Santa Fe, NM - There are just a couple of days left in the 2016 Legislative Session, and House Republicans have scored crucial victories to end the practice of giving driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and bring New Mexico into compliance with the REAL ID Act. The House also passed important bills to establish an independent ethics commission and allow law enforcement officers to return to work after retirement.

Senate Democrats continue to block reforms needed to protect the safety and security of New Mexicans. The Senate Public Affairs Committee killed an effort to fix New Mexico's Habitual Offenders law to include DWI felons. The same committee also blocked two bills to strengthen our state's child abuse laws.

In the House:
Bill to stop giving driver's licenses to illegal immigrants and make New Mexico Real ID compliant heads to Governor's desk. "Pacheco stressed that, under the legislation, undocumented immigrants would no longer be issued driver's licenses, as they have been under state law since 2003. That's been a priority for Martinez since she was elected in 2010." ("Driver's License Deal Heads to Governor" Albuquerque Journal, 2/15/2016)

House and Senate bill sponsors reach a compromise on bail bond reform and passed the House unanimously. "A revamped version of a constitutional amendment that would let judges keep dangerous suspects behind bars without bail while creating a pathway for those who can't afford bail to get released cleared the House on a bipartisan vote." ("Bail constitutional amendment compromise clears House," KRQE, 2/15/2016)

Proposal to create an independent ethic commission passes House on bipartisan vote. "Rep. Jim Dines, R-Albuquerque, the measure's sponsor, said the state's current system is not working, while adding an ethics commission could provide guidance to lawmakers and other elected officials. 'The idea here is to get away from the secrecy,' Dines said during Tuesday's debate." ("House passes measure to create ethics commission," Albuquerque Journal, 2/10/2016)

House approves bill to allow law enforcement officers to return to duty after retirement. "Backers of the legislation, House Bill 171, say the measure was carefully crafted so as not to financially affect the state's public retirement system and is urgently needed to address officer shortages and, in turn, reduce violent crime rates." ("House passes police return-to-work bill," Albuquerque Journal, 1/10/2016)

In the Senate:
Bills to strengthen New Mexico's child abuse laws blocked by Senate committee. "That left the bill's sponsor, Rep. Conrad James, R-Albuquerque, frustrated by what he claimed were "parliamentary" tricks aimed at killing the legislation. 'If the legislators don't like it, just vote it down,' James said in an interview after today's hearing." ("Child abuse, DWI bills stall in Senate committee," Albuquerque Journal, 2/14/2016)

Effort to fix Habitual Offender Law to include DWI felons dies in Senate committee. "The bill sponsored by Albuquerque Republicans Jim Dines and Bill Rehm called for amending the habitual offender section of the state's Criminal Sentencing Act to include conviction of a felony. Currently, a judge cannot enhance a DWI offender's sentence on top of their basic sentence, according to the bill's fiscal impact report." ("DWI, other crime bills fail to advance in Senate committee," Santa Fe New Mexican, 2/14/2016)

Senate kills bill to protect law enforcement officers. "'To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement,' House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, the bill's sponsor, said after Friday's vote. 'I was hopeful we could provide an extra layer of protection to our law enforcement.'" ("Senate panel votes down hate crimes for police bill," Albuquerque Journal, (2/13/2016)