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New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act

USA119th CongressS-1363| Senate 
| Updated: 12/17/2025
Ben Ray Luján

Ben Ray Luján

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act," seeks to foster greater cooperation and coordination between federal agencies and the governing bodies and community users of qualified land grant-mercedes in New Mexico. Its primary goal is to facilitate the continuation of historical or traditional uses on Federal public land, which are defined as long-established, noncommercial activities like gathering herbs, wood, or flora, grazing, subsistence hunting, and maintaining existing infrastructure. A central provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture or the Interior to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New Mexico Land Grant Council within two years. This MOU will detail processes for obtaining permits and land use authorizations for traditional uses, describe potential fee reductions or waivers based on socioeconomic conditions, and outline procedures for routine maintenance and minor improvements of infrastructure used by land grant-mercedes on federal land. The bill also mandates that federal land use plans consider and evaluate the impact of other uses on these historical or traditional practices. Importantly, the legislation clarifies that it does not modify, limit, or expand any existing treaty-reserved rights or obligations to Indian Tribes, nor does it affect state authority over water or game management, or create any new implicit or explicit rights to federal land use.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4271
New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2785
Introduced in House
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Dec 17, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4271
    New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2785
    Introduced in House


  • April 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.


  • December 17, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2785: New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
Advisory bodiesCemeteries and funeralsGovernment information and archivesInfrastructure developmentLand use and conservationLicensing and registrationsLivestockNew MexicoRoads and highwaysUser charges and feesWater storage

New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act

USA119th CongressS-1363| Senate 
| Updated: 12/17/2025
This bill, titled the "New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act," seeks to foster greater cooperation and coordination between federal agencies and the governing bodies and community users of qualified land grant-mercedes in New Mexico. Its primary goal is to facilitate the continuation of historical or traditional uses on Federal public land, which are defined as long-established, noncommercial activities like gathering herbs, wood, or flora, grazing, subsistence hunting, and maintaining existing infrastructure. A central provision requires the Secretary of Agriculture or the Interior to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the New Mexico Land Grant Council within two years. This MOU will detail processes for obtaining permits and land use authorizations for traditional uses, describe potential fee reductions or waivers based on socioeconomic conditions, and outline procedures for routine maintenance and minor improvements of infrastructure used by land grant-mercedes on federal land. The bill also mandates that federal land use plans consider and evaluate the impact of other uses on these historical or traditional practices. Importantly, the legislation clarifies that it does not modify, limit, or expand any existing treaty-reserved rights or obligations to Indian Tribes, nor does it affect state authority over water or game management, or create any new implicit or explicit rights to federal land use.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-4271
New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
Apr 9, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-2785
Introduced in House
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Apr 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Dec 2, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.
Dec 17, 2025
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-4271
    New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act


  • April 9, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-2785
    Introduced in House


  • April 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • April 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


  • December 2, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held.


  • December 17, 2025
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Ben Ray Luján

Ben Ray Luján

Democratic Senator

New Mexico

Public Lands, Forests, and Mining Subcommittee, Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Related Bills

  • HR 119-2785: New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Advisory bodiesCemeteries and funeralsGovernment information and archivesInfrastructure developmentLand use and conservationLicensing and registrationsLivestockNew MexicoRoads and highwaysUser charges and feesWater storage