SB 104 New Mexico Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REMOVAL OF WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEMBERS

SB 104 establishes a formal process for removing appointed members of New Mexico's State Wildlife Commission. It allows removal only for incompetence, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office, requiring the governor to provide written notice, a hearing opportunity, and the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. This bill directly affects current and future commission members, who must now meet due process standards before removal. The Supreme Court would have exclusive authority to review removal decisions, making its ruling final. The changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Signed into Law

Feb 2026

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Signed Feb 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → Final Version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly restructures the State Wildlife Commission by changing how members are appointed, defining specific qualifications for each of the seven positions, and establishing clear removal procedures. The changes aim to ensure diverse representation including ranchers, conservationists, hunters, anglers, and scientists while adding protections against arbitrary removal.

Scope change

The bill expands the commission's composition requirements and formalizes the removal process, making it applicable to all current and future commissioners with stricter eligibility criteria and term limits.

ELIGIBILITY

Commission membership now requires specific qualifications tied to seven positions: at-large members, a rancher/farmer, a conservationist, a hunter/angler, and a scientist with advanced degrees.

Added ineligibility provision preventing appointment of individuals who changed party affiliation in the previous four years, with limited exceptions for voting purposes.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement that at least one member must be from a federally recognized Indian nation, tribe, or pueblo in New Mexico.

Added term limits: commissioners can serve no more than two terms after January 1, 2027, with partial terms counting as full terms unless under one year.

Added nonvoting advisory members including directors from outdoor recreation, agriculture, public lands, and Indian affairs departments.

ENFORCEMENT

Established formal removal procedures requiring notice, a hearing, and judicial appeal through the Supreme Court for incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date to January 1, 2027, and removed references to a 2025 act.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026 · House Feb 14, 2026

How they voted

33–0

Passed · 5 other

Total votes 38

Feb 11, 2026

D Democratic22

19 Yea 3

86% Yea

R Republican16

14 Yea 2

87% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 24, 2026

Signed into law

Law Without Signature

executive

Feb 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

passed House

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Introduced

Sent to House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee

lower

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Sent to Senate Committees' Committee & Senate Rules Committee & Senate Judiciary Committee

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors