Lawmakers push for massage parlors to have more accountability and greater oversight
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Accountability and greater oversight, that's what lawmakers are hoping massage parlors will have, after seeing several cases throughout the state where some shops have promoted prostitution and human trafficking.
Story continues below
Albuquerque: Family speaks following lawsuit settlement for man shot by police
Don't Miss: Officials to give update on deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife
Politics: Three candidates have announced campaigns for Albuquerque mayor
Albuquerque police raided what they called an illegal massage parlor last July, after connecting the building to a website offering sex services. And while they charged a woman with promoting prostitution, the case has since been dismissed. Now legislators are introducing a bill to regulate how those businesses operate.
'Currently, there's no type of licensing process that offers protection or checks for what's happening in these businesses,' said Sen. Heather Bergmans (D-Albuquerque.)
The Massage Therapy Licensure Bill would put massage therapy establishments under the state's regulation and licensing department. 'With having an established licensure process and inspection process for these types of businesses, we can prevent human trafficking. And if that situation is happening, have another easier avenue for discovering that situation,' said Bergmans.
After being heard in the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, the bill faced some opposition. 'I think what's going to happen to some of these places that are probably operating doing nefarious activities is they're going to go to the home place,' said Senator Jay C. Block (R).
Since the bill currently excludes home-based providers, concerned legislators say the same illicit behaviors could continue under the radar.
But supporters offer a different perspective, 'We know that it's really important to legitimate professional massage therapists who do this in their home to not have to also have the burdens of regulating their home as if it is an establishment,' said Bergmans.
The bill was first introduced in the 2019 legislative session but was not passed. This year, with two weeks left in the session, supporters are hopeful it will be signed into law.
'If there is a situation of human trafficking, and someone is aware of that, they can always tip a police officer off or notify law enforcement in some way, but that's really the only way right now,' said Bergmans.
The Massage Therapy Licensure bill passed on a 6-4 vote and is headed to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Bus passenger shot and killed in Taos County
TAOS COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A passenger was killed when two individuals shot at a bus in Taos County Monday afternoon, according to the North Central Regional Transit District. The NCRTD said the shooting happened while the Blue Bus, which serviced Chili Line route 340, was stopped at the Rancho de Taos Post Office bus stop near the intersection of State Road 68 and San Francisco Street. Story continues below New Mexico Crime Files: Grocery store worker hands out semen-tainted yogurt Trending: Santa Fe man arrested after 'brandishing' gun at gas station New Mexico Strange: Holy dirt and healing water: A look at NM's miraculous locations News: National Guard deployment causes worry over New Mexico wildfire funds Officials with the NCRTD said two individuals fired handguns through the window ofthe bus. One person died from injuries; the driver and two other passengers who were on board at the time were not injured. The NCRTD said it is cooperating with the Taos County Sheriff's Office as they investigate the shooting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
VIDEO: Santa Fe man arrested after ‘brandishing' gun at gas station
SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – We're getting new video of an arrest at a gas station in Santa Fe over the weekend, where police say a man confronted someone with a gun. Police connected 40-year-old Jose Nava with a handgun found inside a Speedway, and they believe it was the same weapon used to threaten a person earlier that day. 'Mr. Nava, let me see your hands. Hands up, turn around,' said a Santa Fe Police officer. Video shows the moment inside a Santa Fe gas station when officers put Jose Nava in handcuffs. Earlier in the day, Saturday, Santa Fe police responded to a report of a man threatening someone with a gun at the Speedway on Siler Road and Agua Fria Street. The victim told police a white truck and a blue Dodge pulled up to the gas station. That's when they say the man in the white truck got out and started threatening the victim while holding a pipe. Santa Fe college in jeopardy of losing federal funding Police said the victim raised his hands and told the man he didn't want any problems. Then the man in the blue Dodge, who police believe was Jose Nava, pulled out a handgun and pointed it towards the victim. When the victim asked what Nava wanted him to do, he responded by telling the driver to get in their car and get out of there. The victim complied, got in his car, and left. He gave police the license plate of the blue truck, and also said there was a female passenger in the truck, too. But when police go to arrest Nava, he says, 'That guy that pulled a gun out here, bro.' 'So we're here to talk to you about that, but you also have a warrant out for your arrest, okay?' a Santa Fe officer told Nava. After the arrest, police executed a search warrant at the Speedway. The crime scene unit showed up to help find the brandished gun. Santa Fe businesses' frustrations grow as road project continues Along with a key part of the team, a police service dog. Within minutes, the police K-9 points out a potential location of the gun to his handler. Video later shows police pull out the weapon from a box of chips. 'My dog was right,' said the K-9 handler. Nava was arrested and booked into the Santa Fe adult detention center for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and tampering with evidence. 'Keep your hands up, don't move,' said one officer. Nava was also booked on an active arrest warrant for failure to appear in a domestic violence-related case. Santa Fe police said they found two handguns and a shotgun in Nava's truck. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Grocery store worker hands out semen-tainted yogurt; New Mexico Crime Files
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – First in 2021, police in the Four Corners area got a heads up about the stolen car heading into Aztec, NM. When police locate the vehicle, the driver, 22-year-old Elias Buck, refuses to stop and leads police at 70 MPH through residential streets. It wasn't over then. Buck escapes from jail while awaiting trial. The wild video of when police catch up to him in Kansas. Then, when a Bernalillo County deputy tries to locate the driver of a vehicle with expired registration and insurance at a gas station, the driver is nowhere inside. Deputies catch up to Rudy Gonzales across the street, but it's not his first run-in with the law. Gonzales' previous cases and the result of this police encounter. Finally, KRQE anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate bring you a disgusting situation a woman found herself in while shopping for groceries at an Albuquerque supermarket in 2011. The shocking results of what officers learned when they showed up to investigate Anthony Garcia and what he did to a customer's yogurt sample. About New Mexico Crime Files This is New Mexico Crime Files – Taking it from the streets, then to the courtroom, to finally answering 'where are they now?'. Each week, KRQE News 13 anchors Dean Staley and Jessica Garate bring you the notorious, the unforgettable, and the unbelievable crime stories from the Land of Enchantment. New Mexico Crime Files is sponsored by MedradoStruck Law Firm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
