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Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 9, 2025
New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
This bill directs the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service to enter a memorandum of understanding with the New Mexico Land Grant Council to describe existing processes that land grants-mercedes may use to obtain authorization for historical, traditional, or other uses of federal lands.
Land grants-mercedes were created when Spain and Mexico issued grants of land to communities or individuals. When the United States acquired the land, including New Mexico, a process was created for adjudicating and recognizing these property rights. During that process, most land grants-mercedes lands became federal lands. Today, New Mexico recognizes 27 community land grants-mercedes as political subdivisions.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
When entering into the memorandum of understanding, the BLM and the Forest Service must consult with Indian tribes.
The memorandum of understanding must provide for (1) enhanced cooperation and coordination between the BLM, the Forest Service, and qualified land grants-mercedes; and (2) subsidiary agreements with certain land grants-mercedes for specific projects.
Additionally, the bill outlines what the memorandum of understanding must describe, such as the procedures for notice and comments on land management planning decisions.
Finally, the BLM and the Forest Service must include in land use plans a section that evaluates the impact of other uses in the plan on historical or traditional uses by land grants-mercedes.
People & committees
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] · D–NM
Legislative record
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Held at the desk.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4898-4901; text: CR S4898-4901)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S4898-4901; text: CR S4898-4901)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 476.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-237.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Oct 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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