0001|                           HOUSE MEMORIAL 5
    |
0002|     43RD LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 1998
    |
0003|                            INTRODUCED BY
    |
0004|                            JOSE R. ABEYTA
    |
0005|     
    |
0006|                                   
    |
0007|     
    |
0008|     
    |
0009|     
    |
0010|                              A MEMORIAL
    |
0011|     REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE AN
    |
0012|     INTERIM LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE TO STUDY LAND GRANTS IN NEW
    |
0013|     MEXICO.
    |
0014|     
    |
0015|          WHEREAS, New Mexico has a unique history in the
    |
0016|     acquisition of land due to the substantial number of Spanish
    |
0017|     and Mexican land grants that were an integral part of the
    |
0018|     colonization and growth of this area of the country; and
    |
0019|          WHEREAS, various provisions of the treaties signed under
    |
0020|     prior sovereigns have not yet been fully implemented in the
    |
0021|     spirit of Article 6 of the constitution of the United States;
    |
0022|     and
    |
0023|          WHEREAS, serious questions still exist about prior
    |
0024|     ownership, particularly about certain public lands; and
    |
0025|          WHEREAS, there are numerous land grants throughout the
    |
<center>- 1 -</center>

0001|     state with different concerns and issues that need to be
    |
0002|     heard; and
    |
0003|          WHEREAS, the legislature could take action to assist land
    |
0004|     grant heirs to balance the demands of the traditional ways of
    |
0005|     life with the changes introduced by a growing population and
    |
0006|     advanced technology;
    |
0007|          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF
    |
0008|     REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico
    |
0009|     legislative council be requested to create a legislative
    |

0010|     interim committee to:
    |
0011|               A.  study existing law regarding land grants and
    |
0012|     develop legislation to improve existing law;
    |
0013|               B.  gather testimony from land grant heirs from
    |
0014|     across New Mexico to acquire an understanding of the issues
    |
0015|     and concerns facing them; and  
    |
0016|               C.  gather testimony from other community groups
    |
0017|     and state agencies to understand the relationship between land
    |
0018|     grant heirs and other property owners in New Mexico; and 
    |
0019|          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be
    |
0020|     sent to each member of the New Mexico legislative council.
    |
0021|                              
    |