Governor's partial veto of Game Commission bill leaves advocates mulling next steps

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed into law an overhaul of New Mexico’s Department of Game and Fish, but struck from the bill a provision making it harder to remove Game Commission members.

The partial veto could trigger a court challenge, with some advocates questioning the governor’s legal authority.

Lujan Grisham, who has removed several game commissioners since taking office in 2019, said in an executive message to lawmakers that the vetoed portion of the bill would cripple the seven-member commission.

“Given the many pressing matters addressed by district courts and the Supreme Court, it would take years to remove even the most blatantly incompetent or corrupt individuals — allowing those individuals to continue to hinder or corrupt the commission in the interim,” the governor wrote in her message.

Per the state Constitution, New Mexico governors are only able to partially veto — or line-item veto — spending bills.

But Lujan Grisham argued she has the authority to do so on the wildlife bill, Senate Bill 5, since it increases hunting and fishing license fees for New Mexicans and out-of-state residents.

If the governor’s veto is challenged in court, she said her signature on the rest of the bill would be nullified.

But backers of the legislation said they’re not convinced that’s true.

Jesse Deubel, the executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, called the governor’s veto “purely political” and questioned her authority to strike the provision.

“I’m not personally convinced that this bill is an appropriation bill,” Deubel told reporters.

But he also pointed out the bulk of the bill is still set to take effect by the end of 2026 with the governor’s signature, describing the legislation as the most sweeping overhaul of the state’s Game and Fish Department in the last 100 years or so.

This year’s bill marks the latest attempt to restructure the seven-member Game Commission, after the governor pocket-vetoed a 2023 bill that would have changed the way commission members are appointed.

This year’s proposal calls for the creation of a nominating committee to help vet new game commissioners, as is currently done for judicial vacancies.

It would also rebrand the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish as the state Department of Wildlife and give the agency expanded authority to regulate and protect New Mexico wildlife.

Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, one of the bill’s sponsors, said Thursday the governor was “thoughtful” to leave the rest of the legislation intact while targeting the commissioner removal provision with her veto pen.

“I never look at anything as a full defeat,” Campos told the Journal. “I look at it as an opportunity to move forward.”

Another bill sponsor, Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, described the governor’s veto of the game commissioner removal provision as disappointing, saying backers had worked hard to try to give commissioners more independence to do their jobs.

But he also said he was not itching for a court battle, saying, “I’m inclined to just move forward.”

Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham also signed two bills dealing with veterans on Thursday.

One of those measures, House Bill 47, expands a property tax exemption for veterans, after New Mexico voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on the proposal in November.

The other proposal, House Bill 161, will give New Mexico veterans free access to state parks, starting June 20.