State of New Mexico
House of Representatives
Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House
Ken Martinez, House Majority Leader
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                  Contact: Susan Tungate  505-577-8132 February 25, 2009                                                                                                      Victoria Chavez 646-241-5335                                              
Rep. Nathan Cote’s Bill Which Incorporates Into Law Attorney General’s Opinion Concerning
State Land Office Leases Passes House Energy & Natural Resources Committee

Santa Fe, NM-In an effort to make New Mexico State Land Office lease transactions meet the intent of the Enabling Act and state law according to an Attorney General’s Opinion, Rep. Nathan P. Cote (D-Las Cruces) introduced HB 607-State Land Lessee Improvement Requirements, which passed the House Energy & Natural Resources Committee today by a vote of 8 to 5.  The bill clarifies current law pertaining to the sale or lease of state lands upon which there are improvements belonging to another person and requiring payment of compensation to that owner only for tangible improvements.

Said Rep. Cote, “HB607 was previously tabled in this Committee after the State Land Commissioner stated his strong opposition to the bill.  I am pleased to see this bill move forward since it incorporates into law the Attorney General’s previous opinion on the evaluation of development leases.  HB 607 clarifies how improvement leases are to be evaluated.”

The bill now goes to the House Health and Government Affairs Committee for review.