A Sports Authority Division that hasn’t been funded for over 10 years is closer to being a reality in New Mexico.
New Mexico House Bill 134, which in part would reinstitute the Sports Authority Division of the Tourism Department, passed the Senate 39-0 on Feb. 16, according to LegiScan. The bill passed the House 63-0 on Feb. 12.
The bill’s sponsor, New Mexico State Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas (D-Albuquerque), advocated for bringing back the Sports Authority “to promote sports for our young people and all our communities,” he said on Facebook. "It's going to play a key role in invigorating sports, sports events, and sports tourism."
Maestas said on Twitter on Feb. 17 that “the NM Sports Authority is back in action. HB 134 has passed the Senate."
Under the bill, the Sports Authority would develop a plan for recruiting and retaining professional and amateur sporting events as well as “foster relationships between sporting event organizers and event sponsors … foster relationships among state and local agencies.”
“One million dollars is appropriated from the general fund to the tourism department for expenditure in fiscal year 2023 to reinstitute the Sports Authority Division,” according to the bill. “Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2023 shall revert to the general fund.”