New Mexico lawmakers on Monday unanimously approved legislation launching what sponsors describe as the first full state-level investigation into activities at Zorro Ranch, the sprawling property where convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is accused of trafficking and sexually assaulting girls and young women.

The ranch, located roughly 30 miles south of Santa Fe, has long been cited in civil lawsuits and survivor testimony but received less scrutiny than Epstein’s Caribbean island and Manhattan townhouse. The newly formed commission, made up of four legislators, will begin work Tuesday. It is expected to deliver interim findings in July and a final report by the end of the year. The $2.5 million investigation carries subpoena power.

Lawmakers say the probe will seek testimony from survivors, local residents, and others who may have had knowledge of events at the property. The panel aims to identify guests and any state officials who may have been aware of or involved in alleged misconduct at the hacienda-style mansion and surrounding guest houses.

Epstein died in 2019 in a New York jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. In recent weeks, the Justice Department released millions of documents related to Epstein, including materials detailing activity at the New Mexico ranch and connections to prominent figures.

The released files reference ties between Epstein and former Democratic governors and a former state attorney general. Civil suits allege that some of the abuse occurred at Zorro Ranch as early as the mid-1990s. In a previously unsealed deposition, Virginia Giuffre testified that she was directed to provide a “massage” to then-Gov. Bill Richardson at the ranch, an allegation Richardson denied through a representative in 2019.

Former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas said he launched a probe in 2019 but paused it at the request of federal prosecutors to avoid a parallel investigation. Current Attorney General Raul Torrez has assigned a special agent to review allegations that may emerge from the legislative inquiry.

Supporters of the measure say the investigation will help determine whether gaps in state law allowed Epstein to operate in New Mexico without accountability. Testimony gathered by the commission could potentially support future prosecutions or legislative reforms, including proposed changes to the statute of limitations for childhood sexual assault.

The inquiry places renewed focus on the role of New Mexico institutions and political figures in connection with Epstein’s activities, as lawmakers seek answers about how such conduct allegedly went unchecked for years at the remote property.