NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Game and Fish Department (NMGAFD) could soon be going by a new name, and that’s not the only change lawmakers are proposing. They’re also looking to hike hunting and fishing fees.

“This is an evolution of past efforts. This is the second discussion draft we’ve worked on during the interim; this won’t be the final bill,” said Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Santa Fe). The draft bill could mean a shakeup for New Mexico’s Department of Game and Fish, with three key parts.

“The first is an update and modernization of the department and the commission’s mission to be a broader wildlife agency,” McQueen explained. He said his goal is to give the department and the game commission the authority to handle any wildlife in New Mexico, not just game and fish, and this includes a name change to better reflect that mission.

“It [the bill] takes the current game commission and changes it to a wildlife commission; it changes the name of the department to the department of wildlife,” McQueen says.

The second part of the bill is reforming that commission, which governs hunting and fishing regulations and oversees the department. The bill overhauls how its members are nominated, who selects them, and how long they stay. It will still consist of seven members, but the bill clarifies who should hold the positions.

“It remains three at large positions; there are geographic and political party diversity requirements; and then it has four sort of position seats. Those include a rancher or farmer, a conservationist, a hunter or angler, and a scientist,” McQueen said

The third part has to do with financing, including figuring out state funding sources and raising the prices of hunting and fishing licenses; some by a few dollars, others by much more.

“I should note that they [the fees] haven’t been updated in 20 years. They’re set in statute, so they immediately, with inflation, they sort of get whittled away,” McQueen explained. The proposal also adds a provision for the fees to be adjusted with inflation going forward based on a calculation with the consumer price index (CPI).

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department says they’ve been working with the sponsors on the bill as it evolves. “There will be meetings and discussions between us and the sponsors of that bill as this process goes forward,” said Darren Vaughan, communications director for NMGAFD.

If the bill makes it through the Roundhouse, it could go into full effect by the end of 2026.

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Very windy weather is the big weather story this morning in the Land of Enchantment, but the Four Corners communities, accompanied with some fast-moving passing clouds with the less pesky westerly winds than the Northeast Highlands, are still experiencing some snow, as with the westerly winds mixing the air around before two fronts move completely through, morning low temperatures are much higher compared to yesterday morning, mostly above freezing for most, starting off in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s from northwest to southeast in lower elevation.

Afternoon temperatures will be mostly higher than yesterday in southern areas, except for the northern two-thirds of the region because of chilly rain activity moving southeast with mountain snow following suit while piling up. Cold front number one, the Pacific Front from the Northwest that’s responsible for the damaging down-sloping westerly winds causing power outages along the eastern slopes of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, will pick up to the southeast, with the movement of the first front dropping afternoon temperatures with strong-enough winds for more-widespread blowing dust and some blowing snow in the higher terrain with the elevated fire risk, also because of the still low humidity south of the precipitation field. Then, cold front number two, a backdoor front from the northeast, the tail-end of the departing storm system moving eastward, will bring in a reinforcing shot of colder air, pushing the precipitation field even farther to the southeast in the south-central higher elevations especially.

As the Jet Stream to the north moves southward in the northern tier of the region, more clouds with chilly rain showers in the valley floors, as well as some heavier mountain snow, will ensue today before Thanksgiving, as colder air with even lower humidity will return will much lighter winds.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Cars without drivers are making their way to New Mexico roads. But some advocates want to ensure people are safe.

“None of us are against the driverless ‘tech’; we just want to make sure it’s done right,” said Mike Sievers, a local attorney with experience in motor vehicle safety.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, there have been 130 crashes from 2021 to 2022 involving driverless cars. In 2021, New Mexico lawmakers passed a statute allowing self-driving vehicles to be tested on public roads, but with few requirements. One of those requirements is letting the NMDOT know about the testing just five days beforehand. Advocates told lawmakers they’d like to see a new bill passed with more teeth to it.

“There’s no doubt that that technology will advance someday, but as of right now, that technology isn’t at a point to where it’s safe for New Mexico highways,” they told lawmakers.

Some companies like Torc Robotics in Albuquerque are testing self-driving semi trucks on I-40 and I-25. Advocates want stronger regulation to include having a human on board to monitor the self-driving technology, requiring proof of risk minimization to the public, and the submission of safety data to the state. However, some are still skeptical about that data.

“Some of the data that these companies are going to present aren’t necessarily accurate to the fact of the real-world situation,” said one advocate. “They test these on sunny days; they don’t test them during snowstorms.”

Advocates also touched on the impact the growth of autonomous vehicles can have on the New Mexico workforce. “The job impact for this state, this is a poor state, and these are high-paying jobs,” said Tracy McCarty, a former long-haul driver whose family also owned a local trucking company here.

They also suggested lawmakers create separate legislation to support the changes in the workforce. They suggested creating a workforce recovery fund that would provide financial support and job training opportunities to workers who lose their jobs to driverless vehicles. They also suggest creating a driver displacement severance clause requiring companies to provide resources for displaced workers due to the changing technology.

“These are jobs that cover families with insurance, and just a standard of living, a lot of people in this state don’t have pensions for life. These are things the state can’t afford to lose,” said McCarty.