SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — An effort to modernize state oversight of a thriving petroleum industry in the nation's No. 2 state for oil production advanced past its first committee vetting Thursday at the New Mexico Legislature. The bill also would give regulators greater authority over applications to transfer ownership of wells that often change hands when oil and natural gas output declines. The Democratic-led Legislature and governor are being sued over alleged failures to meet constitutional provisions for protecting against oil and gas pollution, as fed-up residents living near oil wells and environmental groups turn to the judiciary for relief. Voting against the bill, Republican state Rep. Larry Scott of Hobbs, said the initiative represents an existential threat to small-scale oil and natural gas producers, echoing concerns raised by several businesses.

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Persons: Bill cosponsor Rep, Matthew McQueen, Galisteo, we’re, ”, “ We’ve, We’re, Gail Evans, Nathan Small, —, Ahtza Chavez, Lujan Grisham, “ They’ve, Chavez, Larry Scott, Hobbs, Scott Organizations: SANTA FE, New, New Mexico Legislature, Gas, Occidental Petroleum, EOG Resources, Land Office, Democratic, Center for Biological Diversity, Pueblo Action Alliance, Youth United, Las, Gov, Republican Locations: SANTA, New Mexico, Las Cruces, Albuquerque