Crime package tackling competency issues in courts passes House and Senate
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – We are halfway through the legislative session and a major crime package is heading to the governor's desk after passing both the House and the Senate. The main focus of this bill was criminal competency, but some lawmakers argue that the package is not strong enough.
'I want to be clear, our work isn't yet over. But today, we took a very important step forward,' said Speaker of the House Javier Martinez (D) at a press conference held Saturday celebrating the passing of the House Bill 8. Nine major items in the massive crime package are now headed to the governor's desk.
'It reflects the fact that we have listened to the community and made community priorities our priorities,' Rep. Reena Szczepanski (D).
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House Bill 8 has a heavy focus on criminal competency. The bill looks to improve the court system and makes sure that individuals who may be having a mental health crisis when they commit a crime have access to the treatment they need so they are able to stand trial. Part of the competency aspect of this includes establishing a behavioral health trust fund while also earmarking $200 million to expand regional behavioral health services.
'Public safety is not just the people who are victims of crime. In many cases, the people who are committing the crimes, who are suffering from drug addiction, who are suffering from mental health issues, we are going to deliver the help that they need as well,' said Speaker Martinez.
The bill also looks at enhancing penalties for fentanyl trafficking and making shooting threats a fourth-degree felony. It also enhances penalties for stolen vehicles, eases DWI blood testing laws, as well as making it a crime to have a device that turns a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic one.
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Though this package was bipartisan legislation, it's still receiving criticism from lawmakers, saying that it does not go far enough. Senate Republicans are unhappy the package passed with no amendments requested by the party:
'House Bill 8 is a small step forward in terms of improving public safety. I am disappointed, though certainly not surprised, that Democrats voted to kill each and every attempt Republicans made to improve this package and hold violent criminals accountable. Democrats continually kill our proposals and bottle up our bills in committee, and yet somehow New Mexico is supposed to believe they are 'addressing crime?' New Mexicans, the Governor, District Attorneys, law enforcement officers, and even criminals see this for what it is: Democrats are all talk and no action on improving public safety. They would rather give lip service to public safety needs than actually address our state's crime epidemic.'
Senate Republican Leader Bill Sharer
Democrats say there is still time. 'Can we do more? Of course we can do more. That's why we have been working on public safety for seven, eight years now. This is a process. There's not one silver bullet. We've got to rebuild a behavioral health system that was decimated over ten years ago,' said Speaker Martinez in a press conference Saturday.
As for the other priorities for the second half of this legislative session? Democrats are saying CYFD is on their radar as well as tackling the state's budget.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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