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House extends pet‑food fee program amid litigation and debate over impacts
Summary
Lawmakers voted to remove the sunset on the state pet‑food fee that funds a spay/neuter grant program, preserving roughly $5 million collected so far and the program’s grantmaking. Supporters said the program funded about 5,000 surgeries in its first grant round; opponents warned of ongoing litigation and argued the fee functions like a tax with market effects.
The New Mexico House voted to remove the sunset on the pet‑food fee that funds a spay‑and‑neuter assistance program, approving Senate Bill 38 after several hours of debate. The vote on final passage was 53 in favor and 11 opposed.
Supporters said the program has produced measurable funding for rural and low‑income areas. The sponsor told the House that the program has collected roughly $5 million to date and that a first grant round disbursed about $1 million in October…
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