Legislation to reduce gun violence, car thefts, and shooting threats all move to their final House committees

Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee (HCPAC) advanced four public safety bills, addressing gun safety, shooting threats, and vehicle thefts.

House Bill 31, which passed 3-1, would increase the penalty for making a shooting threat toward a school or public to a fourth-degree felony, aligning it with the state's penalty for bomb threats. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Brian Baca (R-Los Lunas).

"Threats to our schools and public spaces not only create panic and fear, but also expend significant law enforcement resources to respond and investigate," said bill sponsor Rep. Garratt. "House Bill 31 makes clear that any threat to the safety of our children or communities will be taken seriously and have significant consequences."

Two gun safety bills, sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) and Rep. Charlotte Little (D-Albuquerque), each passed the committee on 4-2 votes. House Bill 38 would prohibit possession of a device designed to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon. House Bill 39 would limit access to firearms for people who committed a delinquent act as a juvenile involving a firearm that would have been a felony charge for an adult. These limitations would be in place for 10 years.

"We can reduce gun violence by closing the loopholes that allow undue access to dangerous weapons," said Rep. Cates. "Law enforcement officers and District Attorneys have asked us to take this commonsense step to help save lives and make our communities safer right away."

Legislation addressing vehicle thefts also unanimously passed the committee. Sponsored by Reps. Cynthia Borrego (D-Albuquerque) and D. Wonda Johnson (D-Church Rock), House Bill 50 would adjust penalties for repeat offenders. While current law only enhances penalties for multiple convictions for the same charge, such as theft, embezzlement, receiving, or transferring a stolen vehicle, HB 50 would increase penalties when there are multiple convictions for any of these charges.

"New Mexico has one of the highest rates of vehicle theft in the nation. House Bill 50 enhances law enforcement's ability to hold repeat offenders accountable by acknowledging that these related crimes all contribute to the black market for stolen cars," said Rep. Borrego.

These four bills will now advance to the House Judiciary Committee, along with House Bill 4: Criminal Competency and Treatment and House Bill 12: Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Changes, which passed HCPAC Tuesday evening.

This session, House and Senate Democrats are working together on a robust slate of legislation to improve public safety by reducing gun violence, deterring violent crime, and making record investments in behavioral health and substance use treatment programs to give New Mexicans the help they need when they need it. These proposals include a $200 million down payment to expand the state's behavioral healthcare capacity.

Members of the public are welcome to attend floor sessions and committee meetings at the New Mexico Roundhouse, and can tune in virtually through the New Mexico Legislature's Webcasts tab. Public comment can also be provided in-person, and via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.