Saturday, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed a six-bill package of public safety legislation on a 48-20 vote, sending the bills to the Senate.

House Bill 8 includes several components, including: enhanced penalties for fentanyl trafficking; increased fourth-degree felony charge for making a shooting threat; criminalization for possession of a weapon conversion device; increased penalties for vehicle thefts; legislation to make it easier for police to conduct blood tests in DWI cases; and a controversial criminal competency bill that prompted criticism last week from a coalition of community organizations, which described said the package of legislation “focuses on new crimes, increased punishments, and forced hospitalization.”

Image

Following the House passage, its co-sponsors and House leaders released statements lauding their work. “We are taking a thoughtful, holistic approach to make New Mexicans safer,” Representative Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), co-sponsor of the competency legislation, said. “This public safety package will help us address the pressing issues facing our communities today, and our investments in behavioral healthcare, housing, prevention, and treatment will help us to tackle the root causes of crime.”

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, who traveled the state in advance of the session building support for her public safety agenda, also released a statement following the House package, which she described as “a first step towards ensuring accountability for criminals and updating our criminal competency and civil commitment procedures. While it is an important step forward, our work isn’t finished. I urge the Legislature to advance the remaining public safety bills. Each day that passes without action means more people get hurt and neighborhoods suffer. Get these public safety bills to my desk now—our communities deserve real protection, not more excuses. I will not stop until New Mexicans feel safe.”

Other crime bills still making their way through the legislative process include House Bill 12, which makes changes to the state’s extreme firearm protection law, as well as bills related to human trafficking, behavioral health and crime victims, among others.

Prior to the session, House Democrats previewed their public safety agenda, which also includes a a $200 million toward expanding the state’s behavioral healthcare infrastructure, which the Senate passed on Friday and will now proceed through the House committee process.

“We promised to work closely with our colleagues in the Senate to develop well-vetted solutions to the public safety and behavioral health challenges facing our state and we are delivering on that promise,” Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) said in a statement over the weekend. “By working together to pass good legislation, rather than trying to score political points, we can make our communities safer and ensure that New Mexicans who are struggling can get the help they need.”

Source New Mexico is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Goldberg for questions: info@sourcenm.com.