NEWS/ISSUES

The Statewide Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Economic Impact Study will provide vital, data-driven evidence to demonstrate how motorized recreation powers local and state economies.

Current Project Status: Survey Development with NMSU

• Academic Partnership: New Mexico State University (NMSU) is currently developing and refining the official survey instrument to ensure rigorous data collection and accurate economic modeling.

• Fall 2026 Distribution Plan: As soon as the survey goes live, NMOHVA will step in to lead distribution. We will deliver the survey directly to our followers, member clubs, and the broader motorized community online.

• In-Person Outreach at Fall Events: NMOHVA leadership and volunteers will also bring the study directly to riders at upcoming events, rallies, and trail gatherings throughout this fall to collect input on spending, travel habits, and trail usage.

Why Your Participation Matters

When land management agencies conduct travel management reviews or consider route closures, recreational decisions heavily weigh economic impacts. Without state-specific data, the economic power of OHV recreation is frequently underreported in federal planning processes.

This study will equip advocates with hard evidence showing:

1. Rural Economic Reliance: Direct spending on fuel, food, lodging, equipment, and services that support small businesses near BLM and Forest Service trail networks.

2. Policy & Planning Leverage: concrete metrics to present to state legislators, county commissioners, and land managers during land-use evaluations.

3. Grant & Funding Support: Justification for allocating state OHV user fees toward trail maintenance, safety enforcement, and infrastructure improvements.

How You Can Prepare

• Watch for the Launch: Keep an eye on your email inbox and our social channels for the official NMSU survey link arriving later this season.

• Visit Us at Fall Events: Stop by the NMOHVA booth at upcoming fall gatherings to complete the survey on-site and speak with board members about local access issues.

• Spread the Word: Help us reach every corner of the New Mexico riding community by sharing the survey with your local clubs and riding groups once released.

Representatives from the New Mexico Off-Highway Vehicle Alliance (NMOHVA) recently presented before the state legislature's Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommittee. The presentation outlined the framework of a new legislative bill set for introduction during the upcoming spring legislative session, aimed at modernizing and streamlining paved road and state highway access for off-highway vehicles (OHVs).

Why Current Highway Access Laws Need Updating

Under current New Mexico statutes enacted in 2016, local municipalities and counties can pass ordinances permitting Off-Highway Vehicles (ATVs and ROVs/side-by-sides) to travel on local paved roads. However, significant connectivity gaps remain:

• State Highway Disconnects: County and municipal paved-road ordinances do not extend to state highways or interstates managed by the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT).

• Fragmented Trail Systems: Riders frequently face short stretches of state highway connecting trail networks or entering rural communities for fuel, supplies, and lodging where legal travel remains prohibited without individual State Transportation Commission exceptions.

• Patchwork Regulations: Differences in local road definitions create confusion for residents and out-of-state visitors trying to navigate legally between dirt trail systems and paved connector routes.

Key Provisions of the Upcoming Spring Bill

The proposed legislation presented to lawmakers seeks to address these connectivity barriers while maintaining strict safety standards:

1. Designated Highway Connectors: Establishing clear statutory authority to allow short-distance, low-speed travel on designated state highway corridors to link trail systems and rural business districts.

2. Unified Street-Legal Standards: Standardizing safety equipment requirements (including mirrors, headlights, taillights, insurance, and licensing) to ensure street-legal OHVs operate safely alongside highway traffic.

3. Streamlined Local Authority: Simplifing the coordination process between NMDOT, county commissions, and municipal leaders to approve essential connector routes without unnecessary administrative delay.

Committee Reception & Next Steps

Subcommittee members engaged in productive discussion regarding rural economic development, trail-town connectivity, and traffic safety coordination with NMDOT and local law enforcement.

• Bill Pre-Filing: Final statutory language will be refined over the autumn months in consultation with legislative sponsors and state transportation officials ahead of pre-filing.

• Member Advocacy: As the spring legislative session approaches, NMOHVA will issue action alerts to help members contact their local representatives and senators in support of the bill.

Stay tuned to NMOHVA.org for future legislative updates and action alerts.