cravens, Mark Duran of the New Mexico Manufactured Housing Association, the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, community planner Carlos Camorra, and Peter Ives, a former Santa Fe city councilor. Testimony emphasized the bill’s potential to speed approvals and incentivize reuse of well-located but aging buildings. Witnesses urged state guidance and technical assistance to local governments.

Committee members asked whether the bill carried an appropriation and whether the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) would need additional staff. Representative Mason noted his analysis indicated DFA might need “another project manager for about a hundred and 9,000.” Werwath answered that existing appropriations for the Office of Housing in House Bill 2 include funding to support work under this bill.

Representative concerns and clarifications included questions about manufactured and modular housing as part of the regulatory framework; Vice Chair Deuce Sanchez pressed whether modular or manufactured housing would be supported or restricted, and Werwath said regulatory review would include modular/manufactured housing as part of possible solutions to the state's housing shortage. The sponsors and witnesses emphasized the bill’s role as a facilitation and guidance mechanism for local governments rather than a statewide mandate.

The committee recorded a due pass on House Bill 571 following a roll call showing unanimous in-room support.

House Bill 576: benefits for adopted children

Representative Colin (presenting) described House Bill 576 as extending to adopted children the same free access currently available to foster children: free admission to state-owned museums, state parks camping passes and fishing licenses. Barbara Yell, a foster and adoptive parent and member of the governor’s CYFD policy advisory council, testified in support and described the measure as a small fiscal cost with “huge encouragement and opportunity” for adoptive families.

Committee members asked about implementation details that would be handled in rulemaking, including how eligibility would be proven and whether age limits or identification requirements would be necessary. Sponsors and members agreed that such implementation specifics would be resolved in rulemaking if the bill advanced. Committee discussion also noted existing provisions: members said that foster children already receive these benefits, and committee testimony referenced that five of the state’s eight museums already offer free admission to children 16 and younger and that state parks are free to residents from Oct. 1 to April 30; those implementation details will be clarified during rulemaking.

A due-pass motion for HB 576 was made by Representative Gonzalez and seconded by Representative Mason; the committee approved the recommendation.

Votes at a glance

- SB 47 (Santa Cruz De La Cañada land grant recognition): Motion — due pass; mover — Vice Chair Deuce Sanchez; second — Representative Mason; outcome — due pass (no in-room opposition reported).

- HB 571 (building-conversion certification and tax-credit framework): Motion — due pass; mover — Representative Gonzales; second — Vice Chair Deuce Sanchez; outcome — due pass (roll call recorded unanimous in-room support).

- HB 576 (free admission and licenses for adopted children): Motion — due pass; mover — Representative Gonzalez; second — Representative Mason; outcome — due pass (no in-room opposition reported).

The committee adjourned and said it would reconvene Tuesday with additional bills on the agenda.