SB 2 New Mexico Senate · 2025 Regular Session

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY INITIATIVES

This bill (SB 2) amends New Mexico's criminal competency law to clarify court jurisdiction when a defendant's competency to stand trial is questioned. It requires metropolitan courts to transfer a case to a district court if they determine a defendant is not competent to stand trial - previously, metropolitan courts could retain jurisdiction in such cases. The bill directly affects criminal defendants in New Mexico who face competency evaluations during trial. The title "Public Health & Safety Initiatives" is misleading, as the bill concerns court procedures, not public health measures. (Note: The bill's emergency designation cites public safety, but the substantive change relates solely to court jurisdiction.)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

introduced version → FC substitute · 10 edits

MAJOR

The FC substitute version of SB 2 significantly expands the bill's scope from a single session of appropriations to a multi-year plan (2025-2029) with new funding categories for behavioral health infrastructure, crisis response, and housing services. The substitute adds emergency declaration language, creates new funding streams for mobile crisis teams and 988/911 coordination, and changes how unspent funds are handled by directing them to a behavioral health trust fund rather than the general fund. Several sections were reorganized and new sections were added to address suicide prevention, peer support, and housing expansion for behavioral health needs.

Scope change

Expanded from a single-year appropriation bill to a multi-year (2025-2029) behavioral health investment plan with new program categories and funding mechanisms

TIMELINE

Changed funding periods from '2025 and subsequent fiscal years' to specific multi-year periods (2025-2029 for most appropriations) with clear sunset dates for unspent funds

Added contingent effective date provisions making certain sections dependent on other Senate bills becoming law

FISCAL

Added new funding categories including crisis response facilities ($7.5M), crisis response and recovery teams ($11.5M), 988/911 coordination ($3M), and behavioral health patient navigation ($9M)

Changed disposition of unspent funds from reverting to general fund to reverting to behavioral health trust fund for most sections

Created new funding source from government results and opportunity program fund for certified peer support workers

EMERGENCY

Added emergency declaration clause stating the act must take effect immediately for public peace, health and safety

ELIGIBILITY

Added new eligibility requirements for grants to include Indian nations, tribes, and pueblos in multiple funding categories

SCOPE

Expanded scope to include housing services expansion, suicide prevention in schools, and mobile health units for homeless persons

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for the health care authority to consult with department of health when making grants to counties and municipalities

DEFINITION

Added new program categories including behavioral health investment zones, mobile crisis teams, and regional transitional behavioral health facilities

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 15, 2025

Introduced

Sent to House Appropriations & Finance Committee

lower

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

passed Senate

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

DO PASS committee report adopted

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Sent to Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee & Senate Finance Committee

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors