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SENATE BILL 56
57TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 2025
INTRODUCED BY
Pat Woods
AN ACT
RELATING TO LIVESTOCK; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE LIVESTOCK
CODE; RESTRICTING ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION DURING AN
EPIDEMIC.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. A new section of The Livestock Code, Section
77-3-13.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"77-3-13.1. [NEW MATERIAL ] RESTRICTIONS ON INFORMATION
ACCESS.--
A. When the board or any of its authorized
representatives finds pursuant to Section 77-3-13 NMSA 1978
that a disease has become epidemic or exists in a locality in a
country, state or territory beyond the limits of this state,
the board or any of its authorized representatives may deny
access to the following information regarding persons involved
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with the livestock industry if the dissemination of such
information would cause harm to such persons or would be
contrary to the public interest:
(1) specific operational details of livestock
operations, including:
(a) ownership, numbers, locations and
movements of livestock;
(b) financial information;
(c) the purchase and sale of livestock;
(d) account numbers or unique
identifiers issued by government or private entities;
(e) operational protocols; and
(f) participation in an all-hazards
security system;
(2) information related to livestock disease
or injury that:
(a) would identify a person or location;
or
(b) contains confidential data pursuant
to the veterinarian-patient-client privilege pursuant to
Subsection S of Section 16.25.3.8 NMAC; and
(3) records of ongoing investigations that
pertain to livestock.
B. Information shall not be withheld pursuant to
Subsection A of this section if an investigation by the board
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has concluded and the person being investigated is found by the
board or its authorized representatives to have violated any
provision of The Livestock Code that pertains to livestock.
C. If access to information is denied pursuant to
Subsection A of this section, the board or any of its
authorized representatives shall redact confidential
information and make the remaining information available for
disclosure.
D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
authorize the board or any of its authorized representatives to
obtain information not otherwise permitted by law.
E. Nothing in this section shall:
(1) preclude a person in interest from
accessing the person's own information;
(2) prevent the release of biological
livestock samples to authorized third-party entities for
scientific testing, so long as the testing entity agrees to
maintain the confidentiality of the information it receives; or
(3) apply when the board or its authorized
representatives determine that disclosure of livestock
information is necessary to prevent or address an immediate
threat to the health and safety of a person or animal.
F. When disclosing information pursuant to
Subsection E of this section, the board or its authorized
representatives shall release only as much information as is
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necessary to address the situation."
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