The Egg Grading Act shall be financed in part by the collection of a fee on all eggs sold to the retailer or consumer. The fee on eggs being sold to the retailer or consumer shall be one-half cent ($.005) per dozen; provided that the board may index the amount of the fee for inflation until July 1, 2031 using the consumer price index for all urban consumers: all items published by the United States department of labor. The fee shall be paid by the egg dealer or producer who packages the eggs for sale to the retailer or consumer. All money collected under the provisions of the Egg Grading Act shall be deposited with New Mexico state university for the purposes of administering the provisions of that act and promoting the poultry industry and its products and shall be expended upon the order of the board in the same manner as other funds of New Mexico state university.

History: 1953 Comp., § 54-2-18, enacted by Laws 1963, ch. 138, § 9; 1973, ch. 116, § 7; 2026, ch. 13, § 1.

ANNOTATIONS

The 2026 amendment, effective July 1, 2026, set the egg inspection fee at one-half cent per dozen, and authorized the board of regents of New Mexico state university to impose increases to the egg inspection fee up to the rate of inflation measured in the consumer price index for all urban consumers through the end of fiscal year 2031; after "retailer or consumer", deleted "The board shall have authority to establish the fee at their discretion, but in no case shall the fee exceed one-half cent per dozen" and added "The fee on eggs being sold to the retailer or consumer shall be one-half cent ($.005) per dozen; provided that the board may index the amount of the fee for inflation until July 1, 2031 using the consumer price index for all urban consumers: all items published by the United States department of labor.".