HM 66 — STUDY SANTA TERESA BORDER CROSSING FEE

HOUSE MEMORIAL 66 57 TH LEGISLATURE- STATE OF NEW MEXICO - SECOND SESSION, 2026 INTRODUCED BY Raymundo Lara and Jenifer Jones 6 8 10 A MEMORIAL REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A BORDER CROSSING FEE AT THE SANTA TERESA PORT OF ENTRY;

156 WHEREAS, the department of transportation is responsible for the planning, development and maintenance of transportation e t 17 infrastructure that supports public safety, economic w l n d 18 development and regional mobility;

and = = 19 a l WHEREAS, the Santa Teresa port of entry is one of the i a e r 20 fastest-growing international commercial crossings in the a t m m 21 United States and serves as a major economic gateway connecting d r e 22 southern New Mexico to the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, and the c e s k 23 broader North American supply chain;

and e a n b 24 u [ WHEREAS, the Santa Teresa port of entry supports international trade, warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, .234190.1 agriculture and rail activity, generating significant economic activity and heavy commercial traffic in Dona Ana county and the surrounding region;

and WHEREAS, continued growth of international trade through HM 66 Page 1 the Santa Teresa port of entry will require long-term sustainable funding sources to maintain and expand transportation infrastructure necessary to protect public safety and economic competitiveness;

and 14 WHEREAS, many transportation systems throughout the United States and internationally employ user-based funding mechanisms to offset infrastructure costs directly associated with high-high-volume e t 17 volume freight corridors and border crossings;

and w l n d 18 WHEREAS, a carefully structured border crossing user fee = = 19 could provide a dedicated funding stream for infrastructure a l i a e r 20 improvements, congestion reduction, safety enhancements and a t m m 21 trade facilitation projects benefiting residents, businesses d r e 22 and commercial carriers;

and c e s k 23 WHEREAS, before consideration of any policy, the state e a n b 24 should evaluate legal authority, interstate commerce u [ considerations, international treaty implications, operational .234190.1 - 2 - logistics, economic competitiveness impacts and administrative feasibility;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of HM 66 Page 2 transportation's border crossing fee study evaluate:

the coordination with federal agencies, including United States customs and border protection, required 14 to impose a border crossing fee;

the impacts of a border crossing fee on New Mexico's trade competitiveness relative to other states with e t 17 border crossings with Mexico;

w l n d 18 D.

potential border crossing fee structure options = = 19 for commercial and noncommercial traffic and the estimated a l i a e r 20 annual revenue generation and administrative costs of such fee a t m m 21 structures;

d r e 22 E.

the economic impacts a border crossing fee would c e s k 23 have on industry and the workforce in the Santa Teresa region;

e a n b 24 F.

the transportation infrastructure needs u [ attributable to traffic from the Santa Teresa port of entry .234190.1 - 3 - anticipated over the next twenty years;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in conducting the study, the department of transportation be requested to consult with HM 66 Page 3 local governments, metropolitan planning organizations, economic development organizations, industry stakeholders, federal agencies and New Mexico's congressional delegation;

and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be 14 transmitted to the secretary of transportation, the governor, the border authority and local governments within Dona Ana county.

eHM t66 17Page - 4 -25 w l n d 18 = = 19 a l i a e r 20 a t m m 21 d r e 22 c e s k 23 e a n b 24 u [ .234190.1