Bill > HB29

This bill modifies New Mexico's existing landowner liability law to explicitly include special districts organized under Chapter 73 NMSA 1978 in the protections that currently apply to landowners and land controllers. Specifically, the bill expands the existing legal provisions that limit liability for landowners who allow people to use their property for recreational purposes without charging a fee. Under this amendment, special districts would now receive the same legal protections as individual landowners when they permit activities like hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, and other recreational uses on their lands. The law ensures that when such permission is granted without charge (except for governmental payments), the land controller does not automatically assume responsibility for visitors' safety or potential injuries. The bill clarifies that these special districts, like individual landowners, would not be extending an assurance of safety, assuming a duty of care, or becoming liable for injuries that might occur during permitted recreational activities. The legislation also preserves existing provisions that differentiate between free and paid access, maintaining the original legal framework while simply broadening its scope to include special districts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?chamber=H&legtype=B&legno=29&year=25