2019 SCORECARD CHANGING LAWS TO CHANGE ANIMALS’ LIVES IN NEW MEXICO A WIN FOR THE WILD AND FREE For years, the resilient coyote seemed doomed to forever suffer in grotesque killing contests in New Mexico. But together, we defied the odds and put a stop to these body-count competitions. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE: Ì The Power of the People Ì Roxy: In Memoriam Ì Senator Udall’s Animal Protection Legacy CONTENTS 3 Letter from the Director 2019 STATE LEGISLATION IMPACTING ANIMALS 4 Legislative Session Summary and Analysis 5 Victories for Animals 6 Other Pro-Animal Bills Not Passed 7 Anti-Animal Bills 8 2019 Animal Protection Champions 10 The Power of The People 12 How to Read and Use This Scorecard SCORES 13 New Mexico State Senate 14 New Mexico State House 16 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2019 Record 16 Legislature Dedicates Dollars for Animals 17 New Land Commissioner Leads the Way for Animals 18 Senator Tom Udall: A Champion for Animals 19 Roxy: In Memoriam 2 ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS 2019 SCORECARD Photo this page by Borna Bevanda/Unsplash Letter from the Director PO Box 11651 Albuquerque, NM 87192 Dear Animal Protection Voter, 505-265-2322 [email protected] The 2019 legislative session marked the A New Mexico Senate study showed that a www.apvnm.org beginning of what we hope is a new era of modest increase in the registration fee paid meaningful, fundamental change for domestic for by dog/cat food manufacturers represents Editors and wild animals in our state. The change the most feasible funding mechanism for spay Elisabeth Jennings couldn’t be more welcome. and neuter services. When passed and fully Jessica Johnson implemented, this mechanism will generate Indeed, after three previous attempts to pass a about $1.1 million for these services every year. ban on coyote killing contests—in 2013, 2015, Design The funding will be distributed by the New and 2017—the ban passed in the 2019 session Jessi Princiotto Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine, with with tremendous public support and was advice and input from the Animal Sheltering signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. Contributing Writers Committee. Three other states—Maine, If anyone needs a reminder about the power Laura Bonar Maryland, and West Virginia—have successfully and importance of elections—in this case, New Dorothee Hutchinson implemented the funding mechanism proposed Mexico’s 2018 elections, which ushered in Elisabeth Jennings for New Mexico, and they have seen a dramatic numerous new animal-friendly policymakers— Jessica Johnson decrease in dog and cat euthanasia, while then this bill is that stark reminder. New Jessi Princiotto seeing no noticeable impact on dog and cat Mexico became only the third state so far to Marisa Sleeter food variety and cost. ban coyote killing contests. Alexandria Tarantino This pragmatic approach deserves a chance Animal Protection Voters’ resilient lobby team to succeed here, too. With your help, we will Board of Directors and army of volunteers were as engaged as work to pass this bill in 2020. Thank you for Robert Schutz, President ever in the 2019 session, as we collectively helping us continue to build momentum for David Holland, Secretary evaluated, tracked, and lobbied on 36 pieces of fundamental change that will save tens of Jim Corcoran legislation. When the gavel dropped at the end thousands of animals’ lives each year, just with Scott Fuqua of the 60-day session, we all exhaled heavily, that one bill alone. Danielle Wilson gave thanks for the progress we made for Trish Hernandez, Advisory animals this year, and returned to our homes, Sincerely yours, Patti Bushee, Advisory families, and companion animals to recuperate Robanne Harrison, Advisory from the overwhelming demands of the past several months. We would get some rest Animal Protection Voters’ and then begin anew to prepare for the 2020 Mission is to: legislative session. Elisabeth Jennings • actively promote and Executive Director support animal-friendly Animal Protection Voters is already legislation at the local, state, implementing plans for success in the 2020 and federal levels; legislative session with our high-priority bill • build an effective political to establish a robust, sustainable funding voice for animal advocacy in mechanism for spay/neuter services in New New Mexico; and Mexico. This bill is an absolute imperative for the wellbeing of dogs and cats in communities • hold accountable New throughout the state, but particularly in low- Mexico’s elected and income and rural communities that struggle appointed officials on to access and afford dog and cat spay/neuter animal issues. services. Printing donated in part by Robert Rodriguez/Paper Tiger, Santa Fe Cover photo by J E Newman Photography ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS 2019 SCORECARD 3 2019 LEGISLATIVE SESSION SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS An exhausting legislative session ended with a huge victory and positive steps forward…but left many battles unfinished. The 2019 state legislative session—which spanned from mid-January to mid-March—was one of the BY THE END OF THE SESSION: 309 BILLS passed the most grueling sessions in recent years. The previous Legislature and reached the Governor’s desk. year’s elections opened the floodgates for many issues The Governor signed into law: that had languished during prior sessions. The crucial changes in the State House and Governor’s office 1 BILL APV priority also set the stage for passage of long-pursued Animal 3 BILLS APV supported Protection Voters’ legislative priorities. and 0 anti-animal bills ALL 1,663 BILLS, MEMORIALS, and RESOLUTIONS However, many other pro-animal bills stalled in the introduced in the 2019 legislative session were Legislature—including several that passed just one reviewed by APV with help from our volunteers. or two years ago, but were vetoed by the former Of those measures: Governor—meaning these fights will likely continue in the immediate future. were monitored for impact on animals 36 BILLS All in all, the 2019 legislative session gave us reason to 22 BILLS were actively supported rejoice—and to celebrate and thank our supporters who make this work possible. 4 BILLS were major APV priorities As committee and floor session schedules quickly THE 2019 AVERAGE LEGISLATOR SCORE: became erratic and lasted long into the night, Animal Protection Voters lobbyists were in the midst of it, HOUSE SENATE putting an outrageous number of hours into pushing for 74% 70% humane policies in the Roundhouse. Photo: J E Newman Photography 4 ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS 2019 SCORECARD 2019 STATE LEGISLATION: VICTORIES FOR ANIMALS Senate Bill 76 (Prohibit Coyote Killing crossings and other human barriers that pose a risk to wildlife migration, and development of a list of projects Contests) Sponsors: Sen. Mark Moores (R-Albuquerque) & that minimize habitat fragmentation, allow for safe wildlife Sen. Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces) passage, and increase public safety. Since legislation was first introduced in 2013 to ban egregious coyote killing competitions, Animal Protection Senate Bill 234 (Pollinator Protection Voters has been on the frontlines working to pass this License Plate) measure. Under the steadfast leadership of Senators Sponsor: Sen. Sander Rue (R-Albuquerque) Moores and Steinborn, the hard work paid off and the This bill created a new special license plate in support of bill passed the Legislature and was later signed by the pollinator protection, and $15 from the initial registration Governor. and from each renewal of these plates will be transferred The bill took effect July 1, 2019, making it unlawful for to the NMDOT for pollinator protection activities, such a person to organize, cause, sponsor, arrange, hold or as roadside vegetation planting, educational signage, and participate in a coyote killing contest. This is a huge win for demonstration gardens. coyotes, and is the culmination of a long-fought campaign since Animal Protection Voters first documented a coyote killing contest in 2000 in southwestern New Mexico. Senate Bill 383 (Game Commission Fair For years, at least 20 to 30 contests were held annually Chase Rulemaking) in regions throughout New Mexico where participants Sponsor: Sen. Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas) competed for prizes by attempting to kill the most, largest, This bill amended the State Game Commission’s powers and smallest coyotes over a weekend. We all can rejoice to include rulemaking that embodies the principles of fair that with the passage of this bill, horrific coyote killing chase and allows the NMDGF to promulgate rules on use contests are now a thing of the past in our state. of certain technology data (such as GPS collar locations) acquired from public information requests in order to prevent individuals from unfairly using that data to locate Senate Bill 228 (Wildlife Corridors Act) and kill those vulnerable animals. Sponsor: Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) This bill directed the New Mexico Department of Game Animal Protection Voters Priority Bill and Fish (NMDGF) and the New Mexico Department of KEY Transportation (NMDOT) to develop a Wildlife Corridors Counts towards legislators’ scores Action Plan to include identification of existing highway Photo: J E Newman Photography ANIMAL PROTECTION VOTERS 2019 SCORECARD 5 2019 STATE LEGISLATION: OTHER PRO-ANIMAL BILLS NOT PASSED House Bill 52 (Harm to Companion Animals as balanced, diverse, and less politically volatile agency that Domestic Abuse) better reflects the state’s wildlife constituency. It passed the House but was tabled in the Senate Rules Committee. Sponsor: Rep. Joanne Ferrary (D-Las Cruces) This bill would have amended the Family Violence Protection Act to include the act or threat of harm to a House Bill 366 (Wildlife Protection & companion animal as domestic abuse. It passed the House Public Safety Act) a.k.a. “Roxy’s Law” but died without a Senate hearing. Sponsors: Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Galisteo), Rep.