HOUSE RESOLUTION 1

57th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2026

INTRODUCED BY

Andrea Romero and Marianna Anaya

A RESOLUTION

CREATING AND EMPOWERING A SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND PUBLIC CORRUPTION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECURING INFORMATION TO DETERMINE WHETHER LEGISLATION OR OTHER LEGISLATIVE ACTION IS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE FOR SAFETY AND WELFARE OR TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

     WHEREAS, "Zorro ranch" was the name of a private estate located in Santa Fe county consisting of approximately ten thousand acres of real property, which included public land leaseholds; and

     WHEREAS, Zorro ranch and the persons who owned Zorro ranch between 1993 and 2023 have been the subjects of great public concern since at least 2019; however, previous legislatures have not responded to this great public concern; and

     WHEREAS, members of the house of representatives reported to the interim courts, corrections and justice committee about allegations the members received that Zorro ranch was an instrumentality of serious criminal activity that was not investigated, prosecuted or otherwise acted upon by state or local officers before potential investigations, prosecutions or other actions were time barred pursuant to state law; and

     WHEREAS, the house of representatives is concerned that the failure to investigate the alleged criminal activity at Zorro ranch and the risk of potential consequences of that activity continue to affect the safety and welfare of the state and that continued legislative inaction threatens public confidence in state government; and

     WHEREAS, Article 4, Section 2 of the constitution of New Mexico vests the legislature with all powers necessary to the legislature of a free state, which include the indispensable power of inquiry, through which either chamber of the legislature may conduct investigative procedures to secure information necessary to legislate, to provide general oversight of the administration of government, the expenditure of public money and the use of public resources and to exercise particular enumerated powers and duties; and

     WHEREAS, as an example of the particular enumerated powers and duties of the legislature, Article 4, Section 35 of the constitution of New Mexico vests the house of representatives with the sole power of impeachment, which confers a unique duty to oversee the conduct of state officers and compels the investigation of allegations of misconduct; and

     WHEREAS, with each chamber of the legislature having the power to determine the rules for the chamber's own procedures in accordance with Article 4, Section 11 of the constitution of New Mexico, it is for the house of representatives to decide whether to exercise the power of inquiry, the time and place at which the power will be exercised and the manner in which the power will be exercised;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the speaker appoint a special committee of the house of representatives consisting of two members from the majority party and two members from the minority party and designate a chair from among the appointed members, and that the committee investigate Zorro ranch and the related allegations of criminal activity to determine whether legislation or other legislative action is needed to:

          A. prevent and properly punish crime;

          B. protect children and other vulnerable persons;

          C. establish sufficient procedures for securing civil justice;

          D. ensure proper use and stewardship of public money and resources; and

          E. provide for public accountability; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be vested with all necessary powers and process, including the powers to conduct hearings, compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths and issue subpoenas, and that the committee be authorized to function after the legislature adjourns sine die; provided that the committee shall not function after December 31, 2026; and provided further that process for the committee shall be issued by the chair and, while the legislature is in session, such process shall be served by the sergeant-at-arms and enforced by the house of representatives and, after the legislature adjourns, such process shall be enforced in any court with jurisdiction over the process and shall be in compliance with the applicable rules of the court; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the chief clerk of the house of representatives provide staff for the committee while the legislature is in session and that the legislative council service be requested to provide staff for the committee after the legislature adjourns but, subject to the availability of funding, the committee may retain additional staff, including legal counsel, during the time the committee is properly functioning; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee keep records of its work, furnish an interim report to the leadership of the house of representatives on or before July 31, 2026 and furnish a final report to all members of the house of representatives on or before December 31, 2026 that includes a description of the investigative procedures carried out by the committee, the findings and conclusions the committee made through carrying out those procedures and the committee's recommendations; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, the New Mexico legislative council and the director of the legislative council service.

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