Committee okays bill to channel wildlife-commission removals to governor and Supreme Court

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 104, a bill the sponsor described as the final step in reforms to depoliticize the State Wildlife Commission.

Senator Wirth said SB104 would give the governor the exclusive authority to initiate a removal process when statutory thresholds — incompetence, neglect of duty or malfeasance — are alleged, and would vest the Supreme Court with exclusive jurisdiction over removal proceedings. The language mirrors a process used for the Board of Regents, he said, and follows changes made in last year’s wildlife legislation.

Jesse Dubell of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and Judy Kelman of Audubon Southwest urged committee approval, telling members the changes would insulate wildlife-management decisions from political interference. Director Sloan of the relevant department said the department generally supports the bill and believes clearer tenure will improve wildlife policy.

Senators asked practical questions about implementation: whether three consecutive missed meetings that create a vacancy permit excused absences, how long current vacancies have persisted and whether the Supreme Court would be an appropriate forum for rare removal cases. Witnesses answered that excused absences historically exist and that the proposed standards mirror existing constitutional provisions for other state boards.

The committee adopted a motion to pass SB104 and the chair announced a "due pass" recommendation. The bill will move forward with the committee’s report.