Integrated crime package would reduce recidivism by connecting people involved
in the criminal justice system with appropriate behavioral healthcare,
while also addressing gun safety, fentanyl trafficking, vehicle thefts, and DWIs

Santa Fe, N.M. – Democratic lawmakers' public safety package is now headed to the House Floor after passing the House Judiciary Committee (HJC) today by a vote of 7-4, along party lines.

House Bill 8 incorporates six key public safety proposals that have already been heard and passed in their first committee into an integrated crime package.

"This robust crime package is the result of many hours of work, both throughout the interim and in this session, and reflects input from law enforcement, the courts, community leaders, and everyday New Mexicans," said lead sponsor Representative Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos) who also serves as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. "We have developed a thorough and well-vetted bill that will help us make communities across New Mexico safer now and in the long run."

House Bill 8 includes:

Former House Bill 4: 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.
Former House Bill 16: Fentanyl Trafficking Sentences, which would enhance penalties for trafficking fentanyl 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.
Former House Bill 31: Fourth-Degree Felony for Shooting Threat, which would increase the penalty for making a shooting threat toward a school or public place to a fourth-degree felony, aligning it with the state's penalty for bomb threats.
Former House Bill 38: Possession of a Weapon Conversion Device, which would prohibit possession of a device designed to convert a semiautomatic weapon into a fully automatic weapon.
Former House Bill 50: 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.
Former House Bill 106: DWI Blood Testing, which would give law enforcement officers more tools to enforce the state's DWI laws by allowing them to test for controlled substances in cases where they have probable cause to suspect a misdemeanor has been committed.

The policies in this crime package are also paired with significant investments in New Mexico's behavioral health system to ensure the state has the capacity to provide the treatment people need and better address the underlying issues that contribute to crime in our communities. These proposals include a $200 million down payment to expand the state's behavioral healthcare infrastructure.

This session, House and Senate Democrats are working together on a robust slate of legislation 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 the help they need when they need it.

Additional public safety bills working their way through the House:

House Bill 12: Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Changes
House Bill 86: Human Trafficking Changes
House Bill 340: DNA Of Certain Offenders in CODIS
House Bill 190: Victims of Crime Act Changes
House Bill 204: Refusal of Certain Pretrial Statements

The Roundhouse is open to the public for the 2025 session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature's Webcasts tab and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.