N.M. Stat. § 33-2-2

The penitentiary of New Mexico as herein established as a body politic and corporate, is hereby declared to be the same institution enumerated in Section 1 of Article XIV of the constitution of New Mexico , and the same institution which is one of the beneficiaries of the lands donated by the United States government to the state of New Mexico in trust for said institution, and as such body politic and corporate is hereby vested with the absolute legal right and title to all real estate, personal property and other assets and things of value heretofore held, used and operated by the board of commissioners of the penitentiary [corrections department] of New Mexico before incorporation, and all appropriations heretofore made, including the right to receive the benefits and proceeds of permanent and current funds pursuant to the Enabling Act.