The New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) will hold four public meetings in Southern New Mexico from September 22 to 25, 2025, to discuss a proposed land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The meetings are intended to provide an overview of the exchange and collect feedback from attendees. BLM representatives will also be present at these sessions.
The proposal involves the NMSLO transferring about 85,000 acres of state trust land to the BLM in exchange for federal lands of equal value. This exchange aims to incorporate currently landlocked state trust parcels into the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. In return, NMSLO would receive federal lands considered more suitable for generating revenue for public schools, universities, and hospitals in New Mexico. Since the lands received by NMSLO may be more valuable than those transferred, the final exchange could focus only on Doña Ana County. However, meetings are scheduled in all counties that might be included.
Public input can be given at any of the four in-person meetings or submitted by email at BLM_NM_LCDO_Mail@blm.gov.
Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard has led the agency since 2019. "In that time the agency has raised more than $12 billion for New Mexico public schools, hospitals, and universities. Over 13 million acres of state trust land are leased for a variety of uses, including ranching and farming, renewable energy, business development, mineral development, and outdoor recreation. The State Land Office has a dual mandate to use state trust land to financially support vital public institutions, while simultaneously working to protect the land for future generations," according to the press release.
More information about the meetings is available through official channels.
