2020 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 73 - Special Districts
Article 17 - Conservancy Districts; General Provisions
Section 73-17-14 - State lands.

A. Whenever there shall be included in any district public lands belonging to the state of New Mexico subject to entry or which have been entered, and for which no certificates of purchase have been issued, such lands are hereby made and declared to be subject to all of the provisions of this act to the same extent and in the same manner in which the lands of a like character held under private ownership are or may be subject.

B. All notices required to be given under this act shall, as soon as such notices are issued, be served upon the commissioner of public lands of the state of New Mexico by mailing to his office a copy thereof, enclosed in a sealed envelope, with postage prepaid.

C. On all books and records of the district, the words "state lands" shall be used in the places therein provided for the name of the owner of lands, but in all other respects the said books and records shall be kept as though the described lands were privately owned.

D. Upon the confirmation of any assessment against lands of the state, that portion of the records relating to state lands, properly signed by the president and with the seal of the district thereunto affixed and attested by the signature of the secretary, shall be delivered by the secretary to the commissioner of public lands. It shall be the duty of the commissioner of public lands to receive the same as a record of the assessment of the said district against the said lands and the said record shall be the authority of the commissioner of public lands to demand and receive the assessments due the district as found in the same.

E. The commissioner of public lands shall enter on the books of his office, against each description of such state lands, the amounts of assessments thereon, and shall certify the same to the secretary of finance and administration, who shall draw a warrant on the state treasurer therefor, to be paid out of any funds in his hands not otherwise appropriated. Such warrant shall be forwarded by the secretary of finance and administration to the treasurer, and shall by him be applied in payment of such assessments and by him be credited to the proper funds of the district. No patent shall issue for such lands until the amount of all such assessments with interest at seven percent has been paid. No public lands which were unentered at the time any assessment was levied against the same by any district shall be sold for such assessment.

History: Laws 1927, ch. 45, § 805; C.S. 1929, § 30-805; 1941 Comp., § 77-3014; 1953 Comp., § 75-31-14; Laws 1977, ch. 247, § 200.

Compiler's notes. — For the meaning of "this act", see the compiler's notes to 73-17-1 NMSA 1978.

The 1977 amendment substituted "secretary of finance and administration" for "state auditor" in Subsection E, and deleted "(7%)" following "seven percent" in the next to last sentence in Subsection E.

Effect of section. — The section applies to state lands as if the state lands were held in private ownership. 1956 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 56-6383.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 45 Am. Jur. 2d Irrigation § 60.

52A C.J.S. Levees and Flood Control § 17; 94 C.J.S. Waters § 319(3).