Criminal Justice (Violent Crime) in New Mexico

signed · New Mexico · Senate Feb 27, 2026

SM 17: SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAM KIT TASK FORCE

Senate Memorial 17 requests the Secretary of Public Safety and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs to form a task force to study sexual assault exam kit processing and backlog issues in New Mexico. The task force, including representatives from law enforcement, rape crisis centers, forensic labs, and survivor services, will examine current kit processing timelines and challenges. It must report by 2027 to legislative committees on progress, survivor service adequacy, and potential solutions. This memorial does not create new law but directs state agencies to address delays in processing evidence from sexual assault cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 331: CRIMINAL RECORD EXPUNGEMENT CHANGES

HB 331 amends New Mexico's criminal record expungement law to allow individuals charged with a domestic violence crime to request removal of their arrest and public records immediately after being acquitted or having the case dismissed with prejudice. The bill requires courts to complete expungement within 30 days of the order and prohibits any fees for submitting requests or processing the expungement. This change directly affects people cleared of domestic violence charges, such as assault or battery against a household member, making it easier to clear records without waiting periods. The bill also clarifies the definition of "domestic violence crime" to include specific offenses like assault against household members under state law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 311: CRIMES AGAINST SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

SB 311 increases penalties for violence against school employees in New Mexico by reclassifying certain assaults and batteries as higher-level felonies. It specifically targets attacks on teachers, administrators, and school board members while they are performing their duties, with enhanced penalties for using weapons, disguises, or threatening behavior. The bill also creates new offenses for assault and battery occurring on school campuses generally (not just against employees), defining these as felonies based on the severity of the act. Key provisions include upgrading simple battery on school staff to a third-degree felony and imposing second-degree felony charges for aggravated battery causing serious harm or using deadly weapons. This legislation directly affects school employees and anyone committing violent acts on school property during school hours.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Violent Crime School Safety

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HM 39: SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMINATION KITS TASK FORCE

This House Memorial (HM 39) requests that New Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety and the New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs convene a task force to study the state's sexual assault examination kit processing system. The task force, including representatives from law enforcement, healthcare, and victim services, must report by July 2026 on backlog progress, service adequacy for survivors, and potential solutions. It directly affects state agencies managing forensic evidence and sexual assault programs, aiming to address delays in processing kits. The memorial does not create new law but mandates a review to improve handling of these critical forensic tools.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 163: DENIAL OF BAIL FOR CERTAIN OFFENSES

HB 163 designates specific felony offenses, including murder, sexual assault, kidnapping, and firearm-related crimes, as "dangerous or violent" for bail hearings. For defendants charged with these offenses, the court must presume that releasing them would not protect the community, requiring the defendant to prove by more likely than not that they can be safely released. The bill lists 15 categories of offenses, such as first-degree murder, certain sexual penetrations, and aggravated assault on peace officers, directly affecting individuals charged with these crimes. It would take effect only after a constitutional amendment is approved by voters, which must be enacted to implement the bail presumption.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Firearms Violent Crime

in committee · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 162: MOTOR VEHICLE CRIMES & PENALTIES

HB 162 creates a new crime of "negligent homicide by vehicle" (a fourth-degree felony) for causing death while violating reckless driving laws. It increases penalties for homicide by vehicle under the influence or with prior DWI convictions (adding four years per prior DWI within 10 years). The bill also allocates $250,000 for a statewide public education campaign on reckless driving, funded from the general fund for fiscal year 2027. This legislation directly affects drivers who cause death or injury through reckless or impaired driving. It modifies existing criminal penalties without changing the underlying reckless driving statute.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Traffic Safety

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 60: REVISE CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSE DEFINITIONS

HB 60 amends New Mexico's Victims of Crime Act to expand the definition of "criminal offense" to specifically include certain crimes committed against peace officers, such as aggravated assault, battery, or assault with intent to commit a violent felony. This change directly affects victims of these specific offenses by ensuring they qualify for victim services and compensation under the Act. The bill adds 3 new provisions (22-24 in the definition list) referencing crimes against officers under Section 30-22-22 to 30-22-25 of the state criminal code. It does not alter criminal penalties but adjusts eligibility for victim support programs. The bill was referred to committee with a "DO PASS" recommendation.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

passed · New Mexico · House Mar 24, 2026

HB 206: CRIME VICTIM REPARATION ADDITIONAL CRIMES

This bill expands New Mexico's Crime Victims Reparation Act to include victims of assault, battery, criminal sexual contact, and armed robbery. It amends the law to explicitly list these offenses as qualifying for financial reparation, ensuring victims of these crimes can access compensation. The change modifies existing law (Section 31-22-8 NMSA 1978) by adding these specific crimes to the enumerated list of qualifying offenses. It does not cover property damage, as clarified in the current law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Violent Crime

in committee · New Mexico · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 94: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDER TREATMENT PGM.

SB 94 requires individuals convicted of specific domestic violence offenses - including assault, battery, and related crimes under New Mexico law - to complete a domestic violence offender treatment program approved by the Children, Youth and Families Department. The bill applies directly to people sentenced for offenses listed in Sections 30-3-12 through 30-3-16 of the state code, such as assault against a household member or aggravated battery. Key provisions mandate treatment participation upon conviction and specify that violating probation terms (e.g., failing treatment) allows courts to impose the full original sentence without counting time served on probation. The bill aims to address domestic violence through structured intervention while tightening consequences for probation violations.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime Substance Abuse

All criminal justice bills