Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance
committees of the Legislature. LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they
are used for other purposes.
F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Reps. Dow, Martinez, A., Lujan and
Sariñana
/Sen. Block
LAST UPDATED
ORIGINAL DATE 1/29/25
SHORT TITLE
State Park Da
y Passes for Veterans
BILL
NUMBER House Bill 161
ANALYST Davidson
REVENUE*
(dollars in thousands)
Type FY25 FY26 FY27 FY28 FY29
Recurring or
Nonrecurring
Fund
Affected
Park Fee
Revenue
$361.8 $361.8 $361.8 $361.8 Recurring
State Park’s
Operating
Budget
Parentheses ( ) indicate revenue decreases.
*Amounts reflect most recent analysis of this legislation.
Sources of Information
LFC Files
Agency Analysis Received From
Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD)
Because of the short timeframe between the introduction of this bill and its first hearing, LFC has
yet to receive analysis from the Department of Veteran Services. This analysis could be updated
if that analysis is received.
SUMMARY
Synopsis of House Bill 161
House Bill 161 (HB161) would require the State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and
Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) to provide a one-day use state park pass and one
camping state park pass, each for unlimited use, for New Mexico veterans.
The bill also adds new language defining a New Mexican veteran as a New Mexico resident who
was regularly enlisted, drafted, inducted or commissioned in the armed forces, reserves, National
Guard, U.S. Public Health Service commissioned corps, or National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration commissioned officer corps and was honorably discharged.
This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect 90 days after the
Legislature adjourns if enacted, or June 20, 2025.
House Bill 161 – Page 2
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
Agency analysis from EMNRD noted the State Parks generate approximately 75 percent of their
operating budget through revenue from state park fees, recently increased after 25 years of
remaining flat. Part of the new park fee update was developing a new annual camping pass for
New Mexico veterans and active-duty military. This new pass price of $150 a year is the same as
for senior and disabled annual camping passes costs at $150 per year.
The amount of revenue loss to the State Parks Division that would result from HB161 is
impossible to calculate because it would require knowing how much visitation revenue is
currently attributable to veterans and members of gold star families. EMNRD does not collect
demographic data to show the proportion of state park visitors who fall into either category.
According to the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS), roughly 142 thousand veterans live
in New Mexico, with veterans making up around 6.7 percent of the state’s population. If veterans
also account for the same percentage of state park visitors, providing free park passes to veterans
could result in a revenue loss of $361.8 thousand, using State Park’s total generated revenue
from park visitation of $5.4 million in FY24.
EMNRD basis its estimate of fiscal impact, which is not reflected in the impact table, not on how
much revenue would be lost if it could not charge for a share of its existing day-use and camping
passes, but on the revenue it would forgo by not being able to charge new veteran customers, or
what it calls the “negative financial impact on the [state park’] ability to generate new revenue.”
Using a range of 5 to 20 percent of the state’s veteran population multiplied by the $75 cost of a
day pass and $150 value of an annual camping pass, the department estimates forgone revenue of
$531.5 thousand to $2.1 million from day passes and $1 million to $4.2 million unrealized
income from camping passes.
SIGNIFICANT ISSUES
Analysis from EMNRD notes it currently provides free annual day-use passes and three free
nights of camping to all New Mexican resident veterans, providing an average of 7,800 passes of
this nature annually. Analysis from EMNRD further noted the State Parks process it currently
uses of provided the free passes already available requires DVS to certify the veterans who
qualify for benefits. Due to the DVS not providing an option for veterans to update their personal
status, such as change of mailing address or when a veteran is deceased, State Park’s receives on
average 10 percent of its annual free passes back.
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