Santa Fe, N.M. – Today, the legislature gave its final approval on key legislation that will improve community safety and expand access to behavioral healthcare throughout New Mexico. House Bill 8, an integrated public safety package, and Senate Bill 3, a framework to vastly expand access to behavioral healthcare statewide, will now head to the Governor's desk to be signed into law.

In the final legislative step for these bills today, the House voted to concur with Senate amendments to HB 8 and the Senate voted to concur with House amendments to SB 3.

"This robust public safety package is the result of hundreds of hours of work with statewide stakeholders to develop smart, targeted policies that will make our communities safer now and for years to come," said HB 8 sponsor Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos). "By thoroughly vetting, debating, and amending these bills through the legislative process, we have a strong slate of legislation that will truly improve public safety and get appropriate care to New Mexicans who are struggling."

HB 8, the public safety package, includes:

Criminal Competency and Treatment, which would expand options for how our criminal justice system assists individuals suffering from serious mental or behavioral health issues by creating more pathways to get them appropriate levels of treatment. Supporters of this measure include: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Fentanyl Trafficking Sentences, which would enhance penalties for high-volume fentanyl trafficking in New Mexico to reflect concerns about public health and safety risks associated with the drug's potency and its role in the state's overdose crisis. Supporters of this measure include: the Department of Public Safety, New Mexico State Police

Fourth-Degree Felony for Shooting Threat, which would increase the penalty for making a mass shooting threat toward a school or public place to a fourth-degree felony, aligning it with the state's penalty for bomb threats.
Supporters of this measure include: Attorney General Raúl Torrez, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina

Possession of a Weapon Conversion Device, which would prohibit possession of a device designed to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon.
Supporters of this measure include: Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Department of Public Safety, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Marcus Montoya with the Administrative Office of the District Attorneys

Penalties for Vehicle Thefts, which would increase penalties for repeat and habitual offenders. While current law only enhances penalties for multiple convictions for the same charge, such as theft, receiving, or transferring a stolen vehicle, this proposal would increase penalties when there are multiple convictions for any of these vehicle theft-related charges.
Supporters of this measure include: Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, Albuquerque Police Department

DWI Blood Testing, which gives law enforcement officers more tools to enforce the state's DWI laws by allowing them to request a search warrant to test for controlled substances in cases where they have probable cause to suspect a misdemeanor has been committed.
Supporters of this measure include: New Mexico State Police, the Department of Public Safety

HB 8 is also sponsored by Reps. Joy Garratt (D-Albuquerque), Cynthia Borrego (D-Albuquerque),Kathleen Cates (D-Rio Rancho) and Charlotte Little (D-Albuquerque).

Senate Bill 3, the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, would establish behavioral health regions to work with local stakeholders to identify existing resources and gaps in access to behavioral healthcare in communities across the state. A Behavioral Health Executive Committee would then distribute funding to address those gaps and build out New Mexico's behavioral healthcare workforce.

This legislation works in tandem with Senate Bill 1, which would create a trust fund for behavioral healthcare initiatives across the state, and Senate Bill 2, which appropriates $200 million in this year's budget to kickstart the fund.

SB 3 has a total of 18 sponsors, led by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque), and House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque).

"Last summer, we made a promise to New Mexicans that we would come into this session ready to move efficiently on meaningful legislation to improve public safety and behavioral healthcare throughout our state," said Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque). "Together with our colleagues in the Senate, we rolled up our sleeves and put together this carefully-crafted set of bills that will actually make the people of New Mexico safer. We are going to continue to focus on delivering real solutions rather than scoring political points."

This session, House and Senate Democrats are working together to improve community safety by reducing gun violence, deterring violent crime, and making record investments in behavioral health and substance use treatment programs to give New Mexicans help they need when they need it.

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.