PERJURY FOR FALSE LEGISLATIVE TESTIMONY

HB 359 amends New Mexico's perjury law to make knowingly giving false testimony during any legislative proceeding - including committee hearings - a fourth-degree felony, regardless of whether the statement was made under oath. It directly affects witnesses, including citizens and experts testifying before legislative committees, by expanding perjury liability to cover all false statements made in response to a legislative request for testimony. The bill excludes statements made by the public during designated comment periods at committee hearings. This change clarifies that false legislative testimony is punishable as perjury without requiring a formal oath.