S. 1363 · 119th Congress
New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
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Passed the Senate without a recorded vote. It passed by voice vote or unanimous consent, which don't record how each member voted. Its text can still change before it becomes law.
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LujánSponsorNo cosponsors.
- Senate Introduced Apr 9, 2025
- Senate Passed Sep 23, 2026
New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
What it does: CRS summary · 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.
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.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: New Mexico Land Grant-Mercedes Historical or Traditional Use Cooperation and Coordination Act
Latest action (Sep 24, 2026): Held at the desk.
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Apr 9, 2025
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
- Senate Introduced Apr 9, 2025
- Senate Passed Sep 23, 2026
No recorded floor vote found.