EXPAND "SILVER ALERT" DEFINITION
HB 197 expands New Mexico's "Silver Alert" system to include missing persons of any age showing signs of cognitive decline or impairment, not just those with Alzheimer's or dementia. This change directly affects law enforcement and families reporting missing adults who may have conditions like dementia, brain injuries, or other cognitive issues, regardless of age. The key mechanism updates the legal definition in the Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act to trigger alerts when a reporter believes an individual displays symptoms of cognitive decline. This makes the alert system more inclusive for vulnerable adults beyond the current age-based or dementia-specific criteria. The bill was signed into law after passing both legislative chambers in March 2025.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Jan 29, 2025
Signed Mar 21, 2025
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introduced version
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Final Version
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4 edits
MODERATE
This bill amends the Missing Persons Information and Reporting Act to expand the definition of 'endangered person' to include individuals with cognitive decline, impairment, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or brain injuries. The change broadens the scope of who can trigger a silver alert notification, ensuring that vulnerable adults with cognitive conditions receive the same emergency response protections as those at risk of physical harm.
Scope change
The bill expands the eligibility criteria for triggering a silver alert to include adults with cognitive conditions regardless of age, whereas previously it was limited to those 50 years or older.
ELIGIBILITY
Added a new category (subsection 6) to the definition of 'endangered person' that includes individuals with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, other degenerative brain disorders, or brain injuries.
Added a new category (subsection 7) to the definition of 'endangered person' that includes individuals with developmental disabilities whose health or safety is at risk.
The definition of 'silver alert' was modified to include individuals who display signs or symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, dementia, cognitive decline, or impairment regardless of age, removing the previous age restriction of 50 years or older.
DEFINITION
Reorganized and clarified the definitions section to ensure consistency between the 'endangered person' and 'silver alert' definitions.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2025 · House Mar 12, 2025
How they voted
36–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 40
Mar 17, 2025
D
Democratic24
87% Yea
R
Republican16
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
9
Key actions
7
Committee
3
Mar 21, 2025
Signed into law
Signed
executive
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed Senate
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (36-0-4)
senate
Mar 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Introduced
Sent to Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
passed House
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Feb 14, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Jan 29, 2025
Introduced
Sent to House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee & House Judiciary Committee
lower
2 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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