Legislation on Public Safety That Passed in the New Mexico Legislature

• The New Mexico legislative session wrapped up with 194 bills passed from a total of 1,182 introduced.
• Notable bills included those concerning criminal competency, firearm protection orders, and telehealth services.
• A new Turquoise Alert system will be introduced to assist in locating missing Native Americans.
• The Medical Psilocybin Act will permit limited medical use of psilocybin for treatment purposes.
• Several public safety initiatives, including proposals for diversion programs and overdose prevention centers, did not pass.

The 60-day New Mexico legislative session concluded on Saturday, March 22, with a total of 194 bills ratified out of 1,182 presented.

Here is an overview of the public safety bills that passed and those that did not.

HB 8: Criminal Competency and Treatment

This comprehensive package focused on reforming criminal competency and made possessing weapon conversion devices (Glock Switches) illegal. It raised the penalty for threatening to shoot a person, group, or public space from a misdemeanor to a fourth-degree felony. Additionally, it introduced tiered penalties for trafficking based on the amount involved, augmented penalties related to auto theft, and allowed warrant-based blood draws in misdemeanor investigations, expanding testing to drugs beyond just alcohol.

HB 12: The Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order

This legislation modified the Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Act to enable law enforcement officers to file petitions based on information gathered during their official duties. The revised law mandates that individuals surrender their firearms immediately if such an order is served.

SB 25: Social Work Telehealth Services

This bill aims to facilitate access to mental and behavioral healthcare in New Mexico by permitting certified peer support workers and other Medicaid-certified healthcare professionals to operate within the state.

SB 41: Turquoise Alert System

This legislation introduces a new Turquoise Alert notification system designed to inform the public about missing Native Americans in New Mexico.

SB 70: Add Racketeering Crimes

This bill expands the types of offenses categorized under the Racketeering Act, bolstering New Mexico’s capacity to investigate the leaders of organized criminal enterprises that prey on local communities.

SB 219: Medical Psilocybin Act

This legislation will provide an alternative treatment option for New Mexicans afflicted with debilitating conditions like PTSD, allowing the limited use of medical psilocybin for patients deemed suitable by their healthcare providers. The bill is backed by nine representatives.

• HB 354 – Proposed a statewide pilot project for Criminal Justice Diversion within the behavioral health services division of the health care authority.
• HB 355 – Aimed to empower the Department of Health to license Overdose Prevention Centers.
• SB 325 – Would have allowed opportunities for incarcerated individuals to receive training as drug and substance abuse counselors.
• HB 70 – Intended to increase access to home- and community-based services for individuals with psychiatric conditions.
• HB 253 – Sought to enable the sealing of certain eviction records.
• SB 177 – Aimed to establish uniform protections for immigrant survivors of crime.